Quote:
Originally Posted by Leo.G
Stunning shots as per usual Joe!
I had an old fellow in town just saying to me when I was down the local plaza 20 minutes ago a friend of his was trying to find the comet. I mentioned binoculars are good to locate it but he thought it was the street lighting causing the issues, possible if he's in town but we also have mountains directly west (and a lot of trees from my place) which I'm guessing is why I can't locate it from my place, that or I'm just too stupid.......
Plus we have a constant state of cloud locally, doesn't help and though it has been clear early AM on several nights it's also while I'm in bed sleeping (I notice when I go to the toilet through the night the sky is clear (through a toilet window, I don't use my yard)).
I had someone offer to pay me if I can get the planetary alignment locally but again, our skies are very clouded. I explained using a wide angle lens to try and get 5 or 6 planets in one image they will only be small bright dots, even tracked.
That's not how the media have made it look.
|
Hi Leo,
Thanks for your kind words.
Comet
The comet is now quite high as twilight fades. The media have been telling people to go out just before sunrise and straight after sunset. I didn't note the time we first picked it up naked eye, perhaps 9:20pm but you definitely need to be away from streetlights and other stray lighting.
Planetary Alignment
At every opportunity, I have been telling people that the planets are not in physical 3D alignment. They are in optical alignment only as seen from Earth just as they are every day of every year. The Earth orbits, give or take a couple of degrees, in the same plane as all the other planets and the Moon. Viewed edge on, the planets are always in alignment.
However, if someone is silly enough to pay you to photograph it, why not lighten their pockets.
cheers
Joe
