Category: Research

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

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

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