I’m Mike Ryan, a member of the San Mateo County Astronomical Society since 1963 (the only one remaining from the ’60’s). I just returned from a week visiting my 83-year-old invalid sister and her family and was shocked and saddened to learn this morning that our blessed friend Ken Lum had passed away on May […]
Author: SMCAS
My Favorite Astronomer: Loki Ingalls
By: Loki Ingalls My favorite astronomer is Charles Messier. I love the story of the Messier objects; it’s really funny to me how seemingly random objects that he numbered are now incredibly popular objects for many astronomers to view and astrophotographers to capture. It’s really crazy how one person can make such a big impact! […]
Space Rocks
By: Peter Adams, Sequoia Gem and Mineral Society We’ve all heard about rocks in space. Maybe you’ve even got a piece of a meteorite — cool stuff, especially if you found it yourself. Even if you bought one? Still cool. But as it turns out, even NASA has trouble finding asteroids and figuring out exactly […]
Astro-Photo: Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas
Object: Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas Photographer: Kevin Simpson Camera: iPhone 16 Location: San Mateo, CA
Astro-Photo: Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas (aka C/2023 A3)
Object: Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas (aka C/2023 A3) Photographer: Marion Weiler Camera: iPhone 15 Pro, 0.5 seconds Location: College of San Mateo, San Mateo, 10/14/2024, 7:53pm PST
Astro-Photo: Aurora Borealis Aug 2024
Object: Aurora Borealis Photographer: Marion Weiler Camera: iPhone 15 Pro, 28 mm main lens, 0.5 seconds Location: Svelvik, Norway
Astro-Photo: Lunar Terminator
Object: Lunar Terminator Photographer: Chanan Greenberg, GreenhawkObservatory.com Scope: 12” Orion Dobsonian Location: Backyard San Jose
Astro-Photo: The Elephant Trunk Nebula (M27)
Object: The Elephant Trunk Nebula (M27) Photographer: Chanan Greenberg, GreenhawkObservatory.com Scope: 5” Astro-Physics Refractor Exposure: 160 minutes Location: Backyard San Jose
Astro-Photo: The Dumbbell Nebula (M27)
Object: The Dumbbell Nebula (M27) Photographer: Chanan Greenberg, GreenhawkObservatory.com Scope: 5” Astro-Physics Refractor Exposure: 4 Hours and 19 minutes Location: Backyard San Jose
Astro-Photo: The Helix Nebula (NGC 7293)
Object: The Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) Photographer: Chanan Greenberg, GreenhawkObservatory.com Scope: 5” Astro-Physics Refractor Exposure: 190 minutes Location: Backyard San Jose