Category: Astronomy Report

Astronomy Report

Name: Eishi Kim
Crew: 222
Date: 2/23/2020

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY

Robotic Telescope Requested (choose one) MDRS-14

Objects to be Imaged this Evening: As weather has improved, the active
observations should progress tonight.

Images submitted with this report: Taking advantage of bad weather, the
M101 was processed again, taking Peter’s tips into account. The bad
pixels are less visible now. Sorry I had only saved in PNG, not in JPEG!

Problems Encountered: None

MUSK OBSERVATORY

Solar Features Observed: N/A

Images submitted with this report: N/A

Problems Encountered: N/A

Astronomy Report

Name: Eishi Kim
Crew: 222
Date: 2/22/2020

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY

Robotic Telescope Requested (choose one) MDRS-14

Objects to be Imaged this Evening: All pending observations are now complete. Will continue working on the research project despite bad weather, with newly requested observations of NGC 4618, NGC 5047, NGC 4559, NGC 3521, NGC 4569, NGC 4725, NGC 3675, NGC 4579, NGC 4636.

Images submitted with this report: None

Problems Encountered: None

MUSK OBSERVATORY

Solar Features Observed: N/A

Images submitted with this report: N/A

Problems Encountered: N/A

Astronomy Report

Name: Eishi Kim
Crew: 222
Date: 2/21/2020

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY Robotic Telescope Requested (choose one) MDRS-14

Objects to be Imaged this Evening: Tonight will be dedicated to the research project. In addition to the already active observations, NGC2403 is joining the queue.

Images submitted with this report: Attached is the final picture of M42 imaged by the MDRS-WF last night, obtained after some time learning and tweaking on Photoshop. Hope I got it quite right on this first attempt!

Problems Encountered:
– Some frames from last night had white lines crossing the field, as shown in the attached image of M101 on the Red filter. In this case, there were 4 exposures on the Red filter with the same line at the same place, which makes me believe it was not a plane or a satellite flying over us.
– A minor issue on Photoshop: I could not find the Camera raw filter menu as indicated in the Color imaging quick guide, p.12. Is there a way of making it active?

MUSK OBSERVATORY

Solar Features Observed: N/A

Images submitted with this report: N/A

Problems Encountered: N/A

Crew 222 Astronomy Report 20Feb2020

Astronomy Report

Name: Eishi Kim

Crew: 222

Date: 2/20/2020

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY

Robotic Telescope Requested (choose one) MDRS-WF

Objects to be Imaged this Evening: NGC 281, M42 and the Markarian’s chain are to be imaged as part of the astrophotography project.

Images submitted with this report: None

Problems Encountered: No calibration frames for M101 have been taken. Will follow Peter’s advice of using tonight’s calibration frames instead.

MUSK OBSERVATORY

Solar Features Observed: The observatory was used today for a familiarization session in solar imaging. No significant phenomenon is to be reported.

Images submitted with this report: None

Problems Encountered: None

Astronomy Report

Name: Eishi Kim
Crew: 222
Date: 2/19/2020

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY

Robotic Telescope Requested: MDRS-WF (then MDRS-14 if approved)

Objects to be Imaged this Evening: M101 and M42 will be imaged as part
of the astrophotography project. In this regard, I’ve requested more
time on my Skynet account. If reverting back to the MDRS-14 is approved,
I will keep on with the still active observations from the previous sols.

Images submitted with this report: None

Problems Encountered: Imaging of M31 is to be abandoned for tonight, as
it won’t be visible long enough.

MUSK OBSERVATORY

Solar Features Observed: N/A

Images submitted with this report: N/A

Problems Encountered: N/A

Astronomy Report

Name: Eishi Kim
Crew: 222
Date: 2/18/2020

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY

Robotic Telescope Requested (choose one) MDRS-14

Objects to be Imaged this Evening: In addition to the still active observations from yesterday (NGC 5248, NGC 4038), 7 new targets are to be imaged: NGC 1961, NGC 4490, NGC 4450, NGC 6503, NGC 3368, NGC 3115, NGC 598.

Images submitted with this report: The first Standard image of NGC 4254 is attached separately in today’s Photo report. It is to be compared to the Reference image taken prior to the mission.

Problems Encountered: None

MUSK OBSERVATORY

Solar Features Observed: N/A

Images submitted with this report: N/A

Problems Encountered: N/A

Crew 222 Astronomy Report Feb 17 2020

Name: Eishi Kim
Crew: 222
Date: 2/17/2020

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY
Robotic Telescope Requested (choose one) MDRS-14

Objects to be Imaged this Evening: as many as possible among NGC 772, NGC 5248, IC 342, NGC 2775, NGC 4449, NGC 4254, NGC 4038, NGC 4125, NGC 3338, NGC 2683, M 100. This is part of the weekly observations of select galaxies as per the submitted research proposal on supernovae.

Images submitted with this report: N/A

Problems Encountered: N/A

MUSK OBSERVATORY

Solar Features Observed: the observatory was first used today. Attempts have been made to visually observe solar features according to the quick guide, but no special phenomenon was to be noted. This should not be an issue of the telescope but most certainly due to the weak solar activity.

Images submitted with this report: N/A

Problems Encountered: N/A

Astronomy Report

Name: Ghanim Alotaibi

Crew: 221
Date: 11 Feb 2020

One image was obtained last night for V0960 Mon. Crew astronomer tried to perform a photometry measurement but was unable to do so.

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY

Robotic Telescope Requested MDRS-14

Objects to be Imaged this Evening:

1. V CAS (Resubmitted last night)
2. V0960 Mon (Resubmitted today)

Images submitted with this report: seeing profile of V0960 MON

Problems Encountered: As seen from the seeing profile, AstroImage j was unable to differentiate the target star from the background noise, however, it was possible to differentiate the star visually. This might be because the target star is too faint. The focusing of the image overall looks good and the seeing profile for random stars also looks good.

Astronomy Report

Name: Ghanim Alotaibi

Crew: 221
Date: 10 Feb 2020

Two photometry measurements were preformed today (using the image data obtained last night). One value for V CAS which was 10.959 and the other value for V0960 MON which was 12.945. Both Values were submitted to the AAVSO.

Last night, the 3rd image for each search pattern was obtained. Crew astronomer will download the image later this night due to the internet limitation.

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY

Robotic Telescope Requested MDRS-14

Objects to be Imaged this Evening:

1. V CAS (Resubmitted today)
2. V0960 Mon (Resubmitted today).

Images submitted with this report: Non

Problems Encountered: Non

 

Astronomy Report

Name: Ghanim Alotaibi

Crew: 221
Date: 09 Feb 2020

Two images were taken last night. One image for V CAS and the other for V0960 MON. Out of the three images submitted for each search pattern, only two were taken.

MDRS ROBOTIC OBSERVATORY

Robotic Telescope Requested MDRS-14

Objects to be Imaged this Evening:

V CAS (Resubmitted today)
Search pattern (submitted last night): Still active since last night. 1 image is missing out of the three images requested for each search pattern.
V0960 Mon (resubmitted today).

Images submitted with this report: Non

Problems Encountered: No photometry measurement was performed today due to the bad seeing profile (please see an example of the seeing profile for V CAS in the attached file). This seeing profile also occurs with V0960 MON as well as with random stars. The reason of this might be bad focusing and high background noise levels. New requests were submitted, and problem reported to observatory director.