Carlos Ayala

They activated their live POV cams inside their helmets...HOLY CRAP! - Carlos Ayala

Just now- OH: Bresnik (on board the shuttle/ISS): "Hey Bobby we see what you see" Bobby: "That's a scary thought" Bresnik: "You're right about that!" - Carlos Ayala

15 feet..standing by for docking - Carlos Ayala

the hatch is taking up the whole screen. now at 10 feet - Carlos Ayala

5 feet - Carlos Ayala

Docking Confirmed! (@11:51am EST) - Carlos Ayala

Go For Docking! - Carlos Ayala

300 feet - Carlos Ayala

240 ft - Carlos Ayala

183 feet from PMA2 - Carlos Ayala

160 feet and a software glitch has been identified. - Carlos Ayala

100 feet and closing in - Carlos Ayala

~20 minutes to contact. - Carlos Ayala

86 feet. - Carlos Ayala

70 feet. over western australia now. (Johnny LOOK UP YO!) - Carlos Ayala

60 feet - Carlos Ayala

50 feet - Carlos Ayala

40 feet. slowing down to 1/10th of a foot per second - Carlos Ayala

30 ft - Carlos Ayala

Executing final approach - Carlos Ayala

The shuttle is now moving ahead of the ISS and also getting to about 300 feet from the ISS and will begin to back up. Twice Orbital Rate V-Bar Approach begins now. - Carlos Ayala

400 feet away from ISS now - Carlos Ayala

Thanks. This was a very difficult shoot. We were not able to drop anchor correctly so we were in a constant bob fest. The boat was not able to level out. Most of the pictures were unusable, the haze made it even worse. Also, our broadcast was on a 1:30 delay and we were not looking at the actual time. If it wasnt for me trying to get a lock on the pad and happen to see the smoke...we would've missed it completely. We were facing the other direction. Oh well, all part of the excitement I guess. Good times. - Carlos Ayala

Next time you go, take one of my radios. They do a amateur radio rebroadcast that I think is not delayed in any way. - Matt Hilton from email

Thanks Matt, maybe next time you'll be there too. - Carlos Ayala

Once again, great work! Looks like you had a blast too. :D - Adrian

Hopefully I can, did you guys go to Haulover Canal again? - Matt Hilton

Yes Matt, marker 45 like last time, only this time we were not able to anchor down. - Carlos Ayala

Yikes, what happened? - Matt Hilton

not sure...radar/sonar said we were 9.2 feet...we went beyond that with two anchors and all we hooked was black seaweed. its was pretty rough out there too. those river anchors we were using were too small for that area is my guess. - Carlos Ayala

I have no idea which is better..i just know that i thoroughly love this junk right here. - Carlos Ayala

Just sticking to Glenlivet tonight. But I'll add this to the list of stuff to try. - Matt Hilton

this is more of a liqueur than a bourbon, if you ask me. i'll take a glenlivet any day over this... - Carlos Ayala

I don't drink but if I ever start, I'm gonna start with something that's called American Honey. I mean, come on. How can that NOT be good? - pea

its actually really good. borderline froofy but good. - Carlos Ayala

Well its my second bottle in a row, and its time for something different. I may have to find something to mix it with if its a liqueur, but Derrick's Red Stag my fit my next bottle. And it looks like its about 2/3 the price, which is really why I'm looking for a change. - Matt Hilton

you dont move from what you are drinking to either of these...from here you go to the balvenie! (but yeah, its more money)...american honey is also ~$20 - Carlos Ayala

Yeah, I hate the thought of moving in reverse. But hey, we're in a recession right? I shouldn't complain about not being able to drink single malt every night. - Matt Hilton

we could split it? - Carlos Ayala

Well we do need to plan a drink and cigar night again. Its been too long. - Matt Hilton

done. - Carlos Ayala

Ha...I've quit the drinking for a bit either way. Cool name though. - Derrick

Are you aware that it is MONDAY? And that you're supposed to be WORKING like the rest of us? WTF? hmm. - pea

also, don't mind me. petty and jealous ----------> - pea

We're watching! :D - Rochelle

*cues Miami Vice theme song* Go on with your bad self playa! - Adrian

Ahem, when you are done could I borrow that lens for my Madagascar trip? - Shannon

WOOHOO!!! - Carlos Ayala from iPhone

Good job man, I wish I was there! - Mark Layton

trick or treat - Trish Haley

Cute x 1000!!!! - Trish R

she must like living in FL then. an endless supply of snakes for all her concoctions. next you'll be posting photos of newts. - pea

@pea here ya go: http://www.flickr.com/photos... - Carlos Ayala

Of course you already have one. You, sir, are too good. - pea

But also, eek. NO. - pea

:-)) - Anna Haro

Very nice, Carlos. - Derrick

Aww Thanks D! - Carlos Ayala

Anyone wanna go half on a German Equatorial Mount??? - Carlos Ayala

*Sigh*... space is HUGE! - Mark Jepsen

Omg, amazing, Carlos!!!! - Carmen

Very nice. I've been trying to just get Jupiter and the moon these past few weeks. - Anika

Sweet! It looks really clear. What did you set the white balance at? I know this is converted black and white and all, just wondering what kind of color info the lens/sensor were able to register for Jupiter. - Adrian

@Anika they should be in your southern sky for most of your night and a wide angle will get them both together in the frame. the only problem is capturing any detail in both at the same time is virtually impossible. - Carlos Ayala

If I didn't live on the other side of the continent (and had half the money) I'd go in halves on a GEM. Keeping the camera on Jupiter at that kind of magnification with a crappy tripod is a bear. - Adrian

Oh, I can see them randomly. That's not the problem. It's actually shooting them where they're not blogs of white. I was going to do what you did and stitch together two photos, but the moon pics I've taken have been unusuable. - Anika

@Adrian WB is almost always on Auto for these shots. If i am doing long exposures of starscapes in polluted skies i may do Tungsten. and I never convert to B&W. The shot of Jupiter is straight on shot @ 0.8 Seconds F8.0 ISO 1600. The Moon was shot @ 1/30 ISO 100. Both @ 560mm on a tripod. - Carlos Ayala

@Anika you have to keep in mind that what you see of the Moon is sunlight. Always shoot it at ISO100, as though you were shooting in daylight. The actual speed will vary between 1/30 - 1/200, as an example. The shutter speed is dependent on position in the sky and type of moon, for the most part. - Carlos Ayala

@Anika to stitch them, all i did was open both of them in photoshop and place them side by side in a new file. Since i wanted an accurate representation of position in the sky i moved the Moon to where it is in relation to Jupiter. This created a gap. The gap was easily fixed by making the background black. So, 3 layers: black background, the Moon and Jupiter and its neighbors. - Carlos Ayala

So I shouldn't be getting color data on Jupiter at this magnification? I'm probably seeing chromatic aberration from the lens. You saw my photos... the colors on Jupiter and it's glow would switch up depending on how I had the white balance set. Strange, I guess I should look this up. - Adrian

the only way to get any color data at this this magnification is if you track it using a GEM while taking many many many exposures at different lengths and later stacking the frames. If i had to guess, what you (and I) are picking up is actually reflected sunlight. - Carlos Ayala

even this picture needed 73 exposures to get an 'accurate' representation: http://tinyurl.com/yhtp9wj - Carlos Ayala

Crazy! The rovers on Mars shoot like that too. They have filters for the various color wavelengths and they piece the color photos together from these. I want a mount... and filters. :D - Adrian

Oh it's not just color wavelengths they go for it's chemical wavelengths. They can identify chemistry on visible objects with the technique. - Adrian

as for the canon's you can either purchase a modified camera for astrophotography, have your current canon permanently modified, add a filter above the sensor yourself or just wing it like i do. these filters cut out the wavelengths that produce the chromatic aberrations you mentioned and high pressure sodium and mercury light pollution. a GEM and a 800mm telescope with t-adapter is on my Christmas list for sure. - Carlos Ayala

Dude, I have an Oly OM-1MD! In the 70's it was *the* astro-photography camera. ;) It was one of the main reasons I got it. It has mirror lock-up for vibration-free images. Since I don't have a long lens for it, I'm thinking I should just get a telescope with a mount, and an adapter for the camera. But for now it's just a dream. - Adrian

haha yeah man i know the camera, i forgot you had that beast. awesome. unfortunately we are really limited as to what we can realistically photograph without a GEM. we are basically limited to the Moon. all deep sky objects require a GEM at the very least and a decent (fast) lens or telescope. look at this way my 560mm shot is effectively 896mm on my crop (if i have the math right) and thats the best i can do with what i have. - Carlos Ayala

Yep, that's why my plan is to go the scope route when I can do it. Here's some info on the OM-1 for astronomy: http://www.scopereviews.com/om... - Adrian

Great writeup thanks Adrian! - Carlos Ayala

Luna and the Jovian system? *swoon* - Michael W. May

I got some nice moon shots myself the other night - not nearly as good. But you hit the jackpot there. - Roberto Bonini

I think you only take pictures so that I understand my complete lack of skill ;) - RAPatton

I love the graphics in Borderlands! - Alex Scoble

We just started playing and it looks amazing. - Carlos Ayala

I did shoot the moon last night. It was HUGE!! - Roberto Bonini

Now is the time to shoot it Anika, the shadows bring out the craters, Get out tonight and get it! - Carlos Ayala

I'm sick! - Anika

No excuses! - Carlos Ayala

Sir! Yes, sir! - Anika

Actually the moon on halloween was quite beautiful, i hope you got snaps of it. - Carlos Ayala

Um, I think I did earlier that night. I know for sure I got it on Nov. 1. - Anika

shes pretty though. - Carlos Ayala

No. - Derrick

It's beautiful. What kind of snake is that? The kids are loving it. They wonder if they could have it as a pet. - Anika

I am pretty sure shes a Garter, I dont think they make good pets. This one was a baby and pretty aggressive. - Carlos Ayala

According to some sites on the net they say these make great pets. /shrug - Carlos Ayala

If we had them as pets, they'd be mostly there to observe. We don't actually interact with our pets. - Anika

UGH. HIDE. You now owe me one. I don't make the rules- oh wait. I actually did. No matter. You still owe me one. - pea

Puuurttyyyy.... - ronin from iPhone

French Veggies - Lindsey is Fierce!

Belgian Chocolate (FTW). - Ayşe E.

Aussie Sausages - Johnny Worthington from iPhone

@nakachi it would've been better if she hadn't moved as i took it. ;( also, Achilles is my friend's dog. - Carlos Ayala

LOVE. You know, if you ever need a little break, you should feel free to send Isabella up to Va. I promise to send her back. - pea

Aw, so sweet. - Anika

careful what you wish for pea, we may never see you again! - Carlos Ayala

you keep warning me but I gotta tell you, I've taken on some seriously challenging kids and survived to tell the tales so, bring it on. i ain't scared! ;D - pea

haha! you should be! - Carlos Ayala

pfft. has she ever broken into anyone's home? broken some stranger's sunroof? gone to bed with every knife in the house under her pillows because she's a ninja? shoplifted when she was 3? :D i got this. - pea

give her time. she is only two and is currently only throwing forks and knives at her mother while saying "shit" 'cuz she missed. but when she connects she reaches out to dad for a high five. trust me, there is much evil brewing within this one. the force is definitely strong with her. - Carlos Ayala

lmao @ reaches out to dad for a high five. - nakachi

Great pics. I wonder if Cletus will ever calm down enough for stuff like that. - Matt Hilton

What an adorable pair. I just can't take the cuteness + her awesome shirt. <3 - Carmen

she's so cute! - vijay

:) - edythe

Rawks. - rowlikeagirl

Great pictures! - Mike Fruchter

x_x - Derrick

Want to like this again. <3 - Carmen

he won a food network competition. and not only did he win, but slapped the effin crap out of his competition with some insane jack-o-lantern with bloody eyeballs and a pumpkin hand attached to a motor that moved. bananas. - tiffany

damn. those are ridiculous. in the good sense of the word. - pea

Very cool stuff. - Kyle Hebert

amazing - Carmen

Damn. - Derrick

These are killer. - Adrian