Petri Kehusmaa Astroblog

New Supernova Discovered in PGC 14286

Petri Kehusmaa — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:52:23 +0000

Our local team in Finland discovered a new supernova in PGC 14286. The intial discovery was made by Mikko Päivinen (Rajamäki, Finland) on 26.12.2008 and I confirmed the discovery next evening by taking several unfiltered exposures of the target. After some checking and rechecking Arto Oksanen from Jyväskylän Sirius reported our discovery to IAU as a possible supernova. After some long hours of waiting, I received an email from Arto that IAU (CBET 1635) had confirmed our discovery and gave it a designation SN2008im. Bravo and thank you Mikko and Arto!

SN2008im

Observatory Computer Back Online

Petri Kehusmaa — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:45:28 +0000

A broken display adapter was a reason for my troubles with the computer. After changing the adapter, everything (or almost) started to work. I continued having troubles with Cloud Sensor Graphics software though but after removing and reinstalling it (to another directory), solved my problems.

I seriously need to consider a backup plan because it takes a lot of time to rebuild everything!

I wish you

A Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year!

Observatory Computer Down

Petri Kehusmaa — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:31:00 +0000

Another setback for SRO. After installing latest XP updates and reboot, my computer screen went totally black. No BIOS or boot information, nothing. It kept running though and were even able to update the weather graphics. My diagnose is that the video card is broken. The only problem is that it’s very hard to buy old technology today and in worst case I have to buy a new computer.

I took the PC offline, so there is no weather station data/graphics available until the issue is solved. Observatory webcam is also offline.

Minor Planet - 133 Cyrene

Petri Kehusmaa — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 08:49:18 +0000

Last night I continued testing automated session with CCDAutopilot. Target was asteroid 133 Cyrene. This is data for more than 4 hours. Individual exposure 2 minutes and 103 data points.

133 Cyrene

Minor Planet - 376 Geometria

Petri Kehusmaa — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:00:54 +0000

I decided to have this asteroid for my target when testing CCDAutopilot. This session was fully automated for almost 4 hours (I was a sleep when session ended). Everything went well and here is the result. There is a sum image where asteroid movement is visible and lightcurve to see variations of reflected sunlight from asteroid’s surface.

376 Geometria trail

376 Geometria

V466 AND Faded Away

Petri Kehusmaa — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:00:33 +0000

V466 AND

With only six days in between observations, this dwarf nova faded away for my equipment. On 22nd of September I was able to catch it with my 8″ SCT but six days later it was gone. Light curve below.

V466 AND 080922

Bright Supernova in NGC3147

Petri Kehusmaa — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:00:20 +0000

SN2008fv

This supernova was found by Koichi Itagaki from Japan. It’s very bright and clearly visible in my 7 minutes exposure. Taken with 8″ SCT and STL11K.

Astro-Physicsin jalusta kunnossa

Petri Kehusmaa — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:05:05 +0000

Asensin jalustaan eilen tulleen uuden kaapelin ja testasin moottoreiden kunnon. Kaikki toimii, joten seuraavia selkeitä odotellaan. Silloin voin synkata jalustan uudelleen ja pääsen tositoimiin kuvaustouhuissa.

Delivery from Astro-Physics

Petri Kehusmaa — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:46:41 +0000

After a long process I finally got package from AP. It included their new adapters for SBIG STL-cameras to have maximum opening for light path. These 2.7″ adapters are huge compared to normal adapters I have used. I also got the long missed y-cable for my AP900GTO mount to replace the broken one. Now I’m back in business!

Delivery from Astro-Physics

Torni toistaiseksi pois käytöstä

Petri Kehusmaa — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:33:56 +0000

Kävipä sitten sellainen vahinko, että jalusta ei mennytkään parkkiin viimeisimmän kuvaus-session päätteeksi, vaan seuranta oli jäänyt päiväksi päälle ja tämän seurauksena jalusta oli pyörähtänyt itsensä ympäri ja katkaissut deklinaatiomoottorille menevän kaapelin poikki! Samalla oli katkennut myös kaapeleita ohjaavaa kiskoa kannatellut nippuside, joten voima on ollut melkoinen.

Parin minuutin ‘hiljaisen’ hetken ja muutaman ärräpään jälkeen marssin tietokoneelle ja laitoin kaapelitilauksen Baaderille vetämään. Kaapelin hinta 145 egee!

Täytyypä vielä testata, toimiiko kamera, sillä melkoinen rasitus oli kohdistunut myös kameraan meneviin kaapeleihin (deklinaatioakselin lukot olivat onneksi antaneet hiukan periksi).

EDIT: Kamera toimii, huh huh huh huh.