Sunspots are returning in Sunspot Cycle #24 after a long overdue hiatus. This Sunspot was taken on March 13th, 2010 thru a 6" Pierre Schwar hand built telescope owned by Karen Maddy with an Orion solar filter. Pentax DSLR par focal with a 20mm eyepiece.

An eerie full Moon is about to disappear into the clouds on February 22nd, 2010 taken from the Mescal Spur Observatory, Clarkdale, AZ. Pentax ist*D DSLR and 70-200mm zoom lens. F4, 1/4000 sec exposure @ ISO800.

Earth shine on a two day old Moon on March 17th, 2010 taken from the Mescal Spur Observatory, Clarkdale, AZ. Prime Focus with a 6.3 focal reducer attached to a Celestron GPS11, Pentax ist*D DSLR 4 sec exposure @ ISO800. Some hot pixels are visible as a dark frame was not subtracted.

Moon

January 30th 2006. 
Camera: Pentax IST * D. 
Lens: 70-200mm zoom. 
Camera tripod mounted. 

1/2 second at F4. ISO 800.

Earth shine on the Moon as a 1.7 day old Moon falls over Mingus Mountain.

Photo Credit:
J. D. Maddy

Moon

Camera: Pentax SF10. 
Scope: 10" LX 50 Meade. 
No camera adapter. 
Exposed parfocal with 2" 50mm University eyepiece. Camera tripod mounted. Auto exposure. 
Film: Ilford XP2-400 Black & White C41 Process. 

Six Day Moon

Camera: Pentax IST*D. 
Scope: GPS11 Celestron. 
Prime Focus with 6.3 Focal Reducer. 1/400 Sec exposure. ISO 800.

The Purbach Cross or Werner X is visible some months at about a six day old Moon. Shadows from adjacent craters cause the X to show.

Six Day Moon

Camera: Pentax IST*D. 
Scope: GPS11 Celestron. 
Parfocal shot with Hyperion 24mm. 1/200 Sec exposure. ISO 800.

The Purbach Cross or Werner X is visible some months at about a six day old Moon. Shadows from adjacent craters cause the X to show.

Six Day Moon

Camera: Pentax IST*D. 
Scope: GPS11 Celestron. 
Parfocal with Hyperion 24MM. 1/200 Sec exposure. ISO 800.

The Purbach Cross or Werner X is visible some months at about a six day old Moon. Shadows from adjacent craters cause the X to show.

Six Day Moon

Camera: Pentax IST*D. 
Scope: Celestron Compustar 14. 
Parfocal with Hyperion 24MM. 1/8 Sec exposure. ISO 1600.

The Purbach Cross or Werner X is visible some months at about a six day old Moon. Shadows from adjacent craters cause the X to show.

Moon Project

As the Moon ages every day, the features along the shadow (terminator) also change. This is a 6 day old Moon.

Camera: Pentax IST *D Exposure: 1/250 @ ISO800.

Telescope: Celestron GPS11 at prime focus.

Moon Project

A 9 day old Moon.
Camera: Pentax IST *D Exposure: 1/750 @ ISO800.

Telescope: Celestron GPS11 at prime focus.

Solar Eclipse 2002

June 10th, 2002 @ Lake Pleasant, AZ. 
Camera: Pentax SF10. Exposure: Auto. Film: Ilford XP2-400 Black & White C41 Process. 
Telescope: Pierre Schwar 6" Reflector. 25mm Plossl mounted in camera adapter. Solar filter attached.

Total Lunar Eclipse

August 28th, 2007 Total Lunar Eclipse taken from the Mescal Spur Observatory, Clarkdale, AZ. Pentax ist*D DSLR prime focus thru 14 inch SCT.

Lunar Occultation

April 22nd, 2009 occultation of the inner planet Venus by the Moon taken from the Mescal Spur Observatory, Clarkdale, AZ. Pentax ist*D DSLR prime focus thru 14 inch Celestron Compustar SCT.

At about 36 miles due east of the Mescal Spur Observatory lies the Discovery Channel Telescope. This Observatory is being built in conjunction with Lowell Observatory. On March 20th, 2010 as the Sun rises on the first day of Spring, a silhouette of the DCT shows as a shadow on the face of the Sun.

Photo Credit:  
J. D. Maddy