Orion and New Moon

We’ve had a rainy week and 5 or 6 inches of rain, but it cleared up nicely.  I planned a run on M99, which I had botched a few weeks before.  i unparked the scope, fired up the camera & coolers, opened the roof and aimed at Denebola to check the aim.  That accomplished, I headed inside to do the rest from the living room.

I stepped out of the Hut into a lovely twilight and had to just stop to take in the Big Picture, which is so often lost when futzing with gear.

The Hut in a lovely twilight. Canon 60Da, 38mm; 4 seconds and 1/60 sec exposures combined in Photoshop.  Our local ugly green gradient was cheerfully removed with the Astronomy Tools Soft Gradient removal action.
The Hut in a lovely twilight with Orion and our moon. Canon 60Da, 38mm; 4 seconds and 1/60 sec exposures combined in Photoshop. Our local ugly green gradient was cheerfully removed with the Astronomy Tools Soft Gradient removal action. The red wash was added by my headlamp. Click image for full size.

I heard peepers chorusing across the field and the  redwings calling in the bamboo patch. Then coyotes had a brief earnest discussion.  I haven’t processed the M99 frames yet.  Will put them up soon.

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