Hello all,
It is again that time for myself absorbent review of the year 2012 as seen through my various scopes and cameras / imagers. I present my favourite images and experiences from 2012 in chronological order.
1. Total Lunar Eclipse, 10-11 December 2011. OK, it was not technically in 2012 but close enough. I was very pleased to see the eclipse from go to wo especially after the day had been quite overcast. Meade LX90, .63 Focal Reducer and Nikon D3100.
http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/140237509
http://lpod.wikispaces.com/December+11%2C+2011
2. Mega Filament, 7 April 2012. I like Solar Filaments, suspended gas above the surface of the Sun held in place by magnetic fields. They look dark in Hydrogen Alpha as they are cooler than the surrounding area. This one is a lazy 400,000 km long – Earth to Moon distance! Lunt60, 2.5 Powermate and DMK31.
http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/142534565
3. Partial Lunar Eclipse, 4 June 2012. After the December eclipse I was keen to capture another one and 2012 was a great year for Earth’s shadow on the Moon. Meade LX90, .63 Focal Reducer and Nikon D3100.
http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/143867732
http://lpod.wikispaces.com/June+5%2C+2012
4. Venus Transit, 6 June 2012. I was fortunate to view this event in 2004 and was so inspired I believe it lead to my fascination with our star and the solar equipment and cameras I have since purchased. I set up very early for this one and captured many images and spent many hours viewing – we will not get another one for over 100 years. The event spanned over 6 hours and I saw it all! Lunt60 and DMK31.
http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/ven...it_6_june_2012
5. Departing Filament, 5-12 August 2012. Just a shot of a large Filament on the 5 August and then again on the 12 August as it heads towards the western limb of the rotating Sun. LS80, 2.5 Powermate and DMK31.
http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/145198494
http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/145335372
6. Some good prominences at last, 2 September 2012. I have never been able to capture a good image of Solar Prominences until this series was taken – a small victory. Lunt80, 2.5 Powermate and DMK31.
http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/145777314
http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/145803498
7. Solar Discs. I purchased an Imaging Source DMK51 camera for the sole purpose of taking complete Solar disc images through my Lunt60Ha scope at prime focus without the hassle of doing mosaics. I am really impressed with the details that are achieved with this relatively low resolution set up.
http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/145777456
http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/146522644/large
http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/146716820
8. Partial Solar Eclipse, 14 November 2012. I was unable to travel to Cairns for the Total Solar Eclipse but was more than happy to capture the Moon glide past the Sun – we had 80% of the Sun hidden from view at mid eclipse (Brisbane) in an event that lasted for 2 hours and 3 minutes. I was wrapped see the lunar limb mountains silhouetted against the bright disc of the Sun. During the eclipse the Sun was approximately 148,000,000 km away while the Moon was 400 time closer at 370,000 km. Lunt60 and DMK51.
http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/par..._2012&page=all
http://lpod.wikispaces.com/November+16%2C+2012
This year was dominated by things crossing the Sun – multiple Earth shadows, a planet and our Moon. A year of note for sure!
