My View of the eclipse

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MapleRidge
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My View of the eclipse

Post by MapleRidge »

Hi everyone...

Well, the eclipse is the better part of a week behind us now and finally made it home and have made up a bit of a mosaic of the eclipse. We (wife, teenage kids, and I) travelled across several states during the week prior to the eclipse eventually spending 3 days in the Rockies in Colorado. We left Colorado Sunday to meet up with a good friend and fellow astronomer who drive straight form Ontario.

Although the skies were somewhat overcast with moderate cirrus the sky was clear to the north of our Hotel in Kearny Nebraska so we were not overly concerned for the drive to Raveena NE about 30 miles to the north. We arrived at the golf course where I had arranged to view the event, and had crisp blue skies. The course manager provided spaces to park, unload all the astro gear, golf carts to haul it to the hill top by the 1st green (highest point on the course) and there were a lot of trees to take shelter from the heat, washroom, and a kitchen in the clubhouse too. Prior to totality they had 400 people in the course to view...mostly just using various eclipse glasses. My friend Gord and I were the only ones with much of a telescope setup and we had a steady stream of people coming to get a look as we moved to wards totality.

The images in the mosaic were taken through a William Optics 70mm scope and a Canon 60D. I also grabbed a few images in Ha as the event was under way using the Lunt 75mm etalon/B1200Ha filter set with the ZWO1600MM camera on a William Optics 70mm scope mounted beside the other. Here is a snap of me getting setup.
set-up.jpg
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I grabbed images through the DSLR as the eclipse progressed...no particular timing was followed as I was busy with family and visitors stopping by for views. I selected a few to show the sequence from early eclipse, through totality, and almost to the final contact of the moon. We did have small thing patch of cirrus blow through just prior to totality but it had little effect on the views.
Eclipse-Composite.jpg
Eclipse-Composite.jpg (1.24 MiB) Viewed 5561 times
Sun_L_170729_RS.jpg
Sun_L_170729_RS.jpg (407.4 KiB) Viewed 5561 times
Sun_L_174449_RS.jpg
Sun_L_174449_RS.jpg (129.29 KiB) Viewed 5561 times
This was my first total eclipse, and it was an amazing experience. Even my family that were somewhat skeptical of the effort to get there were impressed (and to have the 2 teenagers admit that was pretty impressive ;) ).

That's it for now...on to processing images captures since we got home, and out do some more in a few minutes.

Take care,
Brian


Brian Colville

Maple Ridge Observatory
Cambray, ON Canada

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/185395281@N08/albums

10'x15 Roll-off Roof Observatory
Takahashi EM400 Mount carrying:
C14 + Lunt 80ED
Deep Sky Work - ASI294MM Pro+EFW 7x36/Canon 60D (Ha mod), ONAG
Planetary Work - SBIG CFW10, ASI462MM

2.2m Diameter Dome
iOptron CEM70G Mount carrying:
Orion EON 130ED, f7 OTA for Day & Night Use
Ha Setup: Lunt LS80PT/LS75FHa/B1200Ha + Home Brew Lunt Double Stack/B1800Ha on the Orion OTA + Daystar Quantum
WL, G-Band & CaK Setup: Lunt Wedge & Lunt B1800CaK, Baader K-Line and Altair 2nm G-Band filter
ASI1600MM, ASI432MM, ASI294MM Pro, ASI174MM, ASI462MM
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Re: My View of the eclipse

Post by Derek Klepp »

Great views Brian.The fact that your teenagers thought it impressive is the most rewarding aspect of the whole trip and something they will always remember.As they get older they move away from the family holidays.(min e do anyway).Look forward to any additions.
Cheers Derek.


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Re: My View of the eclipse

Post by Carbon60 »

Well worth the effort and long drive, Brian. Excellent results. Family memories never to be forgotten.

Stu.


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Re: My View of the eclipse

Post by MapleRidge »

Derek and Stu...

Thanks for your comments. Besides the eclipse surprising them, the views in the Rockies had a positive review as well.

Brian


Brian Colville

Maple Ridge Observatory
Cambray, ON Canada

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/185395281@N08/albums

10'x15 Roll-off Roof Observatory
Takahashi EM400 Mount carrying:
C14 + Lunt 80ED
Deep Sky Work - ASI294MM Pro+EFW 7x36/Canon 60D (Ha mod), ONAG
Planetary Work - SBIG CFW10, ASI462MM

2.2m Diameter Dome
iOptron CEM70G Mount carrying:
Orion EON 130ED, f7 OTA for Day & Night Use
Ha Setup: Lunt LS80PT/LS75FHa/B1200Ha + Home Brew Lunt Double Stack/B1800Ha on the Orion OTA + Daystar Quantum
WL, G-Band & CaK Setup: Lunt Wedge & Lunt B1800CaK, Baader K-Line and Altair 2nm G-Band filter
ASI1600MM, ASI432MM, ASI294MM Pro, ASI174MM, ASI462MM
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Re: My View of the eclipse

Post by eroel »

Brian:
Beautiful eclipse session.
Well done.
A big hug,
Eric.


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Re: My View of the eclipse

Post by shindog67 »

Brian,

Good to hear the family was impressed. Drove 400+ miles with my daughter to see totality. She wasn't so sure ... until she experienced it all! Now we're both planning to get into some DAYTIME observing, and why I just signed up here. Much to learn.

shindog67


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Re: My View of the eclipse

Post by OTangen »

Hi Brian!

Very nice report from the golf course. Great pictures and composition.

Oivind Tangen
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Re: My View of the eclipse

Post by Montana »

Absolutely superb images Brian, I love to hear the eclipse stories, they are all so unique and special, I look forward to more additions :bow :hamster:
One thing I will never forget is how happy everyone was, the excitement was overwhelming and even the non-believers afterwards were raving about it. It certainly was a magical experience I will never forget and not just the 2 minutes of totality but the whole day.
Alexandra


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Re: My View of the eclipse

Post by MapleRidge »

Eric, shindog67, Ovind, and Alexandra...

Thanks so much for your feedback...the eclipse was a great sight and road trip there and back!

The group atmosphere was great, much like the star parties, where everyone enjoys the sights, views, stories, and experiences. Nice to have people together and leave the politics and religion at the door and just enjoy the show!

Brian


Brian Colville

Maple Ridge Observatory
Cambray, ON Canada

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/185395281@N08/albums

10'x15 Roll-off Roof Observatory
Takahashi EM400 Mount carrying:
C14 + Lunt 80ED
Deep Sky Work - ASI294MM Pro+EFW 7x36/Canon 60D (Ha mod), ONAG
Planetary Work - SBIG CFW10, ASI462MM

2.2m Diameter Dome
iOptron CEM70G Mount carrying:
Orion EON 130ED, f7 OTA for Day & Night Use
Ha Setup: Lunt LS80PT/LS75FHa/B1200Ha + Home Brew Lunt Double Stack/B1800Ha on the Orion OTA + Daystar Quantum
WL, G-Band & CaK Setup: Lunt Wedge & Lunt B1800CaK, Baader K-Line and Altair 2nm G-Band filter
ASI1600MM, ASI432MM, ASI294MM Pro, ASI174MM, ASI462MM
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Re: My View of the eclipse

Post by edobosz »

Lovely work Brian, Glad you had a great eclipse!
Ted


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Re: My View of the eclipse

Post by MapleRidge »

Thanks Ted.

Brian


Brian Colville

Maple Ridge Observatory
Cambray, ON Canada

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/185395281@N08/albums

10'x15 Roll-off Roof Observatory
Takahashi EM400 Mount carrying:
C14 + Lunt 80ED
Deep Sky Work - ASI294MM Pro+EFW 7x36/Canon 60D (Ha mod), ONAG
Planetary Work - SBIG CFW10, ASI462MM

2.2m Diameter Dome
iOptron CEM70G Mount carrying:
Orion EON 130ED, f7 OTA for Day & Night Use
Ha Setup: Lunt LS80PT/LS75FHa/B1200Ha + Home Brew Lunt Double Stack/B1800Ha on the Orion OTA + Daystar Quantum
WL, G-Band & CaK Setup: Lunt Wedge & Lunt B1800CaK, Baader K-Line and Altair 2nm G-Band filter
ASI1600MM, ASI432MM, ASI294MM Pro, ASI174MM, ASI462MM
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Re: My View of the eclipse

Post by marktownley »

These are excellent Brian! Looks like you had a ball!


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