Observation Report

Location Suggestions

Given your location outside of Waco, Texas, here are some nearby locations with darker skies for optimal viewing:

1. Fort Griffin State Historic Site (approx. 140 miles northwest)

   • Bortle Class: 3 (Rural Sky)
   • Coordinates: 33.0292° N, 99.4542° W

2. Davis Mountains State Park (approx. 320 miles west)

   • Bortle Class: 2 (Rural Sky)
   • Coordinates: 30.6047° N, 103.9811° W

3. McDonald Observatory (approx. 340 miles west)

   • Bortle Class: 2 (Rural Sky)
   • Coordinates: 30.7233° N, 104.0011° W

Potential Targets

Celestial Objects

1. Orion Nebula (M42)

   • Visibility: Good in the early evening.
   • Chances of Success: High.

2. Pleiades Cluster (M45)

   • Visibility: Good in the evening.
   • Chances of Success: High.

3. Andromeda Galaxy (M31)

   • Visibility: Good in the late evening.
   • Chances of Success: High.

Transient Events

1. Quadrantid Meteor Shower

   • Peak: January 3-4, 2025
   • Visibility: Best after midnight.
   • Chances of Success: High.

2. Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)

   • Visibility: January 10-15, 2025
   • Chances of Success: Moderate (requires a telescope).

Special Events

1. Venus-Jupiter Conjunction
   • Date: January 22, 2025
   • Visibility: Early evening.
   • Chances of Success: High.

Equipment Capabilities

Based on typical astrophotography equipment:

• Telescope: 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain (f/10)
• Mount: Equatorial (Go-To)
• Camera: DSLR or dedicated astrophotography camera (e.g., Canon EOS Ra)
• Aperture: 200mm (8")
• Field of View: Approx. 0.5°

Plan of the Observation Session

Object Visibility

• Orion Nebula (M42)

  • Rise: 6:00 PM
  • Set: 10:00 PM
  • Best Viewing: 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Pleiades Cluster (M45)

  • Rise: 5:30 PM
  • Set: 11:00 PM
  • Best Viewing: 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• Andromeda Galaxy (M31)

  • Rise: 7:00 PM
  • Set: 5:00 AM
  • Best Viewing: 10:00 PM - 3:00 AM

• Quadrantid Meteor Shower

  • Peak: January 3-4, 2025, after midnight

• Venus-Jupiter Conjunction

  • Date: January 22, 2025
  • Best Viewing: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Exposure Times

• Orion Nebula (M42): 30-60 seconds
• Pleiades Cluster (M45): 15-30 seconds
• Andromeda Galaxy (M31): 30-60 seconds
• Quadrantid Meteor Shower: 30-second exposures
• Venus-Jupiter Conjunction: 1/250 - 1/500 second

Field of View

• Ensure targets fit within the 0.5° field of view of the telescope and camera.

Sources

• Old Farmer's Almanac (2025)
• Clear Dark Sky (weather and sky conditions)
• Stellarium (astronomical tool)
• NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED)
• TheSkyX (observation planning software)

This report provides a comprehensive overview of potential targets and locations for your astrophotography session outside of Waco, Texas. Happy stargazing!

Note Created: 2025-01-08