The Venus and Jupiter Show

nilhg

Just a quick heads up for anyone interested, over the weekend we will have a conjunction of Venus, Jupiter and the Moon in the evening sky just after sunset.
With our current clear spell forecast to continue there might be a decent photo opportunity.

More details here

Thoie

I've got a relatively nice view of it from here (Venus, Jupiter, sliver of moon).

I've also got all the Dublin city lights in between :S

Should I set up the tripod and just try for a million shots at varying stops, or is there a better way to try?

paudie

Just remembered and ran out to see what I could get. My tripod screw is bust on my camera so the first two were handheld at ISO 6400, F5.6, 1/50
1

2 just B&W with boosted brightness.

3 I managed to prop the camera in between some branches of a tree. ISO 800, F4, 1/2s

whyulittle

The noise only adds to them!

Nice capture of earth-shine in the third one in particular as well.

Thoie

Poot. Neighbour was having some difficulties, so think I missed the actual conjunction. I have a few more shots that might include the planets, but will have to look later.



f5.6
ISO 1600
2/3 sec

Thoie

paudie wrote: »

Just remembered and ran out to see what I could get. My tripod screw is bust on my camera so the first two were handheld at ISO 6400, F5.6, 1/50
1

2 just B&W with boosted brightness.

3 I managed to prop the camera in between some branches of a tree. ISO 800, F4, 1/2s

Oh cool, if those were Venus and Jupiter, then I have a few with the three elements.

Thoie

f4.5
1s
ISO 1600

paudie

Nice, same settings as below?
What camera, I'm shooting a 20D with the 70-200 F4 L (non IS)

AnimalRights

Is there any tonight?

Also a noob question but when I take a picture of the moon I use a 70-200+1.4 Extender if we are so far away from the Moon surely it makes no diff if I just use we say a 50mm?

nilhg

One of mine, I poped out for some early ones just after sunset, with the intention of going out again later but never managed that.:rolleyes:



The real show is tomorrow night though when the Moon occults Venus, here's hoping for clear weather.

Thoie

AnimalRights wrote: »

Is there any tonight?

Also a noob question but when I take a picture of the moon I use a 70-200+1.4 Extender if we are so far away from the Moon surely it makes no diff if I just use we say a 50mm?

I took mine about 5:30pm this evening - all three have disappeared from view for me now (and it's still a clear night). I'd say take a look tomorrow from about 4pm onwards.

As for your question, I have no idea, but my 18-55 wasn't doing it for me, so put on the 70-200 instead to get the shots above.

AnimalRights

Thoie wrote: »

I took mine about 5:30pm this evening - all three have disappeared from view for me now (and it's still a clear night). I'd say take a look tomorrow from about 4pm onwards.

As for your question, I have no idea, but my 18-55 wasn't doing it for me, so put on the 70-200 instead to get the shots above.

Ta for the info and to the distance thing its just one of life's wierd things such as why does Black attract the sun and White doesn't!

coylemj

Venus reappearance tomorrow is at 17:08 when it will reappear in the centre of the crescent Moon. The occultation starts in daylight at 15:37, if you can stay out of direct sunlight and have a good pair of binoculars you should be able to see it at elevation 12 degrees, compass bearing 184 true.

Thoie

coylemj wrote: »

Venus reappearance tomorrow is at 17:08 when it will reappear in the centre of the crescent Moon.

How can it do that?!?! I'm all confused!

whyulittle

It won't actually appear in the centre of the disk, but on the lit limb.

Thoie

whyulittle wrote: »

It won't actually appear in the centre of the disk, but on the lit limb.

Relief!

I'm having a hungover day, so between half and half tigers, funny horizons, and various other problems during the day, I though Venus was suddenly going to hitch a lift, land somewhere between us and the moon, and then we were all going to die in a massive explosion that not even Bruce Willis could prevent. And of course the only answer to that would be to drink more

paudie

AnimalRights wrote: »

Is there any tonight?

Also a noob question but when I take a picture of the moon I use a 70-200+1.4 Extender if we are so far away from the Moon surely it makes no diff if I just use we say a 50mm?

Well when you put on a bigger lens you are using more magnification so it makes the moon appear closer to you, or bigger whatever way you want to look at it. on a 35mm camera 50mm is roughly equal to what the human can see, magnification wise so when you put more bigger lenses on you get more magnification.

Also white reflects light and black absorbs it, no mystery simple physics.

coylemj

This is what it will look like at 17:09.....

AnimalRights

paudie wrote: »

Also white reflects light and black absorbs it, no mystery simple physics.

But why does white reflect light and black doesn't?

Thoie

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/questions/question/1924/

:P

dakar

If you have a clear sky, look up NOW!

superflyninja

dakar wrote: »

If you have a clear sky, look up NOW!

why? the moon does looks cool........but i mmissing something?

Thoie

Oooh - there it is!

nilhg

I nearly missed it, got out just in time to catch Venus reappearing from behind the Moon.







I'm quite happy with the first, if you click through to the large or original sizes on flick you'll see I managed to capture some of the moons of Jupiter.

whyulittle

Nice one. I was looking for them through binos, but couldn't spot them. Was thinking they must have moved closer to the planet.

Phototoxin

there's my two. I'd like to know what the green thing is in the first one

paudie

I only had my 18-50 with me but just sat and marvelled got to watch the whole show.
From no Venus to full show accompanied by an amazing sunset with Cork's city hall standing proud.
Was beautiful.

SkepticOne

Venus emerging from behind the moon. Posted earlier on the astronomy forum.

robinph

I thought the moon looked a tad funny as I was heading home today, wasn't expecting to come across the answer here though.

emul

Forgot about it all, ran outside and got a few shots off about 7pm.


Some others on my http://www.flickr.com/photos/irishmul//sets/72157610622832794

dr strangelove

Couple of mine, after spending ages driving round trying to find somewhere to park up:

democrates

Phototoxin wrote: »

I'd like to know what the green thing is in the first one

I got "that sort of thing" a few times too, I think it's a reflection inside the lens, if you notice it's translated through the centre of the image from the bright part of the moon.
Either that or it's a klingon warbird .

Edit: on one of my shots tonight the same hulks toenail is there again, but it's not translated through the exact center of the image. Strange one.

Phototoxin

Originally Posted by Phototoxin
I'd like to know what the green thing is in the first one
I got "that sort of thing" a few times too, I think it's a reflection inside the lens, if you notice it's translated through the centre of the image from the bright part of the moon.
Either that or it's a klingon warbird .

Edit: on one of my shots tonight the same hulks toenail is there again, but it's not translated through the exact center of the image. Strange one.

Klingons ?

WE'RE DOOOOOOMED

seamus

Was cycling home today and saw the moon looking odd and two stars really close to it. It was only when I heard on the radio what it was and some guy describing where jupiter and venus would be that I was in awe. Had disappeared behind the horizon by the time I got home though.

nihlg, that photo showing one of Jupiter's moons is frickin unbelievable. Humbling

whyulittle

superflyninja

I am raging. I saw it coming off the dart last night and had no camera. so I went home played wiht the little baby for a few minutes and strode off with the camera only to find the moon had disappeared.... sigh

GhostInTheRuins

Some great photos lads.

My dad pointed it out to me last night but I didn't take any pics. Stunning though.

jackdaw

Fantastic shots lads ...

you should submit some for the BBC

some of the shots they have were just god awful ..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7759643.stm

Thoie

jackdaw wrote: »

Fantastic shots lads ...

you should submit some for the BBC

some of the shots they have were just god awful ..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7759643.stm

Did anyone else have a moment of WTF at some of those pictures, and then realise they were taken from totally different latitudes?

AnimalRights

Linked from Camera Labs.

Bob Andersson wrote:

Hi folks,

It looks as though the 5D MkII is also going to be good for astrophotography. From this thread on the Cloudy Nights forum we have:

This is a single-shot sample, exposure for 4 minutes at ISO 6,400For those who haven't dabbled the significant aspect of this image, in my opinion, is the fact that the IR cutoff filter isn't so aggressive as to block out all the deep red hydrogen-alpha nebulosity. It's probably fair comment that for the same money you could get a much more capable dedicated sensor for this sort of work but if any of you are contemplating occasional use of the 5D MkII for astrophotography then the signs are looking good.

Bob.

Wow! Be great if I could learn any of this or understand it!!!

jackdaw

AnimalRights wrote: »

Linked from Camera Labs.



Wow! Be great if I could learn any of this or understand it!!!

Nice one ...

superflyninja

AnimalRights wrote: »

Linked from Camera Labs.

wow amazing......

democrates

AnimalRights wrote: »

Linked from Camera Labs.
"For those who haven't dabbled the significant aspect of this image, in my opinion, is the fact that the IR cutoff filter isn't so aggressive as to block out all the deep red hydrogen-alpha nebulosity. It's probably fair comment that for the same money you could get a much more capable dedicated sensor for this sort of work but if any of you are contemplating occasional use of the 5D MkII for astrophotography then the signs are looking good."

Wow! Be great if I could learn any of this or understand it!!!

He used the Leica Apo-Elmarit-R 180mm F2.8, conns have it for €3769.99 and you'd need an adapter and tracking 'pod for a 4 minute exposure.

You'd ideally need to live in the black of the countryside to enjoy that persuit, I'm right beside a roundabout lit by one of those colossal spaceship lamp clusters.

trishw78

Here's my offering with Portlaw in the foreground

jen_23

Only getting around to posting mine uo now.





Now must invest in a tripod!!! Had to rest the camera on a stool :rolleyes:

Thirdfox

Did you leave a filter on your lens? There appears to be quite a bit of ghosting of the moon in both the images.

jen_23

I only had the protective UV filter on.
Do you mean the 'other' moon Think thats reflection from the lens. (or lack of tripod!)

Thirdfox

You should probably take off the UV filter when it's not needed - the ones that aren't horribly expensive normally cause a lot of ghosts at night when bright objects are present. The problem is not with the lens but the reflection between the filter and the lens.

jen_23

Ahhh! Thanks for explaining that