Also see our photometry page and exoplanet data.
M51 Whirlpool
Special Projects student Katherine Hsu created this M51 image by combining 4, five minute exposures taken with our AP130 refractor and ST-2000 camera. The Whirlpool lies 23 million light years away in the constellation Canes Venatici. The smaller galaxy at bottom is NGC 5195.
M51 -Katherine Hsu, CSM Observatory
Kochab Spectra
Special Projects student Peter Roomian acquired recent spectra of the star Kochab (Beta Ursae Minoris) using our 8" SCT telescope equipped with an SBIG SGS Spectrograph and ST-7 CCD camera. Kochab is a spectral type K4III variable star and lies 130 light years away. A sodium absorption line is identified at 5893Å and Ha line at 6569Å.
Kochab Spectra -Peter Roomian, CSM Observatory
M78
Special Projects student Peter Roomian recently imaged reflection nebula M78 in Orion with our 140mm TEC refractor. Peter combined 20, 300 second exposures and made final adjustments in Photoshop for this image. M78 lies 1,600 light years away.
M78 -Peter Roomian, CSM Observatory
M81
Spiral galaxy Messier 81 lies 12 million light years away in the constellation Ursa Major. Student Kellen Martin combined 20, five minute exposures taken with our 20" RCOS telescope to create this final image. Imaging processing was with CCDStack software.
M81 Galaxy -Kellen Martin, CSM Observatory
M51 Whirlpool Galaxy
Student Kellen Martin combined 10, 300 second exposures of M51 taken with our 140mm TEC refractor, to create this image. M51 lies about 23mly away in the constellation Canes Venatici. Kellen used an ST-10 SBIG CCD camera and processed the images in CCDStack software.
M51 Whirlpool Galaxy -Kellen Martin, CSM Observatory
M106 galaxy group
M106 (large galaxy lower right) lies 23mly away in Canes Venatici. Student Kellen Martin joined 9 - five minute exposures taken with our 140mm TEC refractor on 5-7, to create this image. The edge-on galaxy upper left is NGC 4217, a possible companion galaxy.
M106 galaxy group -Kellen Martin, CSM Observatory
M46
M46 is an open cluster in the constellation Puppis. The cluster also contains planetary nebula NGC2438, seen here just above center, which lies slightly in front of M46. Special Projects student Peter Roomian took this image using our 140mm f/7 TEC refractor and ST-10 CCD camera.
M46 -Peter Roomian, CSM Observatory
Extrasolar planet HAT-P-36 b
HAT-P-36 b is a planet orbiting a 12.2 magnitude star in Canes Venatici. The entire transit takes about 132 minutes. 60 images of the event, taken by CSM student Steve Byers the local night of 4-19-12, were used to create this graph. X axis is time in Julian Date. Julian Date converter.
HAT-P-36 b -Steve Byers, CSM Observatory
XZ UMa
10th magnitude star XZ UMa is an eclipsing binary of Algol type. Special Projects student Steve Byers took 48 images of XZ UMa over 2 hours and 4 minutes on 3-2-12 (local date) and performed differential photometry using MaximDL to produce this light curve showing primary eclipse.
JD converter. XZ UMa csv file.
XZ UMa -Steve Byers, CSM observatory
BL Cam
BL Cam is a pulsating variable star in Camelopardalis. CSM student Peter Roomian performed differential photometry using 45 images of BL Cam taken 2-24-12, UT. A period of 56.25 minutes was determined. Dark frames, bias frames, and flat fields, were applied using Maxim DL software. Data was taken with our 140mm TEC refractor and SBIG ST-10 CCD camera. x= time in JD, y= mag. JD converter csv data
BL Cam -Peter Roomian, CSM Observatory
M42 Orion Nebula
With the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope, M42 in Orion is one of the most spectacular night sky objects. Orion's famous nebula lies 1,300 light years away. Special Projects student Steve Byers combined 10x300 second exposures, for this image taken 2-9-12.
M42 Orion Nebula -Steve Byers, CSM Observatory
Horsehead Nebula
Though almost impossible to see thru the eyepiece, the Horsehead Nebula in Orion is quickly revealed on a CCD imager. Student Peter Roomian combined twelve, 300 second exposures in CCDStack to create this image taken 2-8-12.
Horsehead Nebula -Peter Roomian, CSM Observatory
Comments welcome
Student Resources & Tools
Locating EBs & transiting exoplanets here.
Exoplanet targets at ETD
Eclipsing Binary targets at Rolling Hills Observatory
Eclipsing Binary ephemerides at Mt. Suhora Observatory
AAVSO Variable Star Plotter
NASA Julian Date converter
CSM telescope/camera information here.
Photometry procedures doc here.
εAurigae spectra procedures here.
RSpec real time spectroscopy here
