One of the things I love to see the results of but don't actually like doing is putting in all the little fast facts and menuing. I started working heavily with AI for work and home. I decided it was time to automate this as well. AI is quite good at researching the info on the blog title, scripting no so much so. Between the object specs and exposure automation, I hope to burn down a LOT of DSO work I've been holding out on. Lots in the past 2 years, such as this cool subject, NGC2841, but some going back to 2015 such as NGC210 (Incorrectly shot as NGC248 11 years ago).
Here's the recent bout of good but not great seeing and since I stayed up late instead of waking up early I got over 1hr of time on Saturn and I feel the animation is great, but the mirror needs cleaning and the skies could be steadier.
1st, Rick and Morty fan here and I never realized that Makemake is literally birdperson!
I was able to find this new edition to the dwarf planet list after I had already setup and started looking for targets. I searched for it in the Minor Planet center to find it's RA/DEC and Mag were within reach of my scope. Unlike main belt targets, 'distant objects' don't move fast enough for me to see motion against background stars in ~1hr, so I hit it up next clear night 3 days later. I was amazed at how bright it is for my setup, which can go down to 19-20mag pretty easily.
Makemake is the creator of humanity and the god of fertility in the mythology of the South Pacific island of Rapa Nui, or Easter Island. He was the chief god of the Tangata manu bird-man cult and was worshiped in the form of sea birds, which were his incarnation. His material symbol was a man with a bird's head. [Ref: Minor Planet Circ. 63395]
(136472) Makemake = 2005 FY9
Discovered at Palomar on 2005-03-31 by M. E. Brown, C. A. Trujillo, and D. L. Rabinowitz.
(136472) Makemake = 2005 FY9
From <https://minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?utf8=%E2%9C%93&object_id=136472>
A worthy read to learn more about dwarf planets and the reclassification of Pluto that I recommend is:
AuthorMichael E. Brown
LanguageEnglish
Publication date2010
Publication placeUnited States
ISBN0-385-53108-7
How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming
From <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_I_Killed_Pluto_and_Why_It_Had_It_Coming>
I couldn't be more thrilled with how this turned out! As a novice, every image I capture feels like a milestone, and this one is no exception. With just 80 minutes of integration and only a couple of 5-minute subs for color, the galaxy already reveals stunning details. The structure and glow make it a target I know I'll revisit in the future. It's incredible to think that light from this distant world traveled across the cosmos for millions of years, only to end up in my telescope. Moments like these remind me why I love astrophotography—it's a chance to connect with the universe in a way I never imagined possible.
