First Venus

[rumples riot]

Hi all,

this is my first attempt at Venus and I think I need to get a venus filter. This planet is so bright in my scope that it hurts my eyes looking through an EP. Well not really, but it is very bright.

Settings

1/50 sec
Gain 0
Gamma 0
Saturation 60%
10 fps
Brightness 50%

Seeing based on over head check first 7/10. At Venus' altitude seeing was at best poor, maybe around 4/10.

I rechecked my collimation after I took this shot and found that it was slightly out. I did not bother reshooting Venus as it was very low and looked like it was in a washing machine.

Comments welcome, suggestions respected.

[ballaratdragons]

I don't care that your collimation was out, I like your pic!

It has a really distant look about it (no pun intended) if you know what I mean.
I think it is a good pic Paul. Sort of ghostly and cold!

[asimov]

Pretty darn good Rumples. Better than my first attempt. My best venus shot was by using an aperture mask & a contrast booster together. The only trouble was, the booster has a tendancy to turn venus a slight green in colour. Better results were also achieved by shooting it before the sky was totally black..

[h0ughy]

Nice job done there Paul, Only up from here mate. Just think, in a few weeks time you will have it down pat

[rumples riot]

Thanks guys glad you like the pic.

I am glad that Venus generally shows a bland face and so I am able to get away with this somewhat. Still it is my fist shot and was totally blown away by the size of this planet. If we could take the same shot of earth from Venus the earth would show a lot of detail. Food for thought.

Currently Mars is closer than Venus and it is half the size. Both this shot and my recent Mars were taken with the same scope and 2.5x powermate. The comparison is amazing.

Anyway thanks guys.

[iceman]

Nice first attempt Paul, good job! I'm hoping to snag a pic of Venus this week, too.. it's so high and bright atm.

[ving]

sweet!!! :)
venus tho plain looking is quite a stunner :)