FOV for Lulin + Saturn tonight

iceman (Mike) · #1 24-02-2009, 11:21 AM

Such a dilemma, having two objects in or near the same FOV tonight!

Assuming it's clear, I'll want to get some hi-res of Saturn and the Titan transit, but also would love to capture Lulin + Saturn in the same FOV.

Attached is the field of view's I've got to work with.

1. The ED80 + WO 0.8 reducer with the 350D is still too narrow to fit them both in. Would probably be good for Lulin on its own, although maybe the tail is too long now to even fit that FOV?

2. The 350D with my 300mm lens fits them both, but if the tail is pointing the wrong direction, it could miss part of what I want to capture. Which way will the tail be pointing? Starry night is not showing the tail(s)

The transit of Titan lasts between about 11pm and 2am AEDST, and after 2am when Saturn is too far to the North I can't see either of them.

So maybe I'll start with a bit of Saturn to get the shadow transit + the moon, then switch to the 350D + 300mm lens and get some of the pairing, and then switch back to the 12" Newt to get Saturn with Titan and some of the other moons too.

Hmm decisions.

rider · #2 24-02-2009, 12:09 PM

shoooosh!, Cumulus clouds can hear that sort of posting.

rider

h0ughy (David) · #3 24-02-2009, 01:17 PM

i didnt realise they were that close Mike - thanks for the heads up

RB (Andrew) · #4 24-02-2009, 01:26 PM

Mosaic anyone?

Dennis · #5 24-02-2009, 01:28 PM

Hi Mike

I managed to fit Saturn and Lulin into the same frame with the Canon 40D and 400mm F5.6 last night, but it did neither justice. Lulin was cramped up in one corner, sans tail whilst Saturn was diagonally opposite, over exposed but showing a hint of rings and some of the moons. Not a memorable shot really.

Cheers

Dennis

AstroTourist (Terry) · #6 24-02-2009, 01:30 PM

Mike,
The attached image could help with some planning
Taken at 0225 this morning Brisbane time (1825UT) when I was doing a practice run for tonight
Imaged with 450D on Televue TV76 with 0.8FR (384mm EFL) giving a field of view of 3.3 x 2.2 deg. Exposure was 4 mins unguided 1600 ISO f5 and limited tweaking in Photoshop.
I have increased the field of view (original 3.3 x 2.2 FOV shown boxed in white) and overlayed a screen shot from "the Sky".
You can see:

Saturn (way overexposed) in the botton right and Lulin on the left.
A north indicator to show orientation
The ecliptic (in aqua) running down at about 60 deg on the left. Lulin quite coincidentally is pretty much on the ecliptic (but travelling in the opposite direction round the sun to the planets) so is travelling parallel to this line towards the bottom of the image
Orientation of Lulin's tail and some indication of length (but I have not got the full extent). At last we have a comet with the tail streaming out behind it!
Other field stars outside the field of view (from "The Sky") to further aid location and orientation.
The image is before closest approach which will occur on the other side of the world today and it will be moving away tonght.

I will post a clean view of the image when I have done something effective with the overexposure of Saturn.
Trust this helps.
Good luck for tonight
Terry

iceman (Mike) · #7 24-02-2009, 01:30 PM

Thanks Dennis. I was thinking of a composite, one exposed for Saturn and then one for the comet.

That would solve the overexposed problem.

Saturn will be pretty small at 300mm though.

iceman (Mike) · #8 24-02-2009, 01:32 PM

Brilliant!

Thanks for all the info, Terry.

They'll fit quite easily at 300mm by the looks of it, but Saturn will just be small and given how overexposed it will be, not sure how much it adds to the scene in general.. makes it look like a bright star

hmm decisions.

I just hope it's clear.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstroTourist

Mike,
The attached image could help with some planning
Taken at 0225 this morning Brisbane time (1825UT) when I was doing a practice run for tonight
Imaged with 450D on Televue TV76 with 0.8FR (384mm EFL) giving a field of view of 3.3 x 2.2 deg. Exposure was 4 mins unguided 1600 ISO f5 and limited tweaking in Photoshop.
I have increased the field of view (original 3.3 x 2.2 FOV shown boxed in white) and overlayed a screen shot from "the Sky".
You can see:

Saturn (way overexposed) in the botton right and Lulin on the left.
A north indicator to show orientation
The ecliptic (in aqua) running down at about 60 deg on the left. Lulin quite coincidentally is pretty much on the ecliptic (but travelling in the opposite direction round the sun to the planets) so is travelling parallel to this line towards the bottom of the image
Orientation of Lulin's tail and some indication of length (but I have not got the full extent). At last we have a comet with the tail streaming out behind it!
Other field stars outside the field of view (from "The Sky") to further aid location and orientation.
The image is before closest approach which will occur on the other side of the world today and it will be moving away tonght.

I will post a clean view of the image when I have done something effective with the overexposure of Saturn.
Trust this helps.
Good luck for tonight
Terry

RB (Andrew) · #9 24-02-2009, 01:38 PM

That's what I'm worried about Mike, and am thinking of going for a close shot of Lulin instead.

AstroTourist (Terry) · #10 24-02-2009, 01:50 PM

As to overexposed Saturn, I took several images at a range of exposures - down to 1/120 sec which I am hopeful that I will be able to blend in for a reasonable image of Saturn so no need to give up so quickly.
On the images at least 4 moons are easily seen with quite wide separation (but none of that tonight!).

Yes, Mike the 300 should do nicely, and the tail will be in a better orientation as well.

Terry

Dennis · #11 24-02-2009, 03:17 PM

Hi Mike

Here is a 90 sec exposure with Lulin top left and Saturn bottom right. The light pollution from Brisbane is pretty awful when I’m shooting anywhere near N, so although the image just doesn’t work, it may give you an idea of what not to do.

Canon 40D with 400mm F5.6L

Cheers

Dennis

Tommy Camp · #12 24-02-2009, 10:56 PM

When will it be visible in Perth does anyone know ?

Stuart78 (Stuart) · #13 24-02-2009, 11:07 PM

Just Clouded over completly in Gippsland,Vic, clouds moved in at 10:40pm
it has been clear skies since around 2pm and it had to close in 20minutes before partytime,

Stu>>>

desler · #14 24-02-2009, 11:51 PM

Clouds here now, but not before I was able to view this gem in the 12 inch dob and the ed 80 and bino's.

Not quite as fancy as some of the wonderful images, but hey, at least I found it. Thanks for all of the info.

Darren