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Tests with the Prime Focus color imaging

This is a picture of the Helix Nebula taken with our Soka University Nieves Observatory, using our Edge 11″ Celestron telescope operating at a f/2.2 prime focus. The image was taken using a Hyperstar Prime Focus corrector and the ZWO ASI 2600 MC Pro Color CMOS camera. The image was a stack of about 30…Continue Reading Tests with the Prime Focus color imaging

Astronomy Night: Exploration of the Moon and Mars

Soka University astronomy professor Dr. Bryan Penprase shares live images from Soka’s Nieves Observatory telescope and answers questions about the recent landing on Mars of the new JPL spacecraft lander known as Perseverance. Perseverance landed on Mars on February 18th. Dr. Penprase discusses and answers questions about the main science goals of the mission, its…Continue Reading Astronomy Night: Exploration of the Moon and Mars

A New Diamond in the Sky: Nova Carinae 2018

The classical nova ASASSN-18fv (Nova Carinae 2018) was discovered by the All Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae on 2018 March 21, based on images taken on 2018 March 20 UT near the Galactic plane, in the same field of view as the Carina Nebula. Multiple optical and near-infrared spectroscopic observations confirm ASASSN-18fv to be a…Continue Reading A New Diamond in the Sky: Nova Carinae 2018

With the Nieves Observatory, Soka Sets Its Eyes on the Sky

Soka’s global vision is going intergalactic. The Luis and Linda Nieves Observatory gives Soka students—and astronomers around the world—access to powerful tools to study the cosmos. The observatory, made possible by a gift from the Luis and Linda Nieves Family Foundation, features an advanced research-grade telescope that allows for the viewing of galaxies, nebulae, and…Continue Reading With the Nieves Observatory, Soka Sets Its Eyes on the Sky

A Cosmic Explosion: Supernova 2017cbv

During the semester, while taking an astrophysics class with Professor Penprase, a transient astronomical event occurred: a star exploded some 41 million light years away. The Type Ia: A candle in the dark Very shortly after the explosion is discovered, an astronomer took a spectrum of the object and found it to be a Type…Continue Reading A Cosmic Explosion: Supernova 2017cbv