Stargazing Did I Capture Pluto in My Backyard?

[Andy Resnick]

Two images, taken on 7/25 and 7/27, both at 11pm. Couldn't use my equitorial mount- a house was in the way- these are stacks of 0.8s exposures (400/2.8, ISO 2500) and heavily post-processed.

Pluto's a planet, I don't care what anyone else says. :)

 

[phinds]

Pluto's a planet, I don't care what anyone else says. :)

Now wait a minute Bub ... I'm no planet.

 

[DennisN]

Very cool, Andy!
By the way, how did you find it? Did you use a motorized/computerized telescope?

 

[davenn]

Well done Andy ... I have yet to see pluto ... the last on the list

 

[Andy Resnick]

Very cool, Andy!
By the way, how did you find it? Did you use a motorized/computerized telescope?

I aimed my camera according to Google Sky- Pluto is near a bright star in Sagittarius (π Sgr). I took a bunch more images over the weekend, hopefully this will provide confirmation!

 

[Andy Resnick]

Well done Andy ... I have yet to see pluto ... the last on the list

Thanks- I'm still missing Mercury, it's usually too low on the horizon.

 

[Drakkith]

Thanks- I'm still missing Mercury, it's usually too low on the horizon.

You just got to get your scope higher. Way, way higher...

 

[davenn]

Thanks- I'm still missing Mercury, it's usually too low on the horizon.

haven't photo'ed that I can recall
but have seen many times over the years

 

[DennisN]

Thanks- I'm still missing Mercury, it's usually too low on the horizon.

Try it when it's hot outside, that's when Mercury rises, I've been told.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Thanks- I'm still missing Mercury, it's usually too low on the horizon.

It's near its maximum elongation now - 27 degrees. (Max was yesterday) It looks like it just set where you are, but there's always tomorrow. It's near Regulus.

 

[Andy Resnick]

Clear nights for the past week- unheard of! Here's what I was able to capture:

Off for vacation next week; I'm renting a nikon 105/1.4 specifically to try it out for astrophotography (I need to replace my now incompatible 85/1.4 lens at some point).