Webcam Imaging of Mercury's Rotation, Amateur images of Mercury |
Webcam Imaging of Mercury's Rotation, Amateur images of Mercury |
Nov 26 2007, 01:56 AM
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 73 Joined: 14-June 05 From: Cambridge, MA Member No.: 411 |
Hi, all,
A fellow amateur astronomer in the Boston area, John Boudreau, has been getting some neat images of Mercury, including some that show longitudes not mapped by Mariner 10. He's put together a few of them into a movie that shows Mercury's rotation and changing phase. Before you go to check out the link, I'd like to remind you that this was all done using a backyard telescope and an inexpensive webcam - equipment readily affordable to hobbyists, using image stacking techniques that were pioneered by amateur astronomers, and that are now being refined by people like John. And perhaps most remarkably, his imaging was done from sites in the densely-populated suburb of Saugus, Mass. - not exactly an area known for dark skies and good seeing! http://home.comcast.net/~jeboud/mercury.htm - John Sheff Cambridge, MA |
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Nov 26 2007, 12:36 PM
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8784 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
There are still a few challenges left; imaging the largest main-belt asteroids is one that comes to mind. Other than that & comet & asteroid discoveries, though, you're right; UMSF will supplant both professional and amateur Solar System observations.
-------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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Nov 26 2007, 02:27 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 593 Joined: 20-April 05 Member No.: 279 |
...imaging the largest main-belt asteroids is one that comes to mind. Ceres, at best, is a tenth of the size of Mercury at maximum elongation - so judging from the Mercury images linked at the start of this thread, there might well be details visible for the big 'uns (especially given the more favorable viewing for asteroids at opposition) using similar equipment. Andy |
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