Another update from its maker informs us our observatory has reached another milestone with the dome now mated to the curved base walls. While construction is not yet finished, we’re told arrangements are being made for shipping. We’re trying to not get too excited — by the time the observatory arrives here, winter will have arrived and we’ll probably have to store our precious purchase until spring!
After a worrisome extended period without updates, we at last heard from the maker of our observatory; the dome is nearly complete! As we understand it, the dome will be lifted on to the round wall base for fitting and quality control testing — including installation and operation of its electrical rotation system. Once assured everything fits and works properly, the observatory will be disassembled and crated for shipping. No shipping date has been provided as yet but we’re happy to hear progress has been made.
C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) has faded so very much in just a few days! We wish that we could have seen it early in the week — right after it became an evening object here — but rain and clouds ruined the first nights and, as I just said, that comet is fading *fast* as it retreats toward the outer regions of our Solar System. Comet C/2023 A3 had what seemed to be an extraordinarily long tail and, while we were unable to capture its extent, you can see hints of it leading far beyond its bright nucleus. Visual sightings, for us, were binocular-assisted only and when we could finally see it, C/2023 A3 wasn’t exactly “spectacular”but it was another comet to add to our “life list”.
A panoramic view of the aurora borealis as viewed from rural Medina County, Ohio, as a surge in activity occurred. The display is reflected in the still waters of a small lake. The bright light at the right-hand end above the treeline is light pollution from the city of Medina. Photo by James Guilford.
It began on Tuesday, October 8, when a sunspot called AR3848 flared explosively over the course of several hours. The detonation hurled a large and powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) Earthward from Sun. On Thursday, October 10 the magnetically-charged solar plasma hit Earth’s geomagnetic field and fireworks erupted. According to SpaceWeather.com the aurora borealis was seen as far south as Puerto Rico!
I headed out to a remote county park location, where I have permission to be after dark, and was fortunate enough to be ready when a significant surge in activity occurred — around 10 PM EDT. That peak was amazing with colors, shapes, and movement visible across the entire northern horizon. It was particularly cool to see pillars appearing and disappearing in real time. Light from the aurora reflected upon the still waters of the park’s lake. Adding to the quiet, magical mood, were occasional calls in the darkness from perched birds. A wood duck, out on the lake, piped a sound reminding me of common loons.
The auroral surge went on for probably a bit more than half an hour, challenging me to select a spot to photograph. First one area would glow, then one at the other end of the bow-shaped display, pillars of light would appear like searchlights, then fade away. A thrill to witness as light, movement, and delicate colors were visible to the unaided eye. The camera picked up more than my poor eyes could see but I say without reservation this was the grandest aurora I’ve witnessed.
All evening there seemed to be more intense activity over the western end of the aurora; that was verified by relatives in northwest Ohio whose photos showed a sky full of color directly overhead.
While I was at the lake I heard others coming and going from the park, pretty much the entire time I was there. A young couple eventually ventured away from the parking lot and encountered me at my spot around 11:30, seeking what I had found — a dark spot near the water. Their arrival had been delayed by a camera gone bad, and they had gone home to pick up another. Things petered out not long after the peak and, checking NOAA resources, it looked like the auroral ring was retreating back north. The couple had missed the best of the night and I, with frozen fingers and toes, I headed home.
Still working without a dome, our setups are outdoors and temporary so we try and keep them fairly simple. Solar observing and imaging generally lend themselves well to brief observations due to the extreme amount of light available and resultant short photographic exposures. With a couple of clear days and nights available, we took advantage and made some experiments and observations with several successive setups on a single Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro mount.
We began with the Askar 103 APO telescope and its 700mm focal length, attaching our Baader Herschel-Prism, and the new ASI678MM monochrome camera. The setup worked well but for one issue: focus was only just achieved with the focuser racked all the way in with no latitude for adjustment. Image quality was very good but probably would have been better if we’d have had a bit more inward travel. Note: It was only later that we realized we might gain the needed travel if we had switched the camera’s nosepiece from the 1.25-inch to the 2-inch, allowing removal of the thick 1.25-inch adapter ring from the Herschel. A well, duh, moment!
By the way, we continue to be impressed by the build quality and optical excellence of the Askar refractor. It’s a solid instrument with great features, delivering superb results.
The second experiment involved installing our massive Meade 6-inch telescope on the mount. The Skywatcher has a retractable rod for holding counterweights and is, therefore, a bit shorter than it might otherwise be, resulting in less leverage. It took nearly all of our available counterweights to balance the big scope. We installed the Herschel-Prism and a nice eyepiece and got beautiful views of the spotted face of our star. Attaching the ASI678MM, however, we could not reach focus — that inward focuser travel limit again — but we don’t believe the switch to the 2-inch nosepiece will help. That’s a shame! The Meade’s 1,250mm focal length would have provided amazing closeups!
With the mount set up we decided to try out the 11-inch Celestron SCT at night. Herschel wedge accessories are not to be used on reflecting telescopes as the concentrated unfiltered incoming sunlight can damage the scope’s secondary mirror. To our disappointment the telescope, which has set in storage for months since we attempted collumnation, displayed rather severe image distortions — comma-shaped stars. After a good bit of frustration we dismounted the telescope and planned to come out the next night with the Vixen Cassegrain telescope.
The following evening looked very promising; the sky was actually more transparent than it had been for the Celestron effort. Saturn would rise from behind trees neighboring our site some time after 11 p.m. so, at the appointed hour, we stepped outdoors and looked. Clouds, heralding a day or two of rain showers, were rolling in — broken at first but rapidly obscuring the entire sky. We tore down the setup, stowed the gear, and called it a night.
Over the period of a couple of days and nights, much was learned and the new planetary camera proved itself to be an excellent performer. We’ll continue to use the camera and telescope for solar and, probably, lunar views. Next we’ll likely try installing the focal reducer to achieve full-disk images.
I’ve been shooting Sun images so frequently lately that I’ve neglected the night. While a recent aurora was obscured by clouds (and my sleep schedule) here, and no Perseid meteors spotted (clouds and sleep), Moon put in a nice appearance. Our neighbor in space was very low in our southern sky the night of August 14, which was good and bad. It was good because it can be hard to observe objects high overhead. It was bad because lower to the horizon means more air — and turbulence — between the observer and astronomical objects than if they were overhead. A tripod-mounted telephoto lens and DSLR were used for the capture and a bit of post-processing sharpened things up pretty well.
One of the things I enjoy most when observing Moon is looking along the terminator — the divide between dark and lit areas — at features partly illuminated by, in this case, the rising Sun. Especially noticeable is the arc of light near the upper end of the terminator — the sunlit tops of the Jura Mountains, defining the Bay of Rainbows, off of the grand Sea of Showers or Mare Imbrium.
I continued my practice of daily imaging of the sun for some weeks now. While still deciding precisely how to use and display the images I’m collecting, I’m also trying to standardize how the images are captured and establish a workflow in editing; that is in an effort to give the daily pictures the same overall size and appearance except for details, such as sunspots, where we want to observe changes. It’s not as easy as it may seem, especially when attempting to constantly improve image quality. This ought to become simpler once I have a permanent setup protected day-to-day within an observatory structure.
Sunspots AR3713 and AR3712, the more pronounced of the three large groups, have been interesting to watch as they traversed the visible side of Sun. Today (June 22), braving the morning’s already hot and humid conditions, I went to the extra work of setting up the Vixen VC200L Cassegrain telescope in an effort to achieve high quality images of the two — plus AR3716 — big sunspot groups before they disappear over the western solar limb. Both of the active regions reportedly harbor opposing magnetic energies which could, at any time, reconnect and throw off powerful flares but both have been surprisingly quiet. The next few days will be the last when an outburst from AR3713 or AR3712 might affect Earth.
I meant well but still wound up posting new solar images to Instagram and Threads instead of here. Today’s image was particularly pleasing, however, so I’ve posted it in all three places!
Today was another day featuring a cloudy morning and sunny afternoon. This time, however, we experienced excellent seeing for a while — just long enough to record today’s solar portrait. We’re so pleased with the “inset” image that we’re featuring it first — it’s cropped directly from the whole-disk picture. Obviously sunspots AR3713 and AR3712 are dominant features; they also reportedly possess magnetic fields with the potential for M-Class flares.
Doing this the “old-fashioned” way, this image was a single exposure manually selected as best of a larger group of shots. The chosen image is edited to produce the best available picture from the data gathered. Today’s excellent seeing made for an unusually good photo. We’re pretty pleased.
We Saw It! The skies, recovered to blue and sunshine from overnight rain and clouds giving us hope and a spring in our step. As the hour of eclipse approached, so did a generally thin milky layer of clouds. The eclipse was not spoiled, however, and we enjoyed a wonderful view. We sincerely hope you were able to experience the “2024 Great American Eclipse” as well.
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Eclipse Watching in Medina, Ohio
April skies are notoriously changeable here in Northeast Ohio where we are otherwise in an excellent location for viewing the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse. In fact, the chances of a clear sky here are only about 37 percent. Ugh! Dedicated eclipse chasers will mostly head to the southwestern U.S. for better chances at clear skies. For those of us not traveling, let’s hope for clear skies here on the Big Day because a total solar eclipse is more than just an awesome sight, it’s an experience! Let’s be prepared.
An Updated List of Resources Appears Near The End of This Article
Time and Eclipses Wait for No One
Moon’s shadow will be clipping across Ohio at about 2,100 miles per hour, so the peak period of the eclipse — totality — is fleeting. Medina will experience about 3 minutes and 28 seconds of totality, which is pretty good. If we were in the central line of the path of totality, which passes right through Lorain, we would have 3 minutes and 53 seconds of glorious viewing. Here, courtesy of the U.S. Naval Observatory, are local times for critical points of the eclipse:
Timing in Medina, Ohio (Eastern Daylight Time)
Partial Eclipse Begins — 1:58:38
Totality Begins — 3:13:23
Maximum Eclipse — 3:15:06
Totality Ends — 3:15:51
Partial Eclipse Ends — 4:28:38
☀️ 🌑 ☀️
Sights and Experiences
The eclipse will begin when Moon starts its passage across the solar disk. When viewed through protective filters, a tiny nick will be missing from Sun’s limb. That nick will gradually grow as the partial eclipse phase progresses. Viewed through “eclipse glasses” or other specialty solar filters, Sun will transition from a full disk to, eventually, a slim crescent. Our surroundings will not become dark as night but the light will take on an eerie softness as Sun fades. If, heaven forbid, skies are cloudy, it will be very dark in the path of totality … very dark indeed.
Sunspots may be visible. Dark markings of various sizes and shapes may be seen on the solar disk during the partial phases of the eclipse. Sun is in the most active phase of its regular cycle during which sunspots are common. If they are large enough, sunspots can be seen using eclipse glasses but are best observed through telescopes equipped with solar filters.
The air may feel cooler, birds and other animals may begin evening behaviors. Street lights and other automatic lighting may activate.
Just before totality begins, two interesting effects will be seen, caused by Moon: Baily’s beads are dots of sunlight that will dance along the edge of the blackened moon. The diamond ring effect is a singular burst of sunlight that, combined with the light ring of the now-eclipsed sun, is reminiscent of a shining diamond. Both effects are caused by sunlight shining through the mountainous terrain on Moon’s horizon as it moves into position in front of Sun.
Look around as these things are happening, and watch for shadow bands — dim waves of dark and light that will ripple across the ground immediately before and after totality. The bands are a memorable experience but often missed because most attention will be on the sky above!
During totality — and only during totality — eclipse glasses and solar filters are not needed. In fact, the eclipse will be too dim to be seen through the protective devices. Looking around where they are standing, watchers will notice that it is not as dark as night but something odd is to be seen. Overhead, where the brilliant afternoon sun should be shining, it’s dark but for the glorious total eclipse. Along the distant horizon, there is sunlight — it’s coming from areas outside of Moon’s shadow, away from the path of totality.
Marvel at Sun’s corona as it radiates from the dark circle of moon-covered-sun. It’s a sight not soon forgotten! During totality look for a star-like light to the southwest of the eclipse — it’s planet Venus! To the upper left of Sun’s position is planet Jupiter.
The interesting effects and partial eclipse phases will take place in reverse order as totality ends. Put those eclipse glasses and filters back on immediately — even the crescent Sun is powerful enough to damage unprotected eyes — and don’t forget to turn unprotected cameras away from Sun!
So What’s Happening?
A total solar eclipse occurs when Moon passes between Sun and Earth, causing Moon’s shadow to be cast on Earth’s surface. Moon is at the right distance from Earth that, when it does pass in front of Sun, the fit is nearly perfect, blocking direct sunlight from reaching the surface within its shadow. An annular eclipse happens when Moon’s orbit carries it a bit too far from Earth to cover the solar disk, producing a “ring of fire” — sunlight in a halo around the dark Moon. Most of the time, Moon’s orbit carries it into positions where its shadow “misses” Earth, so there’s no eclipse.
As mentioned earlier, when totality is reached, Sun’s brilliant light is completely blocked as viewed from within Moon’s shadow. That shielding from brilliant sunlight allows the solar corona to be seen. The corona is a hazy glow surrounding the darkened Sun and is the outermost region of the Sun’s atmosphere, consisting of plasma (hot ionized gas). The corona continually varies in size and shape as it is affected by the Sun’s magnetic field so its appearance differs eclipse-to-eclipse and is of great interest to those who study our nearest star — it also makes totality a unique and awe-inspiring sight.
Eclipse Viewing Safety
Don’t risk your vision! Even when Sun is “mostly” covered by Moon before and after the total eclipse, sunlight will be strong enough to cause permanent eye damage. Sunglasses and other makeshift items are not enough. To look at the sun, use only certified “eclipse glasses” — filters — so you can safely view Sun before and after totality. Here’s a link to sources: https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters — More Information Below
Medina, Ohio Area Resources
Branches of Medina County (Ohio) District Library were distributing eclipse glasses free of charge, one per family, as supplies allow, at the time of this writing. Glasses are easy to share amongst family members, looking one at a time at the partly-eclipsed sun. In fact, it is best for adults to watch children who are using eclipse glasses to make certain they’re wearing them correctly and that can’t be done if the adult is wearing eclipse glasses at the same time — they’re too dark! Library Eclipse Programs
The Medina County Park District has no events planned for April 8 but expect a number of people will eclipse-watch from their beautiful reservations. They do have a list of suggestions and rules concerning park properties at this URL: https://medinacountyparks.com/index.php/programs/2024-solar-eclipse
The Medina County Fair Board will be renting out Solar Eclipse Camping sites for campers and motorhomes beginning Friday April 5 thru Tuesday April 9. There will be electric hook-up and restrooms and showers on site. Call (330) 723-9633 or email medinafair@gmail.com to reserve a space. Looking for a place to just park your vehicle to watch the eclipse? You can rent a parking spot for $20 (cash only) at the Community Center parking lot.
Useful Mobile Apps via the AAS
Here you’ll find some of the best eclipse-related apps and software available, as judged by members of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) Solar Eclipse Task Force: https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/apps-software
Solar Eclipse Timer App
Want more precision and audio/voice prompts at critical points of the event? Then this app’s for you! (Included in the AAS list) There are versions for iOS and Android and a small charge to update to the 2024 version ($1.99 for iOS) but it’s worth it if you want a sophisticated digital assistant — be sure and install and update in advance for your observing location! https://www.solareclipsetimer.com/
A Word About “Eclipse Glasses“
Purchase and use only ISO filters and eclipse glasses certified for direct viewing of the sun. This is your vision, and that of your loved ones, we’re talking about here! Sunglasses, smoked glass, Compact Discs, photographic negatives, and other items are not safe for looking directly at Sun! Safe, inexpensive eclipse glasses and filter cards are widely available for this eclipse so should be bought in advance and stored safely away. Read and follow instructions that should be printed on eclipse glass frames. Check the “lenses” for damage such as tears or pinholes and throw the glasses away if any defects are found. The glasses can be kept and used after the event but should be examined before use every time. Remember, too, these often colorfully-framed eclipse glasses may be appealing to children BUT THEY ARE NOT TOYS — they are all that stand between the user and permanent eye damage so do not allow kids to play with them. For more on this subject, see: https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/iso-certification
If you’re using old eclipse glasses, make sure the lenses aren’t scratched or damaged. Check out this video from NASA on how to make sure your glasses are good to go: youtube.com/
What about a welder’s mask or welder’s glass? Check this out: Can I Use Welding Glasses?
Beware: Counterfeit and Fake eclipse glasses are being found and can endanger the vision of victimized consumers! Best solution? See the link above for sources of reliable and safe viewers. Here is a link to a detailed article on the problem. https://aas.org/press/american-astronomical-society-warns-counterfeit-fake-eclipse-glasses
Stella-Luna Observatory 