Lunar and Deep Sky Imaging Session - October 17, 2026

The sky this evening is slightly hazy but clear. So I initially plan to just image the Quarter Moon using my Dwarf 3 Smart Scope using Astro Mode with VIS Filter at AZ Mode with stack of 20 images at 1/160sec exposure at Gain 0. But seeing the sky is clear though slightly hazy, I remember wanting to capture the NGC7293 (Caldwell 63) Helix Nebula with the Dwarf 3 as I had previously capture this object using my main astro rig of Borg 76ED Refractor with ZWO ASI294MC PRO camera on ZWO AM5 Mount. I use my Dwarf 3 Smart Scope at Astro Mode with Duo Filter at EQ Mode with integrated exposure of 120 minutes (240 x 30sec) at Gain 60. Image came out ok but I'm having a frozen shoulder past few days already and the pain is irritating me that I persevere for 2 hours to capture Helix Nebula before I ended my session to get a well needed rest for my back and shoulder. Signs of getting old:) LOL

Solar Imaging Session - October 17, 2026

The sky this afternoon is partly clear and seeing condition is very good. AR4551 Region continues to be the biggest group on the Sun's disk while AR4557 Region is starting to slowly grow in structure. In Ha wavelength, there is a small flaring activity beside AR4551 Region as well as a nice large eruptive prominence in the East limb.

Solar Imaging Session - October 16, 2026

The sky this morning and afternoon is very cloudy and it even rained around 2:00pm PST! But that didn't kill my enthusiasm to image the Sun today so I got to get a good timing around 3:30pm PST before I would be able to image the Sun! That's about almost 6 hours wait  (9:30-3:30pm PST)  just to get a chance to image the Sun :) LOL Anyway, the seeing condition is not that good but still got the solar data nevertheless before the Sun got obstructed by the far building to conclude my imaging session for the day. AR4551 Region is still the group to be nice to monitor. In Ha wavelength, there is also a nice large Hedgerow Prominence in the SE limb.

Lunar Imaging Session - October 15, 2026

The sky this evening is partly cloudy so took this opportunity to image the Waxing Crescent Moon as well as a slightly overexposed earthshine using Dwarf 3 Smart Scope at Astro Mode with VIS Filter at AZ Mode with stack of 20 images both at 1/125sec exposure at Gain 0 and 1 second exposure at Gain 60.

Solar Imaging Session - October 15, 2026

The sky this late morning is partly cloudy but seeing condition is very good. AR4551 Region still has the biggest sunspot group on the Sun's disk. In Ha wavelength, a nice long dark filament can be seen just above the AR4551 Region while another interesting large eruptive prominence can be seen in the NE limb as well.

Deep Sky Imaging Session - October 14, 2026

The sky this evening is slightly hazy but clear. But I'm having a frozen shoulder and stiff neck since yesterday that I just use a quickie setup of my Dwarf 3 Smart Scope to take some short 30min exposure of M24 Galactic Center Cluster as well as M22 Globular Cluster in the constellation of Sagittarius just to break my long DSO imaging hiatus to get me going again in the days to come. Images came out ok for me despite this short exposure. Still happy with the result. Hope to get back to image more in the days to come with my cooled imaging rig setup.

Solar Imaging Session - October 14, 2026

The sky this afternoon is partly cloudy and I continue to setup to image the Sun. Unfortunately, I was only able to image the Sun in full disk whitelight wavelength only before I got clouded out totally. Image was taken using Dwarf 3 Smart Scope at Astro Mode with Solar Filter at AZ Mode with stack of 20 images at 1/2000sec exposure at Gain 0. AR4551 Region is the largest group on the Sun's disk right now and worth monitoring in the days to come. Hopefully will be able to image the group at high resolution both whitelight and Ha wavelength.