The Official Astronomy Thread

[Crusader]

Moon taken through XT10 by holding camera to EP

 

[dappled]

Moon taken through XT10 by holding camera to EP

hehe, you win lovely picture.

 

[Crusader]

hehe, you win lovely picture.

Thanks. Problem is that the Moon literally blinds you in the 10" so the camera had a hard time figuring out what to expose correctly.

 

[dappled]

Thanks. Problem is that the Moon literally blinds you in the 10" so the camera had a hard time figuring out what to expose correctly.

had the same problem trying to photograph the moon tonight. not to mention the offputting 'i-play-rugby-boet' type neighbours having a braai and making comments on ole weirdo here's activities.

 

[Kalvaer]

Ironically I was doing the same tonight.. Moon taken with an Olympus E620, held up to the focuser.. no lenses.

http://s253.photobucket.com/albums/hh53/kalvaer/Astronomy/?action=view&current=_8252735.jpg

Also took one of Jupiter the same way, But it never came out to great due to me shaking. We were able to make out two black spots on the surface which I hadn't seen before and believe its due to the collision recently discovered. ( http://s253.photobucket.com/albums/hh53/kalvaer/Astronomy/?action=view&current=_8252723.jpg )

This is an old one taken with a logitech webcam held in the focuser ( http://s253.photobucket.com/albums/hh53/kalvaer/Astronomy/?action=view&current=Jupiter.jpg)

If anyone can say, in terms of weight and physical dimensions, how does skywatcher 8" dob differ from the orion xt8" dob?

considering that they are both pretty much made by the same company, I'd say they would be very close. The Orion might be slightly heavier though as they use slighty better parts for the minor touches (mirrors are identical though)

My main bugbear with EQ mounts is the setup time and learning curve involved to use it.

Tonight is the first time I think I have taken my scope out since my back surgery. I've been scared about carrying it and got it into my head that it was hard to set up. After tonight I wanted to kick myself as reading things on the net had made me completely forget how simple it actually was.

 

[Crusader]

had the same problem trying to photograph the moon tonight. not to mention the offputting 'i-play-rugby-boet' type neighbours having a braai and making comments on ole weirdo here's activities.

That goes with the territory. Just wait till you get into viewing DSO's. Eye patch on your eye, dark cloth draped across your head and constant swearing at bright lights.

 

[Kalvaer]

had the same problem trying to photograph the moon tonight. not to mention the offputting 'i-play-rugby-boet' type neighbours having a braai and making comments on ole weirdo here's activities.

Turn the scope towards them and tell them if they make another comment you will pull the trigger (Of course it depends on what scope you have. First time my neighbours saw my newt on the mount they thought I was assembling a rocket launcher)

 

[Crusader]

Ironically I was doing the same tonight.. Moon taken with an Olympus E620, held up to the focuser.. no lenses.

http://s253.photobucket.com/albums/hh53/kalvaer/Astronomy/?action=view&current=_8252735.jpg

Also took one of Jupiter the same way, But it never came out to great due to me shaking. We were able to make out two black spots on the surface which I hadn't seen before and believe its due to the collision recently discovered. ( http://s253.photobucket.com/albums/hh53/kalvaer/Astronomy/?action=view&current=_8252723.jpg )

This is an old one taken with a logitech webcam held in the focuser ( http://s253.photobucket.com/albums/hh53/kalvaer/Astronomy/?action=view&current=Jupiter.jpg)

Tonight is the first time I think I have taken my scope out since my back surgery. I've been scared about carrying it and got it into my head that it was hard to set up. After tonight I wanted to kick myself as reading things on the net had made me complete forget how simple it actually was.

Now that's a much better moon shot, not overexposed like mine.

I noticed a dark spot on Jupiter two nights ago in one of the equatorial bands but that seems to be a normal storm. The impact scar should be at the Southern edge of Jupiter. It was pretty impressive in the first week after it happened. I'm not sure if it's still very visible though...

 

[Kalvaer]

I dismissed them at first as dust, But my wife noticed that they were staying in place. Changed over to my 5mm lens and we could clearly see two of the, One was almost in the top most band to the left and then there was another bigger spot that is visable even in the bad photo above. Not sure at all what they were, but was something new.

The exposure was one thing I loved with the camera tonight. It was pretty much all I had to set, along with focusing since there were not lenses in place other than the scope. I really need to get an adaptor so I can use my OM1 T piece and practise........ BUT for a cell phone, I think your shot is much better than mine.

 

[dappled]

Ironically I was doing the same tonight.. Moon taken with an Olympus E620, held up to the focuser.. no lenses.

http://s253.photobucket.com/albums/hh53/kalvaer/Astronomy/?action=view&current=_8252735.jpg

Also took one of Jupiter the same way, But it never came out to great due to me shaking. We were able to make out two black spots on the surface which I hadn't seen before and believe its due to the collision recently discovered. ( http://s253.photobucket.com/albums/hh53/kalvaer/Astronomy/?action=view&current=_8252723.jpg )

This is an old one taken with a logitech webcam held in the focuser ( http://s253.photobucket.com/albums/hh53/kalvaer/Astronomy/?action=view&current=Jupiter.jpg)

Thanks for sharing the pics. cool to see someone else's pics of the moon i see tonight .

considering that they are both pretty much made by the same company, I'd say they would be very close. The Orion might be slightly heavier though as they use slighty better parts for the minor touches (mirrors are identical though)

Tonight is the first time I think I have taken my scope out since my back surgery. I've been scared about carrying it and got it into my head that it was hard to set up. After tonight I wanted to kick myself as reading things on the net had made me completely forget how simple it actually was.

I'm lucky to have a great viewing balcony (aside from neighbours), so area where telescope will be stored is <10m from viewing place

That goes with the territory. Just wait till you get into viewing DSO's. Eye patch on your eye, dark cloth draped across your head and constant swearing at bright lights.

Turn the scope towards them and tell them if they make another comment you will pull the trigger (Of course it depends on what scope you have. First time my neighbours saw my newt on the mount they thought I was assembling a rocket launcher)

Yeah, same, i don't think "rocket scientist" was a legitimate part of gimme-a-wettie-bru-lemme-tell-you-bout-my-bitch-ex and kin's conversation.

 

[Crusader]

I dismissed them at first as dust, But my wife noticed that they were staying in place. Changed over to my 5mm lens and we could clearly see two of the, One was almost in the top most band to the left and then there was another bigger spot that is visable even in the bad photo above. Not sure at all what they were, but was something new.

The exposure was one thing I loved with the camera tonight. It was pretty much all I had to set, along with focusing since there were not lenses in place other than the scope. I really need to get an adaptor so I can use my OM1 T piece and practise........ BUT for a cell phone, I think your shot is much better than mine.

Just to clarify - my moon shot was taken with a Canon A80 and not a cell phone.

I checked in Starry Night and it seems one of the spots you saw must have been Callisto's shadow. It should have been visible from 20:00 in close proximity to the GRS. Callisto was also in front of Jupiter from 19:40 - 20:00, but don't know if that could be one of the spots as well?

This is the dark region I think I spotted.

 

[dappled]

Some nice clear views of jupiter and four moons. Here is a rudimentary pic (cellphone cam, can make out 3 moons) http://mybroadband.co.za/photos/showphoto.php?photo=12073&cat=500

One moon was in front and three trailing, like ducklings she moves so fast!!

 

[mercurial]

Here are my moon pics. Click on them to see the large version.



http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1127/3166915686_b7df8f1148.jpg[/img]

 

[Kalvaer]

Just to clarify - my moon shot was taken with a Canon A80 and not a cell phone.

I checked in Starry Night and it seems one of the spots you saw must have been Callisto's shadow. It should have been visible from 20:00 in close proximity to the GRS. Callisto was also in front of Jupiter from 19:40 - 20:00, but don't know if that could be one of the spots as well?

This is the dark region I think I spotted.

Doh.. for some reason I read your link has cell phone held to the lens... my bad.

As to the black spots.. I think your right. I checked back on Stellarium to the time the photo was taken and you can see the moon and also the other black marks. Good call ( http://mybroadband.co.za/photos/showphoto.php/photo/12074/size/big/cat/500 )

 

[Kalvaer]

Hmm Claire was reading up here and she pointed out something to me. The one spot we saw last night was surely Callisto, But the other was actually in the same band but on the opposite site?

 

[Crusader]

There was also another moon transiting Jupiter at the time. Can't recall the name now (A...), I thought it might be too small to spot but that could be it. I know they were over the same band but almost at opposite ends. What time was the pic taken? I'll check again once I get home tonight.

 

[Crusader]

Just realised that it could be both Callisto and its shadow. They should appear to be on opposite sides as well. Obviously the shadow would have been much darker. I think that's more likely than spotting the much smaller moon.

 

[dappled]

/half way through reading this thread - thanks crusader, kalvaer, merc for all the telescope input!

 

[Kalvaer]

There was also another moon transiting Jupiter at the time. Can't recall the name now (A...), I thought it might be too small to spot but that could be it. I know they were over the same band but almost at opposite ends. What time was the pic taken? I'll check again once I get home tonight.

From the EXIF data: 2009:08:25 20:50:23

I'll check again tonight to see. I'll also try take an AVI movie with my webcam and stack the frames to get a better view. Only problem is with out my tracking drives it will have to be pretty short.

 

[Crusader]

That time looks about right for Callisto and it's shadow, but will check.