Castor in Profile

 

Low resolution line profile of the A1V class star Castor in the constellation Gemini taken with the Observatory's new spectrometer. The line profile has been produced using RSpec software and has been adjusted to compensate for the camera response across the wavelengths shown.

The 3d printed cell holding the 500lines/mm transmission grating can be seen sandwiched between the camera and the camera nosepiece .

The 3d printed cell and friction washer.

“During the Covid lockdown, the Jodrell Plank Observatory Instrumentation Engineer, Jolene McSquint-Fleming, has been ‘beavering away’ converting a QHY5L-ii mono video camera for use as a low resolution 'slit-less' spectrometer for attachment to a number of telescopes.

The newly commissioned 3d printer was used to create a cell for the holographic printed film transmission grating and this was mounted between the camera and the nosepiece to ensure the zero and first order spectra would fit upon the imaging chip.

Once the spectrometer was completed, it was tested on the Observatory’s Altair Lightwave 66mm refractor at f=400mm andF6.

The star Castor was selected as a target because it is relatively bright, is currently high in the sky and is a class A1V star with strong Hydrogen Balmer lines in its spectrum.

Our outreach coordinator, Karl Seguine, has been asked to assume Observatory responsibility for obtaining and processing spectra. To this purpose he is currently evaluating three data reduction softwares – Rspec, VSpec and ISIS.

Our first spectra obtained using the new spectrometer , The Castor profile, was produced by Karl using RSpec.  One small step for man.........” - Kurt Thrust current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

Intermittent Cloud

 

The Crescent Moon between Orion and the Pleiades - fixed tripod mounted Canon 600D DSLR at f=18mm and ISO800

The Crescent Moon with earthshine on display close to the Hyades star cluster.- fixed tripod mounted Canon 600D DSLR at f=90mm and ISO800 

" Here at the Jodrell Plank Observatory, the 19th of March started well. Lots of blue sky and sunshine but as night fell up popped the clouds. Not good enough for astro-imaging but more than good enough to provide some beautiful views of the waxing Moon and the winter constellations setting in the west. Pip Stakkert managed to capture the above images between the clouds." - Kurt Thrust current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

Where is the Perseverance Rover Now

 

Perseverance Rover Location Interactive Map

Perseverance Interactive Map

The blue tag shows the Rover's position as taken from the NASA interactive location map the dry river delta can be seen nearby.

View of the long dry river delta close to the Rover's landing site - taken by Perseverance Mast Camera

Credit: For all the above images - NASA/JPL-Caltech

"The Perseverance Rover is testing its systems and taking a look around the immediate vicinity of its landing site in the Jezero Crater on Mars. The interactive map on the NASA Perseverance  Website is a fabulous tool for keeping tabs on the rover as it explores the Martian surface. The Jodrell Plank Observatory Team is intrigued to follow the journey taken by this small and intrepid automated explorer so very far from home." - Joel Cairo CEO of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

Two Day Old Moon over the Jodrell Plank Observatory

 

The 2 Day Old Crescent Moon - handheld RAW image copped and taken with a Canon 600d DSLR at f=175mm and ISO800 - credit: Pip Stakkert.

" On the 15th March 2021, the new Moon was observed setting in the west low above the Jodrell Plank Observatory. There was some cloud but this only added to the overall beauty of the moment. The illuminated thin crescent was observable to the eye right to the extremities of its points or horns. The overall lunar disc was just discernable in reflected 'earthshine' or 'ashen glow'. In times gone by this event was described as the "The old moon in the new moon's arms". On the 16th March, both the crescent and the ashen glow were much brighter." - Kurt Thrust current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

Mars buzzes the Seven Sisters

 

Mars below the Pleiades - 27th Feb 2021 - Canon 600d DSLR on a fixed tripod. A stack of one second exposures at ISO6400 and f=50mm. Credit Joel Cairo.

" Whilst I was carrying out my regular evening security check of the Jodrell Plank Observatory facilities and after spending a moment observing the full Moon rising in the east, I noticed that in the western sky the planet Mars was in conjunction with the open star cluster the Pleiades or Seven Sisters. Even with the moonlight and street lighting causing starlight to be washed out in the night sky, the red of the planet in contrast with the young blue stars in the Pleiades was a wonderful sight to behold. I could not resist grabbing a camera and taking some photographs" - Joel Cairo CEO of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

Latest image - 20 Feb 2021 - from the Perseverance Rover on the surface of Mars - Credit NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU 

" Mars looks so small on Joel's image of the planet. As viewed from Earth and when seen against the vast backdrop of the night sky, it has the appearance of a bright red star. In reality it is a cold rocky desert world with a diameter just over half that of our world" - Kurt Thrust current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory