Who saw Occultation of Antares?

circumpolar (Matt) · #1 15-05-2006, 07:40 PM

I DID!!!

The clouds were there one min and gone the next, then back again etc....
Just managed to to see the event before total cloud blackout.
Always worth a look.
Always happens so fast. The last ten mins seem to fly by in seconds!

firstlight (Tony) · #2 15-05-2006, 09:37 PM

So did I. I used our 4"Unitron and snapped the moon with a Canon Ixus auto exposure, then put the most of the Moon out of the frame to capture Antares, then merged both images in Photoshop and got rid of the glare. I had a bit of a problem with focus just before occultation so I didn't get the star near the rim. Best photo was about 10 minutes before.

Mick (Michael) · #3 15-05-2006, 09:47 PM

Occultations are fine events to witness, all clouded out here unfortunately so thanks for posting your image firstlight. 4"Unitron what a great little scope.

gaa_ian (Ian) · #4 15-05-2006, 10:02 PM

forgot all about it !
And the sky was clear .... and i had the scope out ....and i was looking at the moon

janoskiss (Steve H) · #5 15-05-2006, 10:35 PM

only clouds here

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #6 15-05-2006, 10:47 PM

I fell asleep, and it's foggy now anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!!

firstlight (Tony) · #7 15-05-2006, 10:57 PM

Got one other image, again a composite of the Moon overlaying an overexposed limb and Antares... abot 5 minutes before occultation. Getting rid of the glare really pixilated the star, and you can see the movement. Still pretty happy. BTW the weather last night/this morning was immaculate... can't say the same tonight

.

Cheers

RB (Andrew) · #8 15-05-2006, 11:04 PM

Clouded out here. I waited it out but just got worse.

Blue Skies (Jacquie) · #9 16-05-2006, 12:16 AM

It was cloudy here, too, and it happened at a decent time of the night!

iceman (Mike) · #10 16-05-2006, 05:49 AM

Nice shots! I missed it due to clouds.

Dennis · #11 16-05-2006, 06:50 AM

Great images Tony - I missed it due to bad planning and recovering from a cold. Thanks for posting the photos - it looked a great event.

Cheers

Dennis

CoombellKid · #12 16-05-2006, 07:26 AM

I was setup and ready, but my eyelids were too heavy. Woke to catch the sunrise all dewy and my neck a lill scewy.

regards,CS

Rob

middy · #13 16-05-2006, 07:47 AM

Great pics firstlight, well done!

rmcpb (Rob) · #14 16-05-2006, 09:29 AM

Nice to see the photos.

Best laid plans BUT the bl**** clouds beat me

dennislowe · #15 16-05-2006, 04:36 PM

I saw both events from Brisbane. I am sure that the reappearance was a double event with the companion of Antares showing a split second before the main event.
Dennis.

firstlight (Tony) · #16 16-05-2006, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmcpb

Nice to see the photos.

Best laid plans BUT the bl**** clouds beat me

Hmmm... plans??

Wasn't even on the radar when a mate in Canberra reminded me and wanted some info. Dragged out the scope and the bino mount... found the eyepieces (we were renovating) just before the sigma scorpii occultation. Also found the camera adapter... shot some shots... gotta be a bit lucky sometimes. Paul said it was clouded in Canberra too.

circumpolar (Matt) · #17 16-05-2006, 09:53 PM

Surely there must be more than 3 people who saw this?

DAMN YOU CLOUDS!!!!

I'm always surprised how fast an occultation is. Minutes become seconds in a flash!
Occultations are one of those cosmic events where you just know that hundreds of people(astronomers) are watching the same dot as you, at that exact same moment! I think that is part of the thrill as well.

I did't see the companion star due to clouds.

Maybe next time.