Deep Sky Observing
HPO uses a Meade 12" LX200 GPS telescope permanently mounted in polar mode. An F/3.3 focal reducer is used with a modified Meade Deep Sky Imager Pro. The CCD camera is thermoelectrically cooled.Observing.

Lunar Observing
HPO used two telescopes for Lunar Observing, a Celestron C-8 Schmidt-Cassegrain (8") and a Meade LXD55 6" f/8 Refractor. Images have been taken using a Color QuickCam and ToUCam Pro II (840k) digital web cameras.

Lunar Eclipse
During the evening of January 20, 2000 shortly after 9 PM EST (6 PM PST) there was an eclipse of the moon (the Earth's shadow covered the full moon). There will not be another Lunar Eclipse visible form the United States until 16 May 2003. However, those folks located in Europe will be able to see another one on 9 January 2001.

Phoenix was mostly clouded over and while HPO SOFT was ready with 3 cameras and 2 telescopes, no decent pictures were obtained. Such is the life of an astronomer. Fellow astronomer Andrew Cooper in Tucson, Arizona had clear skies and was able to get a great photo of the lunar totality. Check the above link to see it.

On 15 May 2003 the skies over Phoenix were crystal clear. The eclipse had already begun when the moon rose in the South East. HPO was able to get numerous shots.

Our Sun and Sunspots
Our Sun is a very active star. Very interesting Sunspots come and go across the surface of the Sun. Find out more about Sunspots and see some recent photos of them.

Solar Eclipse
10 June 2002

Mercury Transit
On 15 November 1999 at approximately 2:15 PM MST, the image of the planet Mercury could be seen against the Sun's image as Mercury transit across the northern edge of the Sun. The Hopkins Phoenix Observatory took a series of photos using a QuickCam adapted to a telescope. These shots are now available at the above link.

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Other HPO Solar System Observations

Venus

Mars

Saturn

Comets

 

Present Page Version as of 7 June 2006

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www.hposoft.com