Zodiacal Light and the Gegenschein

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by philiphart

Thanks for taking the time to read the post Marc.. makes a day spent writing it up worthwhile .

I can see the Gegenschein regularly at the right times of year, even from the ASV dark sky site near Heathcote in central Victoria. As you say, it needs to be well clear of the Milky Way which rules out most of winter and not too low in the sky which rules out most of summer from down south (with the Gegenschein at low ecliptic elevations in the north). There is a bit of an art to viewing it and the rest of the zodiacal band as well.. you almost look for where the sky is darker first to notice the areas that are brighter relative to those. But it's easy to confirm that you are seeing the real thing as you can identify the location in the sky where you see it and verify that it is in fact at the anti-solar point.

cheers
Phil

You certainly drive a long way and aren't scared to get your feet wet. The results are a testament to your dedication. Soggy lake/river banks in the dark is where I'd draw the line. You don't want to do that in northern QLD.

[ourkind (Carlos)]

Beautiful work Phil! As always!!

[Phil Hart]

Originally Posted by multiweb

Soggy lake/river banks in the dark is where I'd draw the line. You don't want to do that in northern QLD.

Lakes and rivers in Northern Queensland give me the heebie-jeebies. I definitely wouldn't be doing anything like this there! I'm much happier in cold environments than in the tropics!

Originally Posted by ourkind

Beautiful work Phil! As always!!

Thanks Carlos!

Phil

[Lester]

All outstanding views IMO Phil. Thanks for the views. Inspires me to do more.

[alexch (Alex)]

Excellent series, Phil. No. 2 is my favourite - it sets a very nice mood. The last pano is also very very nice but I can't help but want to move it to the left, to complete the Milky Way arch...

Nice result and a very good guessing of the weather!

Cheers,
Alex

[Phil Hart]

Originally Posted by Lester

All outstanding views IMO Phil. Thanks for the views. Inspires me to do more.

Thanks Lester!

Originally Posted by alexch

Excellent series, Phil. No. 2 is my favourite - it sets a very nice mood. The last pano is also very very nice but I can't help but want to move it to the left, to complete the Milky Way arch...

Nice result and a very good guessing of the weather!

Cheers,
Alex

Thanks for the comments Alex. That last panorama is tricky to crop.. I've got the moon rising on the left and more of the Milky Way out the right but if I show it all it gets too skinny. Attached some more options..

Phil

[alexch (Alex)]

Originally Posted by philiphart

Thanks for the comments Alex. That last panorama is tricky to crop.. I've got the moon rising on the left and more of the Milky Way out the right but if I show it all it gets too skinny. Attached some more options..

Phil

I see... Considering the lack of interest in the right-hand side landscape, your original crop works best.
Did you try various projections? It sometimes helps if I choose mercator or stereographic in PTGUI.

[Phil Hart]

Originally Posted by alexch

I see... Considering the lack of interest in the right-hand side landscape, your original crop works best.
Did you try various projections? It sometimes helps if I choose mercator or stereographic in PTGUI.

Thanks for the tip.. this was Stereographic Projection but I could do a lot more playing than the little I have so far.. but that will be a job for another day!

[stevous67 (Steve M)]

Well done Phil, a beautiful series so far! I found them all amazing.

Steve