Saturn-Venus-Mercury conjunction - post 'em here

[[1ponders]]

I know I'm jumping the gun a bit but its forecast lousy weather here for Sunday, so I took the opportunity and rattled off a few shots of the soon to be conjunction.

Total angular separation Saturn (at top) to Mercury (at bottom) 3 deg 29'
Shot 1.
Time 07:36 UT (5:36 PM)
Canon 300D
ISO400
f/12.6
FL 160mm (Eq 320 mm)
Exp 2 sec

Shot 2
Time: 08:04 UT (6:03 PM)
As above
Exp 8 sec

[toetoe]

Good on ya Paul,
I was out the back showing my son the same exact pic you took but no scope, he had to go to work.

[frogman]

cool so thats what that was i was driving home and saw that but couldnt see it when i got home !!!!

groovy !
Anthony

[Striker]

Thats one nice power line and light pole...very nice Paul...

[acropolite]

:eyepop: I saw it as well last night and tonight again when I got home. Hopefully on Sunday the weather gods will be kind..:prey:..:prey2:..:prey:..:pre y2: BTW Paul, I think I can see a couple of splotches on the daylight images, you haven't got "seekers desease" as well have you???

[[1ponders]]

Just to give it perspective Tony. :P Ya gotta let the artist out every now and then :lol:

[fringe_dweller]

I havent got great hopes that the weather will co-operate for us here in adders - the evening and west are not very often good here - there is always some sort of cloud low over the gulf even on nice days :( heres some pics of the weather starting to come in today - first blood to the 350d :P

[[1ponders]]

Great halo shot. Strange looking clouds. :cool2:

[gbeal]

Ah,
that'll be the tennis club next door.
Nice, and hopefully the weather will clear here as well, yeah right.

[fringe_dweller]

Thanks mate!! :) - and back at you too - its like what i saw last night too! I am starting to get a little nice nebula collection happening - wrong sort tho :camera:
Kearn

[asimov]

Geez Kearn.....I haven't seen blue sky like that in 3 weeks!

[ballaratdragons]

First time in over a month we have had a clear sky and I saw the 3 planets together!

It looked so pretty I tried to take a shot without the scope but it didn't work!

Here it is. Only Venus showed up!!

[fringe_dweller]

its not clearish like that now! :rolleyes: and as I had nearly forgotten what blue skies looked like John, thought you might need a reminder :rain: :rain: :rain:
Kearn

[cometcatcher]

Thought I'd get in before Sunday too while the clouds are away. Knowing this place Sunday will be cloudy.

Nikon Coolpix 2100 with max optical zoom 4 seconds exposure.

Looks like I also caught a little star in Gemini bottom right.

[ballaratdragons]

Oooooo! Nice picture Kevin!

Looked absolutely beautiful with the yellow from sunset! Wish my camera showed it but it just showed dark!

[[1ponders]]

Nice shot Kevin. I think I'll try a wider shot next time. Try and get some foreground in to give it a bit more perspective. Powerlines just don't do it for me :)

[cometcatcher]

I had to walk around a bit to get the powerlines out of the frame. The things are everywhere.

[xrekcor]

Well I might as well join in, taken 24/06/05 around 6pm

Canon PowerShot A85, 4 sec exp

I'm trying to upload a second. but it appears to be only "partially uploading" well thats what the upload dialog box says. Wont upload?

[iceman]

Nice shots everyone, probably a good idea getting in early.. I just know it'll be cloudy here too.. forecast isn't good.

Ken, if your camera can do it, go for longer exposures to get more stars.

[[1ponders]]

I'd say that's the best shot yet Rob. Wide field definately does it for me."cool2:

[mch62]

Minolta D7 at 200mm f3.5 5 sec at iso800 dark frame on a tripod.
I included the power pole for effect.
It's been great weather out here and have been able to see them get closer over the last week.

[[1ponders]]

Where is it Mark? :P

[mch62]

man your quick --the file is only partially uploading .
only 32kb's????????????

[[1ponders]]

:D No flies on me:D

[mch62]

just tried another one same thing.
Paul I will send it to you --see if you can get it to upload.

[[1ponders]]

np

Marks Saturn, Venus, Mercury.

[xrekcor]

Thanks Paul, I like wide angle too... looking forward to the 26th

And hoping the weather plays the game

Same here cant upload a second one I have

Just say partially uploaded or something like that

regards

[astrodave]

Clear night in Melbourne tonight. Here's a 5 sec snap with Olympus 300 mju

[acropolite]

Here's my effort cropped from the original. Didn't even leave the house just opened the window, hope tomorrow night is as clear. :prey: If the image is not there it's all your fault Mike...:poke: Hey it looks just like yours Dave...and yours hOughy and yours Rob and.....:D

If there's no image try here (http://users.bigpond.net.au/elmer/index.htm).... Yay the upload's fixed... Thanks Mojo.

Edited to include image from 26th. Unfortunately there's a bit of camera shake in the last image also I hadn't turned on long exposure noise reduction. Given the ideal conditions here I really should have been better prepared.

[slice of heaven]

Todays pics look a bit under exposed ?

[h0ughy]

here is my woefull effort. the weather is not very forgiving in Newcastle at the moment. The Rain was lurking around , and it had already passed over with a small shower, so George went to work and started to polish the car!! Our favourite Publicity officer posed for a portrait and note the cloud. The other pathetic morsels , one taken last night of the quickest gap inthe clouds and snapped one off and just managed to record the smudge that something was there, and tonight, knowing full well we had no hope I at least showed Venus. lets hope for clear weather........... :rofl:

[h0ughy]

um, er, :bashcomp: where did my images go......

[astrodave]

Every attempt I make to attach an image gets a load error....

[[1ponders]]

See here http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/announcement.php?f=14&announcementid=6 about the image problem

[Daring Dave]

Not real flash...but its still a picture....might try again just before sunset tomorrow...

Sony 3.2 meg (Handheld) over back fence...


Bugger....Just noticed there are uploading image issues...

[robin]

Hi all, shot this pic last night with the D100,2 sec exposure @ 200iso through a nikkor 80-200mm zoom.
ps...how do i attach a thumbnail link.Haven't posted a pic on the new look IIS site yet.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/makemineameade/Conjunction1A.jpg

[cometcatcher]

Looks like this will be my last. Cloudy now. Same details as before.

[xrekcor]

The first is an image composite of the 24/06/05 and 25/06/05. the second one is from last night 25/06/05

Both are 2 second exposures taken around the same time on both nights.

We've got clouds here today so I'm looking like missing tonight.

Man I would love to get rid of this Nagler weather and use my new Pentax's :fight:

regards

[Starkler]

First with todays Conjunction :)

Orion 80 ED , 31mm nagler and KODAK digicam :D
Processing : none , cant you tell ? :lol:

[[1ponders]]

Good onya Geoff. Glad someone has gotten to see it. Not a chance in this neck of SE-QLD

[Starkler]

It was more interesting for me in that this is the first time I have seen Mercury :)
Both Mercury and Venus were bubbling colourful blobs although Saturn looked alright.
It was interesting to see the relative brighnesses of these planets being close enough to directly compare.

[[1ponders]]

Me too. first Mercury viewing for me too. At least that I'm aware of anyway :P Venus' a bright little gem at the moment, should get considerably brighter over the next couple of weeks too.

[asimov]

A quick pic. Hand-held 1/4 sec.

[fringe_dweller]

I stuffed around and it took me to long to figure out how to use new camera in dark :P (hate preparing for things LOL - so just missed mercury in the clouds (although it is there if i zoom in :) - I was surprised how good the trio looked looked in twilight!

[gbeal]

Well after a less than favourable week, today was clear, and crisp.
Located Venus just after lunch, while it was high and transiting. Got a view of both Venus and Mercury then, but couldn't find Saturn, possibly as I wasn't exactly sure where to look.
Waited until near sunset, and just after shot the trio with the ED80 refractor, and D100 Nikon. While not spectacular, it was neat to have all three in the same FOV/image.
Left my pictorial run a little late (hey my soup was getting cold), but managed a threesome with the 80-200 Nikkor on the D100. Exposure times will be recorded, but not overly relevant here.
Gary
Great to see the Poms get a hiding last night as well, go the All Blacks.

[[1ponders]]

Lucky bugger John. Glad you got clear skies to see it. Its great to see everyone getting into the spirit of the occasion.

There is another opportunity on the 4/7/05 for another conjunction/occulation when Venus and Mercury pass through M44 ,The Beehive cluster. I'd love to see what you guys with Digital non-SLR cameras can do with this one.

If you're not sure how long you can expose for before getting star trails. A rough guide is time = 700/FL of camera lens (you might have to check the manual that came with your camera for this) eg. with a 50mm lens then the approx exposure time is 14 sec, but a 28 mm lens ups the exposure time to 25 sec. Good luck for those you give it a go.

The full formula is t(sec)=1000/(F*cosDec) where dec is the object Declination. Ignore the - sign for southern decs. Important to remember, if you use say a 50 mm lens and image something at 30 deg Dec you will include objects in the field of view with lower Dec angles (close to the celestial equator 0 deg dec). So work out the field of view of your lens, find out the lowest Dec angle included in your image and use its t (sec) for the shot to reduce the likelihood of trails.

[[1ponders]]

Hey Gary, finally some clear skies. :cool2:

Nice shots guys

[gbeal]

Yeah Paul, at last. Cold as charity though, snow down south. No news of Rob, still celebrating the rugby win I suppose??

[FNQ_View]

Thanks for the photos guys, We tried to catch it ... went to the western side of the Great Divide, drove 450kms away, and didn't see a break in the cloud for tonight's event:driving:.

One consolation, we saw Saturn, then Venus & Mercury last night though not at the same time, and from 8.30 - 10.00 pm had some of the clearest skies I'd seen in a long time. ( Lakefield National Park - No Moon )

Mick

[ballaratdragons]

This is the best I could do. Taken at 6:30pm tonight.

2" 30mm GS Superview, 12" Dob, Kodak CX7310, standard exposure time.

Because the 3 didn't fit in the one field of view (almost though) this is 2 pics together in PaintShop Pro.

The Ice was forming again and I packed up!

[ballaratdragons]

Here is Mercury and Venus alone.

Same EP and Camera set up as in previous post

[ballaratdragons]

Due to a foggy atmosphere this is how Saturn looked with 15mm Plossl.

[h0ughy]

An update, here are some images from tonight :D

[ballaratdragons]

:thumbsup: My comment in other thread!

[robin]

Here's one from tonight.Once again, the Nikon D100, 400iso, 2 second exp.Nikkor 300mm telephoto lens @ f:5.6

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/makemineameade/conjunction5.jpg

[[1ponders]]

Lucky buggers :) Excellent guys. Who says Victoria has terrible weather. Seems to clear up just as you need it. And for you and your Irish mate, h0ughy :thumbsup:

[ballaratdragons]

That's a very nice chimney Robin. Couldn't resist, but you knew someone would say it!

[ballaratdragons]

Yep Paul.

Been clear here for a few nights now. It's about time we had some clear sky, we've waited long enough for it.

[[1ponders]]

Well I hope it stays clear for you guys to catch that next conjunction. (see above) Big night the 4th. Going to try your hand at Comet Temple Ken? :)

[ballaratdragons]

If I can find it before freezing up again Paul. The OTA ices up really fast (about 5-6 minutes).

Not so bad tonight but last night both my mirrors dewed up so bad that water was running down and dripping from the primary. I'm suprised the Primary didn't ice up too (might have if I stayed out longer).

I will have a search for it. What is the best time to spot it and I will set up about that time?

[robin]

Thanks Ken.Yep,it is a nice chimney isn't it! I tried shooting thru trees,across rooftops just trying to get something in the pic to show people who might not have seen it that the event was easily viewed from your own back yard.

Victoria,at least in my area is bathed in perfect winter sunshine.Warm days & clear,crisp evenings.

[[1ponders]]

Here ya go Ken. Comet Temple at 4:30 pm and M44-Venus/Mercury conjuntion 5:30. Both on the 4/7/05

[ballaratdragons]

Thanks Paul,

They should be easy to find in a hurry!

Temple is fairly close to Spica!! I won't trust my camera to do them justice but I will give it a go anyway.

[[1ponders]]

Good luck with it. I understand its a tricky one to catch. It'll be in much the same position the following night and hopefully after nasa tries to blow it up (yeah sure their just going to let an inert lump just crash into it :lol::lol::lol: ) it'll be a bit brighter.

[ballaratdragons]

This is what I am out viewing in lately (see pic below).

It is weird frost. Rather than being the usual even white covering like normal frost this is great lumps of ice forming. I just took this pic and in the 1 minute I was out there the camera is very wet and my moustache is dripping water!!!!!!

I think it is colder than normal frost and it isn't getting a chance to settle in tiny particles. Rather it is just Freezing everything instantly!

Wanna come down and do some viewing?

[iceman]

Excellent shots everyone.. Robin I love the one with your son(?) viewing through the bino's.. excellent work.

I got to see Venus.. that's it, in a small break in the clouds. and once I saw Mercury, but it was gone just as quickly as it came.

[robin]

Thanks Ice, yep thats my 8 y.o checking the conjunction out with my 8x50 binoculars.We're currently having spectacular weather here in southern victoria.Clear days & crystal clear nights.

[ving]

V/nice Shots Peeps!!!! :d

[gbeal]

You fellas doing this conjunction thing again tonight??
It is even better. Makes me wish I had looked for the pair during the day again, as they are VERY close together (Venus/Mercury).
The weather even stayed fine, until I had finished anyway. I went back (after tea) to do some more imaging, and it was completely clouded over. I was happy to have had another view and chance.
As with yesterdays shots, Nikon D100, and Nikkor 80-200 f2.8 zoom.
Hope it is as good tomorrow night. Get out and have a look.

[h0ughy]

great shot gary :2thumbs: . I should have some more pictures later when I get them developed (ie download them) Wonderful sight and the wife and kids couldn't care less! :D

[fringe_dweller]

Hi Gary, i think that was a first for me two planets in one ep view?? dont remember if I have anyway! the moons not a planet I suppose? hehe
heres mine from 2nite - need some lenses - only have the kit 18-55 so far

[[1ponders]]

Excellent shots guys. I would have loved to have seen it. Hey Kearn, two planets in the one eyepiece doesn't happen very often :2thumbs: Better put that one in your log books to tell your grandkids.

[fringe_dweller]

Thanks Paul, the seeing wasnt great - boiling a fair bit - i wish it was saturn and jupiter that was that close at zenith at midnight - that would be awesome! :)
Kearn

[[1ponders]]

You're not wrong there. That would be awesome.

Just did a bit of a very quick bit of research (there may be one sooner) but the next closest conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn that I could find that is visible (ie not during day light) is around the 21/12/2020 at 8:00 pm EST. They will only be 6' 31" apart. Visually I would imagine they would only be 1/5 of a full moon diameter apart.

On the 17/12/2020 there is a 3 day old moon 2deg 45' from Saturn, Saturn is only 29' from Jupiter and in the middle between Jupiter and the moon, just 1 deg 9' from Jupiter is M75. Unfortunately Jupiter will only be 8 deg above the western horizon.

Just think 15 years to hone your observing skills. Good Xmas present for the solar system to give us

[fringe_dweller]

Made a half assed effort to take a pic with the cp 4500/WO 24mm 1.25" ep through f6.3 ? 210mm reflector right at the end (planets about 3º from horizon lol) after a dreadful mixup were i thought my scopetronix 18mm was the 24mm for some time!!!?? at the beginning - this is the full jpeg, no cropping - I get very little vignetting with this setup - just corners slightly - gives you an idea of FOV and how close they were :)
kearn

[asimov]

Nice one Kearn. :thumbsup:

[fringe_dweller]

Cheers John! I hope you got to see the show over there mate?
Paul, wow were did you find that - search on your planetarium software or a website? one thing i really do dislike about SNP 4.5.2 is the search/find is an absolute joke! (especially >4-5 mag comets :mad2: LOL)
Kearn

[h0ughy]

Here is my poultry contribution to today’s images of the three planets + jupiter. :D

[asimov]

Yes mate. I even set the kodak up on an EQ1 today. Shot off a dozen or so shots this evening. :bashcomp: Something went wrong {my brain actually} All over-exposed, so I ended up deleting the lot! :ashamed: Not to worry! I'll always have a pic of the incident in my memory for future reference. :thumbsup: Besides, I got a couple of decent shots last night. :D

[asimov]

Good one Houghy! Not the most photogenic of objects to shoot are they!

[astrodave]

My efforts from the last two nights...

[h0ughy]

Do you like the artistic flair of the parallel power lines to act as depth of field :rofl:

Can't miss them :D

[h0ughy]

Who left the verandah light on :poke: nice shots there :2thumbs:

[[1ponders]]

Both great shots Dave, but I really like the second one. :2thumbs:

[ballaratdragons]

WOW Dave! Number 2 is a great shot!!!!

Hard to beleive they are planets isn't it.

Your shot is so wide it is a pity you couldn't get Joop in there too! Imagine that, 4 planets in one photo.

[Astroman]

Here are my images.

http://www.theastroweb.com/astronomy/planets/conjunction001_thumb.jpg (http://www.theastroweb.com/astronomy/planets/conjunction001.jpg)

http://www.theastroweb.com/astronomy/planets/conjunction002_thumb.jpg (http://www.theastroweb.com/astronomy/planets/conjunction002.jpg)

First is three images stacked, the second is 4.

[iceman]

Wow, great photos everyone. Nicely done.

[fringe_dweller]

LOL sorry Paul - just noticed you use SNP 4.5.2 as well from your screen shots! :ashamed: :doh:
Kearn

[ving]

hey guys, what about a closeup of mercury and venus showing phase. that'd be cool :D

they are set by the time i get home :(

[fringe_dweller]

hehe - first cab of the rank tonight :D made a effort tonight too - god that kit lens is rubbish at night!!! I am used to some very nice fixed lenses with the old film cameras - gonna cost a lot to match them :eyepop:
kearn

[[1ponders]]

Great shots Kearn, that first shot looks fantastic.

[Mick]

They are wonderful photos Kearn. We've had cloud for days, this is the only photo I have it's from the 25th.
Thanks.

[beren]

:thumbsup: Wow awesome shots

[h0ughy]

great photos :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs: , where did you take them?

[iceman]

Wow Kearn! Pick of the bunch!

[fringe_dweller]

Thanks guys!! :) Mick, gorgeous shot! was that taken with cp!!!??? :eyepop: :eyepop: :eyepop: :eyepop:
Kearn

[fringe_dweller]

Thanks Houghy and Mike! and you are both very kind :) I took them from half way up the adelaide hills face in the NE adelaide, in ansteys hill conservation park, the road was maybe 50 mtrs away.
kearn

[asimov]

What can I say? Except.....well done AGAIN Kearn! :2thumbs: By the way! Got me some great views with those you-know-what's & the 'cheap' achro mate! Best view coming from the 25mm barlowed of Jupiter. :D

[fringe_dweller]

LOL Cheers! :) good to hear the mighty kellner's seeing light again John (who needs baffles in their 25mm anyway hehe ;) ) - always thought those .965" ep's had some of the best colours on planets.
Kearn

[Mick]

Yes Kearn it was, I love my cp.

[fringe_dweller]

I love my cp 4500 too - will never part with it :)
Kearn