The clouds finally cleared for a crystal clear night.
I am going to punch someone at the BCC though. who thought it was a good idea to install a street light across from my place.
no ordinary street light.. one of those twin fluro on angle thingos that dont shine on the ground but shine everywhere else inc my bedroom, camera etc.
the lights blew a few months ago. maybe i need 2 make them blow again
Anyway... 5 mins drive later im parked across from an empty lot.
pics attached. im not very happy with them, tommorow hopefully i will try iso 100 instead of 1600. and better focus.
Thanks Steve, it was not problem has i had thought, just went out this morning to see where it might be, and found a lovely spot toward the East and saw the Moon and three of the Planets, so things should be fine.
Just have to get the best time.
Against the grain of the recent weather patterns and gloomy forecasts, the skies in Brisbane were clear this morning, Saturday, 30th April.
Having not expected this, we were unprepared, setting off hurriedly for the 15km drive to Mt Coot-tha at 4:30am. Along the way, I mentally rehearsed the camera settings procedure, as I had not touched the night skies for ages.
The only mistake I made was that although I did set the lens to Manual Focus, I did not subsequently check focus during the session. During the session, whilst tilting the camera from horizontal to vertical, I must have inadvertently touched the focus ring and disturbed the focus. Luckily, I was using a 17-40mm lens so I (almost) got away with it!
Moral of the story – plan, plan, plan and then rehearse at least once if you have not done this for over 2 years! Also, don’t shoot wide open – the corners were horrible!
The clouds finally cleared for a crystal clear night.
I am going to punch someone at the BCC though. who thought it was a good idea to install a street light across from my place.
no ordinary street light.. one of those twin fluro on angle thingos that dont shine on the ground but shine everywhere else inc my bedroom, camera etc.
the lights blew a few months ago. maybe i need 2 make them blow again
Anyway... 5 mins drive later im parked across from an empty lot.
pics attached. im not very happy with them, tommorow hopefully i will try iso 100 instead of 1600. and better focus.
Taken with a 450D
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dennis
Hello,
Against the grain of the recent weather patterns and gloomy forecasts, the skies in Brisbane were clear this morning, Saturday, 30th April.
Having not expected this, we were unprepared, setting off hurriedly for the 15km drive to Mt Coot-tha at 4:30am. Along the way, I mentally rehearsed the camera settings procedure, as I had not touched the night skies for ages.
The only mistake I made was that although I did set the lens to Manual Focus, I did not subsequently check focus during the session. During the session, whilst tilting the camera from horizontal to vertical, I must have inadvertently touched the focus ring and disturbed the focus. Luckily, I was using a 17-40mm lens so I (almost) got away with it!
Moral of the story – plan, plan, plan and then rehearse at least once if you have not done this for over 2 years! Also, don’t shoot wide open – the corners were horrible!
Cheers
Dennis
wow some excellent results guys - fully clouded out and raining here this morning i hope it clears a bit for tomorrow morning
Against the grain of the recent weather patterns and gloomy forecasts, the skies in Brisbane were clear this morning, Saturday, 30th April.
Having not expected this, we were unprepared, setting off hurriedly for the 15km drive to Mt Coot-tha at 4:30am. Along the way, I mentally rehearsed the camera settings procedure, as I had not touched the night skies for ages.
The only mistake I made was that although I did set the lens to Manual Focus, I did not subsequently check focus during the session. During the session, whilst tilting the camera from horizontal to vertical, I must have inadvertently touched the focus ring and disturbed the focus. Luckily, I was using a 17-40mm lens so I (almost) got away with it!
Moral of the story – plan, plan, plan and then rehearse at least once if you have not done this for over 2 years! Also, don’t shoot wide open – the corners were horrible!
Cheers
Dennis
Great shots Dennis! I'll be back at that same spot tomorrow morning for a follow-up shot from the one I took a week ago.
Heaps of on street parking and few lights towards the east east. If you are in the area I highly recommend this spot. If clear I will be there from about 4:30 onwards.. maybe I will see you there
Hi Guys, well here is my humble attempt from Kalbarri on the West Coast of WA.
It is a little hard to see, but all four planets are in there, honest, plus of coarse the Moon, hope you like it.
Hi Guys, well here is my humble attempt from Kalbarri on the West Coast of WA.
It is a little hard to see, but all four planets are in there, honest, plus of coarse the Moon, hope you like it.
Leon
I can see them all Leon – they stick out like a sore thumb on my computer display!
Is that an in-flight seagull on the LHS, or a dust spot on your sensor?
Hi Guys, well here is my humble attempt from Kalbarri on the West Coast of WA.
It is a little hard to see, but all four planets are in there, honest, plus of coarse the Moon, hope you like it.
Leon
MATE!!! OMG.. wake up a little earlier and take that same image! look at your eastern horizon its dead flat! talk about envy
I have been "lurking" for a while. The time has come where I can contribute something for once. Photos from 1st (yes!)and one from 2nd May (cloudy but a least a nice sunrise).
We spent the weekend between Scone and Quirindi. Perfect skies for most of the time. At a quick glance these are probably the best of my conjunctions shots. SQM at 5:15am was 19.36. The overnight skies were to die for. SQM range from worst 21.41 to best 21.76.
- fully clouded out and raining here this morning i hope it clears a bit for tomorrow morning
but all four planets are in there, honest, 
plus of coarse the Moon, hope you like it.
the place is alive with insects during the day, they get up early mate. 
