Comet 17P/ Holmes

This photo of comet 17P / Holmes was taken by Randy Buchwald and Scott Berg on Monday, October 29, 2007 at about 9pm CST from the Harken Observatory. The imager was the Stellacam attached to an f/6.3 reducer, allowing the entire comet to be in one field. The video output was captured to a digital videorecorder. Randy then combined about 1500 frames using the Registax software.

Once you know where and what to look for, the comet is visible naked eye as a dim point near Perseus.

First report on comet Holmes

Here are two emails from Monday October 29. I'll update this when the photos are processed. - Scott

*****

Hi everyone!

Got back about an hour ago. Scott Berg was able to come out with me. That
comet is amazing! stunning! The nucleus and the brighter central glow
filled the video camera field of view. We put the f6.3 focal reducer on and
was just able to image the whole thing. I grabbed video with the camcorder
and will process the pictures with registax (probably tomorrow night).
There was a bright nucleus, surrounded by a still bright glow that was
offset from the nucleus. Then a fainter outer glow surrounded the entire
nucleus and inner glow. There was a distinct band of less brightness
somewhat inside of the outer edges. I hope all this shows up on the final
pix. I'll be sure to share these. Scott will get them up on the blog
space. I think these will be worth sending in to Sky and Telescope!

The video camera was left with the F6.3 focal reducer on the telescope.
This thing is so big that it was large through the finder scope! I
encourage the rest of you all to get out there and see it!

Randy B

*****

Randy is absolutely right! The image was very atypical of comets and much easier to find and see than I was expecting. There was the bright spot for a nucleus surrounded by a very bright snowball, surrounded by a dimmer sphere. There is no tail or cone shape. The size was really surprising. We tried the Stellacam, the LPI and good old fashioned eyeball. They all worked well.

You can read more on the home page of http://spaceweather.com/

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=6157

http://www.space.com/spacewatch/071025-comet-holmes.html


Scott

The Pewaukee Astronomy Club will host a presentation on Saturday, October 13 at 7:00pm at the Pewaukee Public Library.

Club member Scott Berg will speak about "The Autumn Sky", an overview of famous night time sky objects, including the moon, mars and many constellations.

Weather permitting, the talk will be followed by a guided tour of the sky using the Harken Observatory telescope. The event is free, open to the public and family friendly.

For more information, call Bob Scofield at 262-291-2485.

The Pewaukee Astronomy Club meets at the Harken Observatory located in the Pewaukee Public Library. All events are in the main community room by the parking lot entrance. All meetings are free, family friendly and open to the public.

Tuesday August 7 at 7:00pm - Monthly meeting
Saturday August 11 at 7:30 pm - Tim Walkowski - Astronomical Imaging

Tuesday September 4 at 7:00pm - Monthly meeting
Saturday September 8 at 7:30 pm - Jeff Neumann - My visit to Kitt Peak Observatory

Tuesday October 9 at 7:00pm - Monthly meeting
Saturday October 13 at 7:30pm - Scott Berg -What to see in the Autumn sky

The Saturday meeting have a speaker presentation. Weather permitting, the presentation will be followed by observing.

New Camera

We have been struggling in the past with trying to show a live feed from the cameras that we have. Although they have great detail and beautiful color each photo has to be processed through a computer which can take 10 to 30 minutes. This makes it difficult to put on a demonstration to a group and keep their interest up.

New technology available has provided us with the answer. We have just purchased a new camera called the Stella Cam 3 which is similar to a video camera. Instead of needing a computer to process the images it connects directly to a monitor like a standard TV set. The images appear in seconds and the telescope can move from one object to another. The camera has the capability to view deep sky objects with very low light to bright objects like some of the planets and the moon. The moon is fun to see since we can direct the telescope to cruise around the surface of the moon viewing the different craters, mountains and seas.

For more information on the camera click here. Come and see the action on Saturday July 7 at around 9:00 PM weather permitting.

Upcoming Events

Pewaukee Astronomy Club at the Harken Observatory at the Pewaukee Public Library

All events are in the main community room by the parking lot entrance.

Tuesday July 10 at 7:00pm - Monthly meeting

Saturday July 14 at 7:30pm - Randy Buchwald, topic TBD

Tuesday August 7 at 7:00pm - Monthly meeting

Saturday August 11 at 7:30 pm - Guest speaker - TBD

Tuesday September 4 at 7:00pm - Monthly meeting

Saturday September 8 at 7:30 pm - Scott Berg, topic TBD

Current Schedule

Special Events

• October 13, 7:00pm: Club member Scott Berg will speak about "The Autumn Sky", an overview of famous night time sky objects, including the moon, mars and many constellations. Weather permitting, the talk will be followed by a guided tour of the sky using the Harken Observatory telescope. The event is free, open to the public and family friendly. For more information, call Bob Scofield at 262-291-2485.

Recurring Events

• Saturdays at 7:30pm : Casual viewing, free and open to public. (Canceled if cloudy.)


• Second Saturday every month (after sunset): Public Presentations, varied topics.
  
• Last Thursday of every month, 7-9pm: Pewaukee Astronomy Club meeting. Membership open to those who wish to learn the equipment and/or assist with events and presentations.

Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann3-C Movie and Photos

Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann3-C passing Ring Nebula M57, captured at the Harken Observatory team using our deep sky camera. See the primary site to view more.

Recorded on May 7th, 2006 by Gary Oman and Pewaukee Astronomy Club member Scott Jamieson with a 16-inch Newtonian reflector in Eagle, WI.

Directions, Building Hours, & Contact Info

Contact

Bob Scofield
262.691.2485


Hours

Observatory: The observatory is only open during public viewings and special events. Please refer to the schedule.

Library:
Monday - Thursday : 9:30-8:30
Friday : 9:30-5:00
Saturday (Winter Hours) 9:30-5
Saturday (Summer Hours) 9:30-1:30


Building

The telescope's computers and the door to the Observatory stairwell are located in the Library's Community Room. From the main entrance, the Community Room is the first room on the left, across from the bathrooms.


Driving Directions to 210 Main Street, Pewaukee, WI.

• Map and Directions from Google Maps



• From I-94:
  
  • From east or west on I-94, Exit Highway T also known as Grandview Blvd.
  
  
  • Go North on Hwy T just past WCTC the street name changes to Main street.
  
  
  • Go North on Main street to Prospect avenue.
  
  
  • Turn left on Prospect avenue.
  
  
  • Turn left on Lake Street.
  
  
  • Turn left into the library parking lot.
  
  
  
• From Hwy 16:


• Exit on Capitol Drive.


• Go west on Capitol Drive.


• Once you cross the railroad tracks, the name changes to Oakton Avenue.


• Continue west on Oakton Avenue to Main Street.
  
• Turn Left on Main Street.


• Go one block to Prospect Avenue.


• Turn right on Prospect Avenue.


• Go one block to Lake Street.


• Turn left on Lake Street.


• Turn left into the library parking lot.

About the Harken Astronomical Observatory

We have something very unique in the new Pewaukee Public
Library. Our astronomical observatory may be the only one
in the nation on a public library.

It adds an interesting, educational and fun dimension to our library. The Observatory provides education and brings the wonders of our incredible universe to families of our community in the friendly and casual environment of our new library. It is a hands-on experience with rare access to high tech and powerful equipment.


The Telescope Dome

The dome was made in Australia. It is 12-feet in diameter. A motor drive turns it remotely on a series of ball bearing wheels that ride in a track. There is a slit to look through that opens to view the night sky.


A Refractor vs a Reflector Telescope

There are two types of telescopes — refractors and reflectors. A refractor has a tube with multiple lenses that you look through at one end—light enters at the other. Refractors are usually small in diameter. They are excellent for brighter objects like the moon and planets.


Our telescope is a Meade 12-inch diameter Schmidt-Cassagrian reflector. A reflector has a large mirror in the back of the telescope. Light enters through a glass window in the front, reflects off the large mirror to a smaller mirror in the center of the glass, and back to a hole in the big mirror to interchangeable eyepieces that determine the magnification.

The larger the telescope’s diameter the more light that is taken in, which allows us to see deep sky objects that are very dim. A 12-inch mirror will allow us to view nebulas and galaxies, as well as the moon and planets. A computer will guide and GPS will position the telescope A computer guides the telescope and a GPS (global positioning system) tells it where it is. An azimuth motor keeps the telescope tracking on the object even though the earth is rotating at about a thousand miles an hour.