Wednesday (08-January-2025) — New Jersey

Nine-Years Ago Today. Crepuscular rays from the deck of the MV World Odyssey. Semester at Sea. (08-Jan-2016, Pacific Ocean)

Silhouette of a Jet Transiting the Sun.

Today, while looking at the sunspots (we are at or near the solar maximum) I captured an image of a jet transiting the sun. This was with a Stellina automated telescope fitted with a solar filter.

Sun with sunspots and the silhouette of a jet.. Image taken with a Vaonis Stellina Telescope (400 mm, f/5) with a solar filter
Sun with sunspots and the silhouette of a jet. Image taken with a Vaonis Stellina Telescope (400 mm, f/5) with a solar filter.

Time-lapse video of tree getting in the way of the sun. Images taken with a Stellina automated telescope fitted with a solar filter.

Cold Winter Night Sky.

The forecast for the night was mostly clear. The waxing gibbous moon is getting brighter (69% illuminated). For the first of the night, I programed the “Plan my Night” sequence on the Vespera telescopes to first observe the moon, then later as the moon moves to the west picked some deep sky observation targets in parts of the sky away from the moon. I also set up a Nikon D9 camera with a 8-15 mm fisheye lens to take a sequence of images of the night sky with the full Vespera family of telescopes in the foreground. These images were then used to create the following time-lapse video. The moon is the bright object. You can watch the Orion constellation travel across the sky. Lots of jet trails, a few passing clouds, and a couple of meteors. Best viewed in the dark and expanded to full scale. Images captured by the telescopes to follow.

Time-lapse video of the Vespera family of telescopes viewing the winter night sky over New Jersey.

Sunday (05-January-2025) — New Jersey

Nine-Years Ago Today. Mandatory lifeboat drill aboard the MV World Odyssey. Day 1 of the 2016 Semester at Sea Spring Voyage. (05-Jan-2016, Pacific Ocean)

Silhouettes of Jets Transiting the Sun.

Today, I captured images of jets with condensation trails transiting the sun while looking at the sunspots (we are at or near the solar maximum). I was viewing the sun with a Vespera Classic and Stellina automated telescope using solar filters. For much of the day there were high level clouds partially obscuring the sun. I’m not sure why the solar images from the Vespera Classic telescope have a dark green background. The image from the Stellina telescope has a normal black background. There is a difference in the displayed angle of the sun between the Stellina and Vespera telescopes. Compare the position of the sunspots.

Silhouette of a jet with a condensation trail transiting the sun with sunspots. Image taken with a Vaonis Vespera Classic Telescope (200 mm, f/4, 1/4000 sec) with a solar filter.
Silhouette of a jet with a condensation trail transiting the sun with sunspots. Image taken with a Vaonis Vespera Classic Telescope (200 mm, f/4, 1/4000 sec) with a solar filter.

Jets with contrails passing in front of the sun. Images captured with a Stellina and Vespera Classic telescopes fitted with solar filters. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery

Friday (03-January-2025) — New Jersey

Eleven-Years Ago Today. Trolls Playing in the Snow. (03-Jan-2014, New Jersey)

Silhouettes of Jets and Birds Transiting the Sun.

Today, I captured images of jets and birds transiting the sun while looking at the sunspots (we are at or near the solar maximum). I was viewing the sun with a Stellina automated telescope using solar filters. The silhouette of one of the jets was much larger that the majority of previously observed images. Still a long way away. If someone could identify the type of jet, we could estimate the distance relative to the angular diameter of the sun.

Silhouette of a jet transiting the sun with sunspots. Image taken with a Vaonis Stellina Telescope (400 mm, f/5) with a solar filter
Silhouette of a jet transiting the sun with sunspots. Image taken with a Vaonis Stellina Telescope (400 mm, f/5) with a solar filter

Jets and birds passing in front of the sun. Images captured with a Stellina telescope fitted with a solar filter. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery

Tuesday (31-December-2024) — New Jersey

Fourteen-Years Ago Today. Equitrekking at Estancia Helsingfors. (31-Dec-2010, Argentina)

Silhouettes of Jets and a bird Transiting the Sun.

Today, I captured images of jets and a bird transiting the sun while looking at the sunspots (we are at or near the solar maximum). I was viewing the sun with a Vespera Classic and Vespera Pro automated telescope using solar filters. The bird is ether small or a long distance away. I’m not sure why the solar images from the Vespera Classic telescope have a dark green background and the one from the Vespera Pro telescope has a dark red background.

Silhouette of a jet transiting the sun with sunspots. Image taken with a Vaonis Vespera Classic Telescope (200 mm, f/4, 1/4000 sec) with a solar filter.
Silhouette of a jet transiting the sun with sunspots. Image taken with a Vaonis Vespera Classic Telescope (200 mm, f/4, 1/4000 sec) with a solar filter.
Silhouette of a jet transiting the sun with sunspots. Image taken with a Vaonis Vespera Classic Telescope (200 mm, f/4, 1/4000 sec) with a solar filter.
Silhouette of a jet transiting the sun with sunspots. Image taken with a Vaonis Vespera Classic Telescope (200 mm, f/4, 1/4000 sec) with a solar filter.
Sun with sunspots and the silhouette of a bird. Image taken with a Vaonis Vespera Pro Telescope (250 mm, f/5, 1/714 sec) with a solar filter.
Sun with sunspots and the silhouette of a bird. Image taken with a Vaonis Vespera Pro Telescope (250 mm, f/5, 1/714 sec) with a solar filter.

Monday (30-December-2024) — New Jersey

Five-Years Ago Today. Little Planet view of the Andalusia Plaza in Granada Terrace. Historic Northeast St. Petersburg. (30-Dec-2019, Florida)

Silhouettes of Birds Transiting the Sun.

Today, I captured images of three Canada Geese and a Turkey Vulture or Hawk transiting the sun while looking at the sunspots (we are at or near the solar maximum). I was viewing the sun with a Stellina and Vespera Classic automated telescope using solar filters. I am not sure if these are the type of geese that migrate south, of just fly in circles staying in New Jersey. My pond was frozen over, so they were not staying here.

Silhouette of three geese flying in front the sun with sunspots. Image taken with a Vaonis Stellina Telescope (400 mm, f/5) with a solar filter.
Silhouette of three geese flying in front the sun with sunspots. Image taken with a Vaonis Stellina Telescope (400 mm, f/5) with a solar filter.
Silhouette of a Hawk or Turkey Vulture passing in front of the sun. Image taken with a Vaonis Vespera Classic Telescope (200 mm, f/4, 1/4000 sec) with a solar filter.
Silhouette of a Hawk or Turkey Vulture passing in front of the sun. Image taken with a Vaonis Vespera Classic Telescope (200 mm, f/4, 1/4000 sec) with a solar filter.