NJAA Research Group News December 2011

By William Anthony

The last research group meeting was held on December 9^th. 

The presentation for the night was “ALPO Jupiter Observations of 2009-2010” from ALPO Journal # 53 (2011).  For this presentation, I reviewed the article written by Richard W. Schmude, Jr. ,Coordinator of the, ALPO Jupiter Section.   My purpose in doing so was to detail how amateur images of the planets can result in clear concise scientific data.   

The presentation started off with a quick refresher about the planet Jupiter.

This was followed by a high lighting of the work by the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO).  The report by Richard Schmude of ALPO in ALPO Journal# 53, described the tracking of over 123 features on the face of the planet.  The author summarized the location of each feature along with the drift rate from 2009-2010 of each feature.   This was done by using submitted amateur images to calculate the location of each feature and its movement.  Photometric observation of the planet by Mr. Schmude was presented too.   

A study as to how the seasons on Jupiter effect the size of the polar regions was also conducted.  The authored concluded that the change in the size of the polar regions coincided with the changing Jovian seasons.  This was done by measuring the size of Jovian polar regions on amateur images.

                        The New DMK021AU camera from Image Source

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News:

The new CCD Video camera for lunar and planetary imaging has arrived!!  I am more than thankful to all those who contributed towards the purchase of the DMK021AU monochrome camera from Image Source.  Numerous members donated a significant amount of money for the camera!   Coupled to this were the generous donations from the public during our monthly meeting.  I am whole heartily thankful to NJAA President Steve Gale for leading the fund raising drive for the camera along with his own personal donations toward the camera!!.

So, what is all the fuss about?  Well, with the use of the camera we hope to study the following:

1. The changing features of the planet Jupiter.
2. Activity of volcanoes on the planet Venus
3. Changes of the Martian polar caps.
4. Observe craters on the planet Mercury.
5. White spots on the globe of Saturn

 

These are just a few examples as to the use of the camera, and each of the lunar and planetary images will be submitted to ALPO.    For now we going thru the learning process per the use of the camera, and images processing.  Once we have reached a certain level of proficiency a training session will be conducted to teach members how to use the camera and how to process images.   At this time, NJAA Research Group members are more than welcome to use the camera. 

To use the camera itself, with your own labtop computer, you will need to first download the IC Capture software and drivers for the camera.  Both along with other information relevant to the camera can be found on the NJAA ftp site (access can be found thru the NJAA members only section).  Special thanks to Jim Rosselli for assembling this information! 

Hopefully we can start to ramp up an imaging campaign focused on Mars and Venus in the coming months.  Also, look for new exciting speakers to present at the NJAA Research Group meetings in the months ahead.   A few NJAA Research Group members have already produced scientifically useful images and drawings of the planets this winter that can be submitted to ALPO!  These and other items will be detailed in a final NJAA Research Group 2011 Report coming “hopefully” next month.  

William Anthony

NJAA Res. Dir.

Email: bill518@hotmail.com

Photo of Jupiter by Vladimir Alexandrov, taken with the new DMK021AU camera

NJAA C8 NexStar, 2X Barlow, stack of 2 minute exposures

using IR cut filter.

NJAA Research 2011-2012

Hello members, below is a reprint of my article for the October NJAA Astronotes.  The article below helps to express my hopes as to the direction the group will hopefully take in the coming year. 

NJAA Research 2011-2012

    On July 9^th 2009, amateur astronomer Anthony Wesley from Australia made the discovery of a lifetime.  His computer monitor clearly showed a black scar on the face of the planet Jupiter.  Anthony had obtained his image using a CCD video camera to capture moments of excellent seeing.  His 14” scope had discovered the 2^nd impact of Jupiter by a comet or asteroid in known human history!!!  In the coming days, an arsenal of professional telescopes along with the Hubble Space Telescope would be pointed at Jupiter to monitor this significant event.

   Anthony Wesley, and other members of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO), had followed a clearly defined path.  Scientific observations were made with amateur equipment, formatted and then reported to organizations with professional-amateur ties.  Infact, Anthony had obtained such a standing with his systematic imaging of Jupiter that he had direct contact with professional astronomers!  On his famed discovery night, he directly contacted a professional astronomer!  As thanks, his personal website was soon overloaded as professional astronomers and the news media raced to view his image.

     While we may not reach the precise level and fame as Anthony, my hope is for the NJAA Research group to follow the same path and begin systematic imaging of solar system objects.  But we must follow a similar method.  Hence, observations will be conducted at NJAA, and reported to amateur organizations, specifically ones with ties to professional astronomers.  That way, data and observations gathered at NJAA will be useful to professional astronomers, advance amateurs doing research, and archived for future use.

     I am not suggesting that our only research activity will be lunar and planetary imaging.  But I am suggesting that we follow the format listed above for the majority of NJAA Research activities.  Observations collected and then disseminated to organizations with professional-amateur ties.  That way we will be clearly producing scientifically useful results.  My belief is that we can start imaging the planets, in the coming months to weeks.  While this activity is partaking; we can start preparing the equipment to do high level photometry work of minor planets and variable stars.  There are also many other research activities which can be researched and investigated. 

   At the last research meeting on October 14th, I laid down my plan for research activities for the coming year.  For starters, I proposed the purchase of a CCD video camera, for high resolution imaging of the planets.  These devices are very similar to the webcams previously used for imaging the planets, Sun, and old Luna.  But the newer CCD video cameras contain chips that are more sensitive to light coupled with higher resolution.  Hence this allows them to obtain better images than their predecessors.  The beauty of this endeavor is that it is not demanding of the equipment.    We just need to use a medium to large aperture scope with a working clock drive.  Clearly many of the NJAA telescopes fit these criteria.  My obvious suggestions are the 12” Meade LX 2000 “Girlfriend” and 12” RCX.  

   There were three specific cameras that I suggested for purchase.  Two of them were monochrome cameras (Grey Point Flea 3 and Image Source DMK21); versus the Image Source DBK21 a one-shot color camera.  Each of these cameras is currently used by ALPO members.   The Flea 3 and DMK21 were clearly better then the DBK21 as far as resolution.  But the DBK21 is still able to produce a scientifically useful image and will be much more user friendly.  The monochrome cameras require a filter wheel and filters to enable them to compile a RGB color image.  Hence, the $350 priced DBK021 ended up being the clear winner given its ease of use.  It is worth mentioning that these cameras are very small and compact devices. 

   To obtain a nice sharp image of a planet, the CCD video camera is inserted into the focuser instead of an eyepiece.  The camera then captures video of the planet, snapping images from 15-60 frames per second.   After a minute or two we have quite a few hundred images of the planet.   A freeware program called Registax is then used to sort thru the images and compile the best ones into one single composite image.  That image is then polished in Photoshop and can be then sent via internet to ALPO.

   Once the Research group is actively imaging solar system objects and participating with ALPO, we can look to more difficult projects.  It is quite possible that we could start to do photometry in some shape or form in the coming months.  My conclusion after talking with group members is that we are much better off then previously thought.

A very interesting project would be to obtain the light curve of a minor planet. 

The third activity is to get the NJAA SID station back up and running.  The SID station is a radio telescope that is able to detect solar flares in real time.  Once running, we can   submit monthly reports to the Association of American Variable Star Observers (AAVSO).

   The Research Group meeting on the 14^th went very smoothly with 15 or so members in attendance.  We had quite a few discussions about ideas, and possible research activites.  Not to mention the coffee and deserts that quickly vanished.  As an added bonus we were able to see the new CCD astrophotography camera at NJAA.  

    With all that is going on, I would clearly invite every NJAA member to attend a Research Group meeting.  For the remainder of the year, Research Group meetings will be held on the second Friday of the month at 8:30 pm.  I hope to see you there!

William Anthony

NJAA Research Director