BRITTNEY MILLER

Observation Details

Location: Decatur, GA (33.7748° N, 84.2963° W)

Date: 2025-03-11

Sky conditions: Seeing – Average , Transparency – Mag 4

Instrument: Apertura 60mm FPL-53 Doublet APO Refractor @ f/6 (native) – Aperture: 60mm, Focal Length: 360mm

Mount: Celestron Advanced VX

Imaging Equipment: ASI174MM-mini guide camera, UV/IR cut filter, ZWO ASI678MC

Image type and sensor: ZWO ASI 678MC – CMOS, IMX678 1/1.8″ sensor

Image capture details: 120x60s subs, 2 hour integration, 20 each of flats, darks, and bias

Software: PixInsight, Photoshop

Observation Details

Location: Decatur, GA (33.7748° N, 84.2963° W)

Date: 2025-03-12

Sky conditions: Seeing – Average , Transparency – Mag 4

Instrument: Apertura 60mm FPL-53 Doublet APO Refractor @ f/6 (native) – Aperture: 60mm, Focal Length: 360mm

Mount: Celestron Advanced VX

Imaging Equipment: ASI174MM-mini guide camera, UV/IR cut filter, ZWO ASI678MC

Image type and sensor: ZWO ASI 678MC – CMOS, IMX678 1/1.8″ sensor

Image capture details: 78x60s subs, 1 hour and 18 minute integration, 30 each of flats, darks, and bias

Software: PixInsight, Photoshop

Observation Details

Location: Decatur, GA (33.7748° N, 84.2963° W)

Date: 2025-03-18

Sky conditions: Seeing – Average , Transparency – Mag 4

Instrument: SeeStar S50

Image capture details: 10s subs, 1 hour integration

Software: PixInsight, Photoshop

Observation Details

Location: Decatur, GA (33.7748° N, 84.2963° W)

Date: 2025-03-022, 2025-03-23

Sky conditions: Seeing – Average , Transparency – Mag 4

Instrument: Apertura 60mm FPL-53 Doublet APO Refractor @ f/6 (native) – Aperture: 60mm, Focal Length: 360mm

Mount: Celestron Advanced VX

Imaging Equipment: ASI174MM-mini guide camera, UV/IR cut filter, ZWO ASI678MC

Image type and sensor: ZWO ASI 678MC – CMOS, IMX678 1/1.8″ sensor

Image capture details: 5.55 hour integration, 333x60s, Gain – 100, Flats – 30, Darks – 30, Bias – 30

Software: PixInsight, Photoshop

Date: March 6, 2025

Time: 7:30 – 9:00

Hosted an evening observing session at Jon Wood Astronomy Field for students from the Fulton STEAM Academy. They are overnighting as participants of Charlie Elliott’s Outdoor Discovery School program (“TODS”). Showed them views of the moon, planets, constellations, and the Hubble challenge targets for March through various telescopes.

To celebrate and focus on the successes of the Hubble Telescope, the Astronomical League and NASA are presenting a NASA Special Observing Award Challenge.  For more information on the Hubble Telescope Mission go to the mission website.

The Hubble Telescope has been responsible for bringing the universe to all of us in fantastic clarity.  It has brought us images of many distant and incredible objects.  In the past 35 years, the Hubble Telescope has marched onward and produced thousands of images.  Now, it is time for us to celebrate all those accomplishments and join the party.

Imaging as well as visual observing are allowed for these awards.  Go-to telescopes are permitted including remote telescopes when the observer specifically requests the object be imaged for them.

If you are doing an outreach activity and you would like to give participant certificates to your attendees, there is a downloadable certificate available here.

There are two levels to this Challenge.  You do NOT need to be a member of the Astronomical League to participate in this challenge and to receive the certificates and pin.

Details for this award:

Silver award (certificates only):

One or more outreach activities must be done during one of the months for which you submit for the silver award; to spread the word about the Hubble Telescope and its mission.  An outreach activity is anything that spreads the word to others about the Hubble Telescope, its 35th anniversary, or this challenge.  This might be on a website, at a meeting, an outreach event, or on a blog.

The same outreach activity may be used for multiple months at the silver level.  We encourage you to do more outreach activities to meet the requirements of the gold award.

The observations must be done during the specific month for each silver certificate.

Each month’s observation targets will be listed below.  There is a list for northern observers and also a list for southern observers.

You must observe at least one of the objects from either list each month to earn a silver certificate.

Sketch or image the object(s).

Attempt to identify the part of your sketch or image that corresponds to a part of the Hubble Telescope image.  (See links in the References section to access the Hubble image gallery.)

Gold award (certificate and pin):  

Over the span of 2025, do four or more outreach activities to spread the word about the Hubble Telescope and its mission.  An outreach activity is anything that spreads the word to others about the Hubble Telescope, its 35th anniversary, or this challenge.   This might be on a website, at a meeting, an outreach event, or on a blog.

Observe four or more objects for each month from the lists and submit them monthly.

Sketch or image all of the objects you observe.

Attempt to identify the part of your sketch or image that corresponds to a part of the Hubble Telescope image.  (See links in the References section to access the Hubble image gallery.)

Note:  The gold award requires additional observations each month beyond the requirements for silver.  Be sure to capture them.

Monthly Object Lists:

March 2025 – submission deadline 4/30/2025 for a silver certification, or as one step in the gold certification.

• Northern List
  • M44
  • M48
  • M67
  • Caldwell 48
• Southern List
  • M44
  • M48
  • M67
  • Caldwell 48
  • Caldwell 90

Submission Requirements:

• Outreach Events
  • Date and time
  • What was the outreach activity
  • Group and group size
• Observations
  • Date and time
  • Details of instruments and filters used
  • Sketches or images of objects

Note: These awards will be listed in the on-line database under the Hubble Telescope  35th Anniversary Special Observing Award rather than under the NASA Observing Challenges.

References:

• Hubble Telescope Messier Image Catalog
• Hubble Telescope Caldwell Image Catalog
• Hubble Telescope Main Web Page
• Hubble Telescope Night Sky Challenge Page
• AL Flyer for the Challenge (PDF format, JPEG format)

(Submission Deadline is the end of the month after each silver challenge.  Submissions for the gold challenge should be submitted monthly by the same deadlines)  Late submissions will not be accepted.

Observation Details

Location: Decatur, GA (33.7748° N, 84.2963° W)

Date and Time: 2025-02-01, 22:09 – 23:10 EDT

Sky conditions: Seeing – Average , Transparency – Mag 5

Instrument: Apertura 60mm FPL-53 Doublet APO Refractor @ f/6 (native) – Aperture: 60mm, Focal Length: 360mm

Mount: Celestron Advanced VX

Eyepiece: N/A (Imaging)

Reticle Device: N/A

Imaging Equipment: ZWO ASI224MC, UV/IR cut filter, Apertura 32mm guide scope, ASI174MM-mini guide camera

Image type and sensor: ZWO ASI 224MC – CMOS, IMX224 1/3″ sensor

Image capture details: 60 minute integration, 60x60s, Gain – 100, Flats, Darks, Bias – 10 each
Software: PixInsight, Photoshop

Observation Details

Location: Decatur, GA (33.7748° N, 84.2963° W)

Date and Time: 2025-02-02, 22:32 – 23:34 EDT

Sky conditions: Seeing – Average , Transparency – Mag 5

Instrument: Apertura 60mm FPL-53 Doublet APO Refractor @ f/6 (native) – Aperture: 60mm, Focal Length: 360mm

Mount: Celestron Advanced VX

Eyepiece: N/A (Imaging)

Reticle Device: N/A

Imaging Equipment: ZWO ASI224MC, UV/IR cut filter, Apertura 32mm guide scope, ASI174MM-mini guide camera

Image type and sensor: ZWO ASI 224MC – CMOS, IMX224 1/3″ sensor

Image capture details: 60 minute integration, 60x60s, Gain – 100, Flats – 20, Darks – 30, Bias – 30
Software: PixInsight, Photoshop

Observation Details

Location: Decatur, GA (33.7748° N, 84.2963° W)

Date and Time: 2025-02-04, 21:37 – 23:07 EDT

Sky conditions: Seeing – Average , Transparency – Mag 5

Instrument: Apertura 60mm FPL-53 Doublet APO Refractor @ f/6 (native) – Aperture: 60mm, Focal Length: 360mm

Mount: Celestron Advanced VX

Eyepiece: N/A (Imaging)

Reticle Device: N/A

Imaging Equipment: ZWO ASI224MC, UV/IR cut filter, Apertura 32mm guide scope, ASI174MM-mini guide camera

Image type and sensor: ZWO ASI 224MC – CMOS, IMX224 1/3″ sensor

Image capture details: 83 minute integration, 83x60s, Gain – 100, Flats – 20, Darks – 30, Bias – 30
Software: PixInsight, Photoshop

Observation Details

Location: Decatur, GA (33.7748° N, 84.2963° W)

Date and Time: 2025-02-017, 20:28 – 22:29 EDT

Sky conditions: Seeing – Average , Transparency – Mag 5

Instrument: Apertura 60mm FPL-53 Doublet APO Refractor @ f/6 (native) – Aperture: 60mm, Focal Length: 360mm

Mount: Celestron Advanced VX

Eyepiece: N/A (Imaging)

Reticle Device: N/A

Imaging Equipment: ZWO ASI224MC, UV/IR cut filter, Apertura 32mm guide scope, ASI174MM-mini guide camera

Image type and sensor: ZWO ASI 224MC – CMOS, IMX224 1/3″ sensor

Image capture details: 120 minute integration, 60x120s, Gain – 100, Flats – 18, Darks – 15, Bias – 15
Software: PixInsight, Photoshop

Observation Details

Location: Decatur, GA (33.7748° N, 84.2963° W)

Date and Time: 2025-02-022, 23:14 – 01:14 EDT

Sky conditions: Seeing – Average , Transparency – Mag 5

Instrument: Celestron C8 @ f/10 (native), f/7.1 with reducer – Aperture: 203.2mm, Focal Length: 2032mm (native), 1450mm with reducer

Mount: Celestron Advanced VX

Eyepiece: N/A (Imaging)

Reticle Device: N/A

Imaging Equipment: Starizona SCT Corrector IV 0.63x reducer, ZWO off-axis guider, ASI174MM-mini guide camera, ZWO ASI678MC

Image type and sensor: ZWO ASI 678MC – CMOS, IMX678 1/1.8″ sensor

Image capture details: 95 minute integration, 95x60s, Gain – 100, Flats – 30, Darks – 20, Bias – 30
Software: PixInsight, Photoshop

Date: January 4, 2025

Time: 6:30 – 9:30

Girl Scout astronomy outreach at Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center. Helped Junior Girl Scout Troup 11879 fulfill requirements for their astronomy badge. Showed them views of the moon, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, constellations, nebulae, and galaxies through various telescopes.

To celebrate and focus on the successes of the Hubble Telescope, the Astronomical League and NASA are presenting a NASA Special Observing Award Challenge.  For more information on the Hubble Telescope Mission go to the mission website.

The Hubble Telescope has been responsible for bringing the universe to all of us in fantastic clarity.  It has brought us images of many distant and incredible objects.  In the past 35 years, the Hubble Telescope has marched onward and produced thousands of images.  Now, it is time for us to celebrate all those accomplishments and join the party.

Imaging as well as visual observing are allowed for these awards.  Go-to telescopes are permitted including remote telescopes when the observer specifically requests the object be imaged for them.

If you are doing an outreach activity and you would like to give participant certificates to your attendees, there is a downloadable certificate available here.

There are two levels to this Challenge.  You do NOT need to be a member of the Astronomical League to participate in this challenge and to receive the certificates and pin.

Details for this award:

Silver award (certificates only):

One or more outreach activities must be done during one of the months for which you submit for the silver award; to spread the word about the Hubble Telescope and its mission.  An outreach activity is anything that spreads the word to others about the Hubble Telescope, its 35th anniversary, or this challenge.  This might be on a website, at a meeting, an outreach event, or on a blog.

The same outreach activity may be used for multiple months at the silver level.  We encourage you to do more outreach activities to meet the requirements of the gold award.

The observations must be done during the specific month for each silver certificate.

Each month’s observation targets will be listed below.  There is a list for northern observers and also a list for southern observers.

You must observe at least one of the objects from either list each month to earn a silver certificate.

Sketch or image the object(s).

Attempt to identify the part of your sketch or image that corresponds to a part of the Hubble Telescope image.  (See links in the References section to access the Hubble image gallery.)

Gold award (certificate and pin):  

Over the span of 2025, do four or more outreach activities to spread the word about the Hubble Telescope and its mission.  An outreach activity is anything that spreads the word to others about the Hubble Telescope, its 35th anniversary, or this challenge.   This might be on a website, at a meeting, an outreach event, or on a blog.

Observe four or more objects for each month from the lists and submit them monthly.

Sketch or image all of the objects you observe.

Attempt to identify the part of your sketch or image that corresponds to a part of the Hubble Telescope image.  (See links in the References section to access the Hubble image gallery.)

Note:  The gold award requires additional observations each month beyond the requirements for silver.  Be sure to capture them.

Monthly Object Lists:

February 2025 – submission deadline 3/31/2025 for a silver certification, or as one step in the gold certification.

• Northern List
  • M46
  • Caldwell 7
  • Caldwell 25
  • Caldwell 39
  • Caldwell 58:  Caroline’s Cluster
• Southern List
  • M46
  • Caldwell 25
  • Caldwell 39
  • Caldwell 58:  Caroline’s Cluster
  • Caldwell 71: Termite Hole Cluster
  • Caldwell 96

Submission Requirements:

• Outreach Events
  • Date and time
  • What was the outreach activity
  • Group and group size
• Observations
  • Date and time
  • Details of instruments and filters used
  • Sketches or images of objects

Note: These awards will be listed in the on-line database under the Hubble Telescope  35th Anniversary Special Observing Award rather than under the NASA Observing Challenges.

References:

• Hubble Telescope Messier Image Catalog
• Hubble Telescope Caldwell Image Catalog
• Hubble Telescope Main Web Page
• Hubble Telescope Night Sky Challenge Page
• AL Flyer for the Challenge (PDF format, JPEG format)

(Submission Deadline is the end of the month after each silver challenge.  Submissions for the gold challenge should be submitted monthly by the same deadlines)  Late submissions will not be accepted.

Observation Details

Location: Mansfield, GA (33.4689° N, 83.7353° W)

Date and Time: 2025-01-04, 20:20 – 21:31 EDT

Sky conditions: Seeing – Average , Transparency – Mag 5

Instrument: Apertura 60mm FPL-53 Doublet APO Refractor @ f/6 (native) – Aperture: 60mm, Focal Length: 360mm

Mount: Star Adventurer 2i

Eyepiece: N/A (Imaging)

Reticle Device: N/A

Imaging Equipment: Canon T7i, Optolong L-Pro

Image type and sensor: CMOS, APS-C, 332.27mm² (22.30mm x 14.90mm)

Image capture details: 30.5 minute integration, 122 images, Exposure time – 00:15, @ ISO speed – 800
Software: PixInsight, Photoshop

M42 – Orion Nebula

M43 – De Mairan’s Nebula

Observation Details

Location: Tucson, AZ (32.4364° N, 110.9096° W)

Date and Time: 2025-01-12, 19:00 – 22:30 MDT

Sky conditions: Seeing – Average , Transparency – Mag 5

Instrument: Apertura 90, .8 reducer – effective focal length 432mm, native FL 5540mm

Mount: Advanced VX

Eyepiece: N/A (Imaging)

Reticle Device: N/A

Imaging Equipment: Asi2600MC-Air, Idas Nbz-II Nebula Booster, EAF, On axis guiding

Image type and sensor: CMOS, Sony IMX571 APS-C 23.5×15.7mm

Image capture details: M1 lights – 120s x 4, 90s x 40s, gain 100; M79 – 60s x 60, gain 100; Both targets – Bias – exp: 1.0ms x 30, gain 100, bin 1; Flats – 250ms x 30, gain 100, bin 1
Software: ASIDeepStack, Photoshop, PixInsight

These two targets were imaged under a 99% illuminated moon.

M1 – Crab Nebula

M79

Date: January 4, 2025

Time: 6:30 – 9:30

Girl Scout astronomy outreach at Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center. Helped Junior Girl Scout Troup 11879 fulfill requirements for their astronomy badge. Showed them views of the moon, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, constellations, nebulae, and galaxies through various telescopes.

To celebrate and focus on the successes of the Hubble Telescope, the Astronomical League and NASA are presenting a NASA Special Observing Award Challenge.  For more information on the Hubble Telescope Mission go to the mission website.

The Hubble Telescope has been responsible for bringing the universe to all of us in fantastic clarity.  It has brought us images of many distant and incredible objects.  In the past 35 years, the Hubble Telescope has marched onward and produced thousands of images.  Now, it is time for us to celebrate all those accomplishments and join the party.

Imaging as well as visual observing are allowed for these awards.  Go-to telescopes are permitted including remote telescopes when the observer specifically requests the object be imaged for them.

If you are doing an outreach activity and you would like to give participant certificates to your attendees, there is a downloadable certificate available here.

There are two levels to this Challenge.  You do NOT need to be a member of the Astronomical League to participate in this challenge and to receive the certificates and pin.

Details for this award:

Silver award (certificates only):

One or more outreach activities must be done during one of the months for which you submit for the silver award; to spread the word about the Hubble Telescope and its mission.  An outreach activity is anything that spreads the word to others about the Hubble Telescope, its 35th anniversary, or this challenge.  This might be on a website, at a meeting, an outreach event, or on a blog.

The same outreach activity may be used for multiple months at the silver level.  We encourage you to do more outreach activities to meet the requirements of the gold award.

The observations must be done during the specific month for each silver certificate.

Each month’s observation targets will be listed below.  There is a list for northern observers and also a list for southern observers.

You must observe at least one of the objects from either list each month to earn a silver certificate.

Sketch or image the object(s).

Attempt to identify the part of your sketch or image that corresponds to a part of the Hubble Telescope image.  (See links in the References section to access the Hubble image gallery.)

Gold award (certificate and pin):  

Over the span of 2025, do four or more outreach activities to spread the word about the Hubble Telescope and its mission.  An outreach activity is anything that spreads the word to others about the Hubble Telescope, its 35th anniversary, or this challenge.   This might be on a website, at a meeting, an outreach event, or on a blog.

Observe four or more objects for each month from the lists and submit them monthly.

Sketch or image all of the objects you observe.

Attempt to identify the part of your sketch or image that corresponds to a part of the Hubble Telescope image.  (See links in the References section to access the Hubble image gallery.)

Note:  The gold award requires additional observations each month beyond the requirements for silver.  Be sure to capture them.

Monthly Object Lists:

January 2025 – submission deadline 2/28/2025 for a silver certification, or as one step in the gold certification.

Northern List

• M42: The Orion Nebula
• M1: The Crab nebula
• M43:  DeMairan’s Nebula
• M78
• M79
• Caldwell 46:  Hubble’s Variable Nebula

Southern List

• M1: The Crab nebula
• M42: The Orion Nebula
• M43:  DeMairan’s Nebula
• M78
• M79
• Caldwell 73
• Caldwell 103
• Caldwell 46:  Hubble’s Variable Nebula

Submission Requirements:

• Outreach Events
  • Date and time
  • What was the outreach activity
  • Group and group size
• Observations
  • Date and time
  • Details of instruments and filters used
  • Sketches or images of objects

Note: These awards will be listed in the on-line database under the Hubble Telescope  35th Anniversary Special Observing Award rather than under the NASA Observing Challenges.

References:

• Hubble Telescope Messier Image Catalog
• Hubble Telescope Caldwell Image Catalog
• Hubble Telescope Main Web Page
• Hubble Telescope Night Sky Challenge Page
• AL Flyer for the Challenge (PDF format, JPEG format)

(Submission Deadline is the end of the month after each silver challenge.  Submissions for the gold challenge should be submitted monthly by the same deadlines)  Late submissions will not be accepted.

Outreach

Location: Lilburn, GA (33.886538° N, 84.133908° W)

Date and Time: 2024-06-04, 09:00 – 13:00 EDT

Sky conditions: Seeing – okay, Transparency – Some clouds

Instrument: Coronado PST H-Alpha telescope @ f/10 – Aperture: 40mm, Focal Length: 400mm, Celestron EclipSmart 10x42MM Solar Binoculars

Mount: Sky Watcher Solar Quest

Eyepiece: Coronado – Cemax 18mm Solar Eyepiece

Observation

Location: Decatur, GA (33.707471° N, 84.254067° W)

Date and Time: 2024-07-01, 12:45 – 13:00 EDT

Sky conditions: Seeing – average, Transparency – average

Instrument: Coronado PST H-Alpha telescope @ f/10 – Aperture: 40mm, Focal Length: 400mm

Mount: Sky Watcher Solar Quest

Eyepiece: N/A

Reticle Device: N/A

Imaging Equipment: ASI174-mm mini, 2x Barlow lens, ZWO IR Cut filter

Image type and sensor: ZWO ASI 174MM mini – CMOS, Sony IMX249 1/1.2″ sensor

Image capture details: 60s AVI capture, Start capture: 12:49:35 EDT, End capture: 12:50:35 EDT, Exposure: 32ms, Gain: 180, best 20% stacked of 885 frames
Software: ASICap, ASIVideoStack, Photoshop

10. Parker Solar Probe – Perihelion #20 Special Observing Award. (submission deadline: 8/3/2024)

To celebrate and focus on the successes of the Parker Solar Probe, the Astronomical League and NASA are presenting a NASA Observing Challenge.  For more information on the Parker Solar Probe Mission go to the mission website.  Click here.

• You do NOT need to be a member of the Astronomical League to participate in this challenge and to receive the certificate and pin.
• You do NOT need to have expensive equipment to do this challenge.  It may be done using pin-hole projection.

*** WARNING ***

Before you start any solar observing activity, make absolutely certain that you have safe filters and a safe set-up.  Only use filters from reputable sources, and never use a “solar filter” that screws into an eyepiece. As Richard Hill states in Observe and Understand the Sun:  “Observing the sun is the only inherently dangerous observing an amateur astronomer can do. Be aware of this at all times and take all necessary precautions. If you do not know a filter or procedure is safe then do not use it! Always err on the side of safety. An eye once damaged is forever damaged. Filters that let too much INFRARED light through can burn an eye if used visually. There is NO PAIN when this happens. Burned retinas can not be repaired. Excessive ULTRAVIOLET light has been shown to cause cataracts. So be very careful.”

For more information on ways to safely observe the sun, click here.

These are the requirements:

• Do an Outreach Activity to spread the word about the Parker Solar Probe and its mission.
• Observe the Sun, between June 26 and July 3.
• Sketch or Image the solar disk.
• Submit the required information to the NASA Observing Challenge Coordinator before 8/3/2024.

Required Information to submit:

• Your astronomical society association, or none.
• Date and Time
• Details of instrument and filters used
• Sketch or Image of the Sun
• Details of the Outreach Event:
  • Date and Time
  • What was the Outreach Event
  • Number of members of the public reached

Do not look at the sun without proper protection.  Safe methods for observing the Sun:

• An H-Alpha Solar Telescope
• A neutral density Solar Telescope
• A neutral density Solar Filter
• Build a Sun Funnel
• Use pin-hole projection (no telescope required)

Note:  Eclipse Glasses, although safe to use, will not show any detail on the face of the Sun, so may NOT be used for this challenge.

References:

Parker Solar Probe Site

Building a Sun Funnel

Pin-Hole Projection

Charlie Elliott Astronomy, a chapter of Atlanta Astronomy Club, was asked to do four solar outreach sessions for approximately 200 5th – 7th grade Girl Scouts at Lilburn Day Camp. We had several telescopes set up, and a live stream of the sun from a SeeStar, along with displays and activities for the participants. 

During each session, we spoke to the group about the sun in a tangible way through visual aids and activities. We also explained how the corona, normally invisible to our eyes, becomes visible during total eclipses. To find out more, NASA has sent the Parker Solar Probe out to study the sun up close. By doing so, we can learn more about how the sun works, and how it helps scientists understand things like solar wind and solar storms that can affect our Earth.

After our brief presentation to the groups, we invited them to look out of our telescopes and look at the diagrams and visual aids (including information on Parker Solar Probe), and projects we set up. Some of these things can be seen in the video below.

On July 1st, I was able to observe the sun in H-Alpha. I set up for imaging and was treated to the views seen below. I created four versions of the image in post-processing to show the natural and inverted disk in monochrome and false-color.