
is located at Harrison, Arkansas, working in conjunction with Dr. Jeff Robertson, Dean, College Health, Science, and Technology at the University of Central Missouri, we provide data on cataclysmic variable stars for universities and CBA (Center for Backyard Astrophysics). Our work has been published in astronomical journals. But, true to our hearts as amateur astronomers, my wife and I especially enjoy showing guests the marvelous wonders of the night sky.
We currently have expanded our hobby to include six observatories in the backyard that house a variety of scopes, each for its individualized special research. Several use CCD cameras for time-resolved variable star photometry, one for supernova patrol, one for H-alpha solar observing, and two for visual deepsky, lunar and planetary observing. Three observatories are shown below:
5", 10", 12", 14" 16", 20", and 36" telescopes. For varied projects, we have seven different scopes in our observatories along with a multi-deck observing platform to accommodate visitors.
Jeannie next to a 14" LX-200 on the observing deck, and a 12" LX-200 is in the Skypod behind.
These are deep-sky images taken in the late 1990's using our then newly acquired SBIG ST-6 CCD camera, through our 16" telescope.
NGC 253 in Sculptor is one of the largest nearby galaxies R.A. 00h 47m dec. 25° 17m mag. 7.1. This is a 30 second ST-6 CCD exposure of NGC 253
In the 1980's I collected antique Clark Refractors. Here are two six inchers, and a five inch, dating from 1887, 1888, and 1889. Their image sharpness was sometimes used to visually estimate variable star brightness.
Mr. Houston proudly showed me his 4" clark refractor that he used to make the many wonderful observations for years described in his monthly column "Deep-Sky Wonders" for Sky and Telescope Magazine. He also was an avid variable star observer for the The American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO).
A Meade 16-inch telescope equipped with an SBIG ST-9 CCD camera is being used to systematically monitor some 200+ spiral galaxies that lie less than 300 million light years from our Milky Way, in hopes of capturing the rise in light from a supernova outburst. Supernovae (of type-Ia) are important astrophysical objects because of their use as absolute distance indicators. The use of the CCD camera is equally as important so as to increase the number of faint targets that are usually left untouched by visual observers.
Although many stars like our sun can remain stable for billions of years, more massive stars can race through their entire life cycles in a relatively short 10 million years or so, ending in a cataclysmic explosion called a supernova that literally tears the aging star apart. A supernova remnant is the expanding gaseous nebula created by these titanic explosions. Supernova remnants are of interest to many areas of astrophysics.