Boulder Knolls Observatory

Orion’s Sword (M42) 2003

bkoadmin — Thu, 07 May 2009 19:40:06 +0000

This photo’s quality is in stark contrast to the print generated ten years earlier. Compositing has removed the grain, autoguiding has improved the star size and roundness, and positive scanning has allowed for contrast and color enhancements. A final 15 frame composite was also generated that resolves the trapezium to the four stars in a print of sufficient size.

9 frame composite unhypered Kodak Ecktachrome E200
123 minutes total exposure
Borg 125ED f6.4

Equitorial wedge for my Meade 12″ Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope

bkoadmin — Thu, 07 May 2009 19:34:38 +0000

I have machined an equitorial wedge for my Meade 12″ Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, and am currently duplicating it for my desert site near the Mexican Border. The primary scope is housed in a 10 ft. observatory dome on my 3 acre property north of Escondido California. The site is locate 16.7 miles from the Hale 200″ telescope on Mount Palomar. I’m also in the process of designing azimuth control for the dome, and establishing a piered refractor installation on a parador next to the observatory. This instrument is a 125cm Borg ED f6.4 refractor on a Losmonday G11 german equatorial mount.

Crab Nebula (M1)

bkoadmin — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:48:36 +0000

The remnant of a supernova in our galaxy, the exploding star was observed by the Chinese in 1050 for days during daylight and night.

Horsehead and Christmas Tree Nebulae

bkoadmin — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:45:20 +0000

A dark nebula in the shape of a horse head near Betleguese in Orion, this object is a challenging observation.

Orion’s Sword (M42) 1993

bkoadmin — Tue, 07 Dec 1993 20:40:35 +0000

The Great Orion Nebula is a star forming region in our Milky Way galaxy, and one of the most beautiful telescopic objects in the northern heavens.

30 min exposure on Fuli HG400 film
December 1993, Tierra del Sol