Stellafane Convention in Springfield, VT

Top image: The McGregor Observatory on Breezy Hill was open for public viewing on Friday night. Above the peak of the observatory roof is the Perseus Double Cluster, and well to the right at the same altitude is the Andromeda Galaxy. Both were easily visible to the naked eye on this exceptionally clear night.

Image details: A 30-s exposure with at Canon 400D camera at a focal length of 24 mm and ISO 1600. Image processing with ImagesPlus and Photoshop.

Bottom image: A wide-field view of the Milky Way, stretching from Cygnus at the upper left to the Coathanger Cluster in the middle of the image, to the Scutum Star Cloud at the lower right.

Image details: Four 30-s exposures with at Canon 400D camera at a focal length of 18 mm and ISO 1600.

August 6, 2010