Moon and Mercury from Cambroon

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

While it was lovely to get together with the crew at Ron's this weekend and to put a few faces to new names I didn't get much serious imaging done. It seemed that just when I was ready to "up and atom" the cloud moved in sound familiar

However.. on Sunday afternoon as Ron and I were sitting back waiting for the snags to cook I decided to go looking for Mercury (and at Ron's suggestion the thin moon) with binos. After finding them close to the western horizon, I thought "Gee that would make a great shot."

But I didn't have a tripod and my mount was fully "mounted" with other gear, and the ED80 field of view was too narrow for both objects at once, so thinking I wouldn't have time to pull everything off, mount the camera a quick focus through the 50mm lens (only one I had with me of quality) then putting everything back on again after and being basically lazy and enjoying my ginger beer I though "Nahhh, let just look and enjoy".

Then I remembered my new toy. An adapter to allow me to use the Meade .63 FR on the Orion and be able to reach focus. I'd not had the opportunity to use it as yet (thanks clouds last night ) So I quickly pulled the 300D off the Orion connected the necessary bits and pieces and remounted the camera.

And how's this....perfect for corner to corner . No time for DSLR Focus! A quick guestimate (I even put my glasses on ) And started rattling off some shot. Started at 4" and kept dropping down and adjusting focus until I got to the exposure I though was right and popped of about 15 or so quick shots while Mercury passed down and behind the trees. Boy the sucker moves fast.

I've included a Zip file here of 12 reduced images if anyone wants to put them together for a small animation. It looks pretty cool. Or even just run them through picture and fax viewer or slideshow. Images run from 18:34:38 to 18:36:30

The focus is not spot on but I was happy to get the shots. Btw if you down load the zip see if you can see Mercury in the last shot CRW_3719_rj

All images reduced for upload. The moon is at 3% and Mercury is the one behind the tree in this shot

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Here's a better shot. The first ones I only use the Microsoft Picture resizer and it's pretty heavy in the artifact department. I used PS this time to do the job properly and keep the image tighter with less artifacts

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Thats real nice pairing Paul. Thanks for posting.

[Ric]

Great image of the pair Paul.

cheers

[h0ughy (David)]

excellent well done Paul!!!!! Dont forget 28th for the moon and antares

[iceman (Mike)]

Excellent image Paul, lovely widefield view.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

thanks guy. I might have a closer look at the RAWs and have a bit of a play with them. These are just straight RAW to jpeg conversions.

I'm really looking forward to giving this reducer/ED80 combo a good workout. It looks like it has great potential for moderately hi res widefield mosaics I haven't worked out the actual field of view but from the center of the Moon to Mercury is 2deg 29min.

h0ughy, I was really hoping to give this setup a workout on Andromeda last night but 'twas not to be unfortunately

[Dennis]

Hi Paul

Excellent images - very atmospheric indeed.

Cheers

Dennis

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Yeah bit of a bugger that Dennis but you get that at only 16 degrees above the western horizon

[ving (David)]

ahhhh! mercury is stuck in the tree!
bags not climb up to free it

nice one paul.