Walter's LogBook
	June 2003

Overview

The nights are short, but I'm still getting some variable star imaging in.

The MX916 is the imaging camera, with exposures for variable stars of 30 seconds at 2x2 binning (unguided). This month's session notes are below the overview section.

Session Notes

Sun/Mon, June 15/16, 2003

The nights are quite short now (only 3½ hours) and it is full moon, so I did variables with the MX916 and a Johnson V filter. The walnut tree starts to block objects at 240º azimuth (e.g. Arcturus). Around 3am I saw a bat flying in the attic as I started to leave the observatory for the control room. I didn't see it again the rest of the night. To finish off, I imaged M57 (in V) during twilight.

The Ring Nebula (Messier 57)

Scope: 10" f/6.3 LX200, camera: MX916 binned 2x2. M57 imaged during twilight with a V filter (exposure: 8x30s).

Mon/Tue, June 16/17, 2003

At sunset this evening, I acquired 20 flat frames for calibrating the images. I did variables again with the MX916 and a Johnson V filter. Controlling the dome by computer is quite nice -- I could get used to this!

Tue/Wed, June 17/18, 2003

Session from 23:00 to 03:00. I did variables yet again with the MX916 and a Johnson V filter. At 2am my computer crashed, and then the scope required two synchs to get pointing on target again; I wound up losing 20 minutes out of the night. Cloud slowly moved up from the south during my imaging of stars #9 & 10 tonight (EL & RS Lyr).

On the plus side, there was no bat flying around in the attic tonight.

Thu/Fri, June 19/20, 2003

I did variables yet again with the MX916 and a Johnson V filter. At 00:45 my images went blank (just noise). Looking out the window, the sky had become completely overcast! I need an all sky camera so I can remotely monitor clouds! At least the commute downstairs to my bed wasn't too long!

Getting a bit of a late start (at least a few minutes later than I had hoped), I had to skip visiting UZ Boo (it would pass behind the tree too soon). I decided to visit NY Ser as my first star of the night. I was rewarded by seeing it in a single 30-second frame! Finally, a cataclysmic variable that wasn't at minimum!

I visited NY Ser, LX Ser, and QZ Ser from midnight to about half an hour later.

Mon/Tue, June 30/July 1, 2003

I did variables again with the MX916 and a Johnson V filter (22:30 - 03:00). The temperature only changed from +20 to +17C tonight, so I only took one set of dark frames (shortly after 11pm).

New technique: I decided to start imaging during astronomical twilight in order to lengthen the night -- it worked out quite well and allows me to pick up one extra hour in the evening and one extra hour in the morning!

I visited the following variables: