Our Beautiful Universe - Photos and Videos

[bruha]

Hi and thank you for information and advise collinsmark.. I will check these and thinking over...
your Mars is beautiful

 

[DennisN]

@collinsmark , funny horror story!

 

[chemisttree]

Hello, I send sun image with green filter Baader 2458390...
Do you have somebody experience with this filter?
Hi and thank you...

Is the red fringing the concern for you? If so, it is well known that faster scopes have this problem with thin film interference filters. You get rainbow colors unless the light rays are very parallel just like thin film soap bubbles produce a rainbow of color. Very parallel usually means large f-numbers. Try converting your f4.5 scope into an f9 or f13.5 with a 2X or 3x Barlow and see what you get. Put the filter after the Barlow, on your eyepiece.

Google “constructive destructive interference thin film” for more background.

 

[bruha]

Hi and thank you for advise.. . (in fact my f number is 600/100=6), but I understand, I will try it.

 

[Andy Resnick]

Cygnus @ 105mm, approximately 4x a single 35mm FOV:

The original is about 13k pixels on a side. You can clearly see the North American Nebula, Veil nebula, and the large-scale dust/gas distribution here, and as the image scales back up to 1:1, the Pelican, Crescent, and Tulip nebulae are clear. Near the Tulip nebula is Cygnus X-1, but it's not visible :)

The rainbow-y color banding is an artifact and eventually averages out- that's why it's predominantly along the edges, where there are fewer images.

With this one, I now have a set of printable images of Cygnus: this one and 3 @400mm centered on the three major features (North American, Veil, and IC 1318 nebulae) that I already posted here. Wall art!

 

[bruha]

Hi, next Mars attempt by mobile camera..

 

[chemisttree]

Yahoo Groups is going away on December 15 this year. Kind of sad to see some of the groups I frequent turned off, especially the Lunar Observers Group. Right now the Lunar Observers Group is dormant so you can't use it but you can still post to it and members will see the post.

Christian Viladrich has posted some very, very fine images of the Moon using his C-14 Schmidt-Cassegrain.

Here are the links to Clavius, Stofler, Tries, Ariadaeus, Hadley, Cassini, Exodus, Lacus-Mortis, Plato and Plato again.

I'll post just one so you can see... Clavius! (like I've never seen it)

Yeah, that was taken from Earth!

Just... WOW!

If you are interested in why he chose to image these using a green filter, see for yourself the spot diagrams of his OSLO simulation at 550 nm (0.55 μm).

 

[DennisN]

@bruha & @chemisttree and others who are using mobile phones as cameras:

I just learned that there are bluetooth remote controls (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y8MTW76/?tag=pfamazon01-20) that can control the camera on mobile phones. And e.g. OpenCamera for Android supports remote controls. I will try to get a suitable remote control, so I don't have to use the delay function anymore to remove vibrations.

 

[chemisttree]

@bruha & @chemisttree and others who are using mobile phones as cameras:

I just learned that there are bluetooth remote controls (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y8MTW76/?tag=pfamazon01-20) that can control the camera on mobile phones. And e.g. OpenCamera for Android supports remote controls. I will try to get a suitable remote control, so I don't have to use the delay function anymore to remove vibrations.

That’s really going to help! I wonder if it will work with ProCamera?

I just finished building a 5” f9.4 refractor and I can’t get any decent images from it with the iPhone due to vibrations and the speed of the image racing across the field of view. Definitely need to break out the Atlas for it.

 

[collinsmark]

Here's an image of Uranus. Uranus is at opposition on 2020, October 31st.

Uranus facts:

Although I've been taking a lot of images of Mars lately, Uranus is much farther away. Uranus is much, much bigger than Mars. It's the third largest planet in the solar system. Yes, Uranus is very big (63 Earths big).

Uranus is full of gas. Uranus is a gas giant, meaning it doesn't have a solid surface until very deep down. It's comprised mostly of icy/gaseous water, methane, and ammonia, with a little hydrogen and helium. Uranus is very gassy.

Uranus gets its cold, blue-green color from all the methane.

Hydrogen sulfide has been discovered in Uranus' upper atmosphere. That's what gives farts and rotten eggs their characteristic smell. Yes, that together with all the methane and ammonia, we can be sure that Uranus is very smelly.

Although Uranus is not the most windy planet in the solar system (that record goes to Neptune), its winds are quite formidable, up to 560 miles per hour. Uranus produces a lot of wind.

------

Image taken from my back patio at 2020-10-30 08:16.1 UT.

 

[bruha]

Hi, it is beautiful... What is your gear? I did not catch Uranus by my telescope at all!

 

[chemisttree]

Uranus will look almost like a dim star in the telescope to most of us. Easy to miss. You will see the color, though. If you look a little more carefully, you will notice it is a disc.

 

[collinsmark]

Hi, it is beautiful... What is your gear?

I used the same gear for the Uranus image as I did for the Mars images:

Telescope: Meade 10" LX200-ACF mounted on an equatorial wedge.
Camera: ZWO ASI290MM
Tele Vue 4x Powermate (pretty much the same thing as a 4x Barlow lens)
ZWO Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector
ZWO Electronic Filter Wheel with Astronomik Deep Sky RGB filters

Acquisition and Processing were slightly different for Uranus.

The camera gain was set near the maximum. Also, the camera gain was the same for all the RGB filters such that I could use dark frames in FireCapture (without having to recalibrate darks in-between filters). Exposure was set to raise the right side of the histogram above 50%, which was about 80 ms.

Ten minutes videos per RGB filter, making 30 minutes total integration time.

Only a single AP was used Autostakkert! (still 50% frames kept though).

I did not catch Uranus by my telescope at all!

Uranus is kinda difficult to catch. It's barely visible to the naked eye, but is actually visible, if you have dark skies. If you're in area with light pollution, forget about spotting it with your naked eye.

I live in some extreme light pollution. So I relied on my telescope's GoTo capabilities.

Like @chemisttree mentions, Uranus is pretty small from our perspective, even in a telescope (compared to other planets like Mars, Jupiter and Saturn). It's not difficult to overlook.

 

[bruha]

Hi and thank you for answer. In saturday was "blue moon" here (Prague) etc. second full moon within month
moom was short time good visible but I could not recognize much different from standard full..

 

[davenn]

but I could not recognize much different from standard full.

of course not it was a "standard" full moon. It wasn't a supermoon
Why did you think it would be different ?

 

[bruha]

Hello, I send you link concernig this...
https://Earth'sky.org/astronomy-essentials/when-is-the-next-blue-moon

 

[bruha]

Hello,I send Mars from yesterday, with yellow filter 5, little Gimp processed..

Hi

 

[DennisN]

@bruha & @chemisttree and others who are using mobile phones as cameras:

I just learned that there are bluetooth remote controls (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y8MTW76/?tag=pfamazon01-20) that can control the camera on mobile phones. And e.g. OpenCamera for Android supports remote controls. I will try to get a suitable remote control, so I don't have to use the delay function anymore to remove vibrations.

@bruha & @chemisttree & others who use mobile phones as cameras:

I never ever thought I would post about selfie sticks and certainly not on PF, but I guess there is a first time for everything...

I was reading on a photography site about various photography accessories, and I came across a recommended selfie stick/tripod with a detachable bluetooth remote control that controls the shutter on mobile phones. So I thought why try to find a dedicated remote when you can get more for roughly the same price?

This was the page I read:
The best camera accessories in 2020: essential photography gadgets and add-ons

...and they recommended SYOSIN Selfie Stick Tripod, which is available on Amazon. I am personally going to buy an Huawei AF15 Tripod Selfiestick, which is a similar product with good rating. Here is one review.

 

[Keith_McClary]

SYOSIN Selfie Stick Tripod

The review says

huge ... 65mAh rechargeable lithium battery

but the (wrongly?) linked Amazon page shows a replaceable CR1632.

One commenter says using the tripod and extending the stick is precarious (as the legs seem fixed length and angle).

You can write us a review.

 

[DennisN]

Plumes on Enceladus (moon of Saturn), captured by Cassini:
(from this gallery)

Boomerang Nebula captured by Hubble (from the same gallery) :

 

[bruha]

Hello, I noticed some sunspot after long time (lower and lower right on images)

 

[DennisN]

...and they recommended SYOSIN Selfie Stick Tripod, which is available on Amazon. I am personally going to buy an Huawei AF15 Tripod Selfiestick, which is a similar product with good rating.

You can write us a review.

I changed my mind and just bought a bluetooth remote control; I chose this one, which had good reviews and was recommended: CamKix Bluetooth Remote Control (about $7). I bought it on German Amazon, so I won't have to pay shipping/import fees. Instead of buying one of those dreaded selfiesticks , I instead bought a https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087JQW8TM/?tag=pfamazon01-20 for my camera when doing normal (i.e. non-astro) photography.

Edit:

I also learned you can use "AirMouse" remote controls (I have this one, Mele F10 which I use with my Android tv box) to control mobile phones, including the shutter function. When I connect the small usb remote receiver to my phone, I can use the Mele F10 to take photos. I learned that pressing "Audio Volume + (up)" on remote controls activates the shutter function on Android phones.

Edit 2:

@chemisttree :

According to the specifications, CamKix Bluetooth Remote Control (ca $7) works with both iOS and Android. And there are other ways to control the shutter on iOS phones, according to this page, the "volume up" button on headsets can be used to take photos:

5 Weird Ways To Release The iPhone Camera Shutter (iPhone photography school)

 

[chemisttree]

Hello, I noticed some sunspot after long time (lower and lower right on images)

Great shots, Bru! Are you using the Barlow? See any red fringing?

 

[chemisttree]

I changed my mind and just bought a bluetooth remote control; I chose this one, which had good reviews and was recommended: CamKix Bluetooth Remote Control (about $7). I bought it on German Amazon, so I won't have to pay shipping/import fees. Instead of buying one of those dreaded selfiesticks , I instead bought a https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087JQW8TM/?tag=pfamazon01-20 for my camera when doing normal (i.e. non-astro) photography.

Edit:

I also learned you can use "AirMouse" remote controls (I have this one, Mele F10 which I use with my Android tv box) to control mobile phones, including the shutter function. When I connect the small usb remote receiver to my phone, I can use the Mele F10 to take photos. I learned that pressing "Audio Volume + (up)" on remote controls activates the shutter function on Android phones.

Edit 2:

@chemisttree :

According to the specifications, CamKix Bluetooth Remote Control (ca $7) works with both iOS and Android. And there are other ways to control the shutter on iOS phones, according to this page, the "volume up" button on headsets can be used to take photos:

5 Weird Ways To Release The iPhone Camera Shutter (iPhone photography school)

Great info, Dennis. That button on my headsets always redials The last number called. Nice to use it for something else.

 

[chemisttree]

What I’ve always known as the “Straight Wall” between Birt and Thebit.

http://astrosurf.com/viladrich/astro/moon/closeup/Mur-9sept2020-4h33minUT-C14-B1920-green-f600.jpg

 

[bruha]

Hi Chemistree, its not with Barlow, just with mobile cam and. Hyperion 8 mm ,and sun green filter.
But as seen wrong artefact beacouse my solar foil was already pierced and repaired,..

Lot of succes..

 

[trees and plants]

When i look at the stars at night they are so bright , they have colour but their brightness made me want to study them also that they exist although they are distant from us. We have near Earth the sun as a star. God is infinite so are his powers, he created all these things , the Earth too. Thank you God. But we humans are so small compared to the universe or other things. The right for a human is to be humble because of being so small, but he has the freedom to choose between right and wrong.

 

[Stavros Kiri]

When i look at the stars at night they are so bright , they have colour but their brightness made me want to study them also that they exist although they are distant from us. We have near Earth the sun as a star. God is infinite so are his powers, he created all these things , the Earth too. Thank you God. But we humans are so small compared to the universe or other things. The right for a human is to be humble because of being so small, but he has the freedom to choose between right and wrong.

... also has the right to study and learn about that beautiful (yet full of mysteries and oppositions) Universe! ...

 

[trees and plants]

... also has the right to study and learn about that beautiful (yet full of mysteries and oppositions) Universe! ...

He does have this right. We live in an era where many people have many chances to study physics, astrophysics, math or other sciences like chemistry,biology, engineering and others. Some years ago many people because of the conditions did not have the chances for studying sciences like many people have today.

 

[DennisN]

Meanwhile on Mars, Curiosity took a selfie:

(a larger photo is here, and an article with some more photos is here)

 

[DennisN]

Here's an image of Uranus. Uranus is at opposition on 2020, October 31st.

I am very impressed that you got Uranus, congratulations!
According to Stellarium, the apparent diameter is 0°00'03.74''.

 

[Stavros Kiri]

Meanwhile on Mars, Curiosity took a selfie:

It was curious ...

 

[Andy Resnick]

Here's an image of Uranus. Uranus is at opposition on 2020, October 31st.

Nice!

Here's a combination shot of Uranus during October and November 2016 that I put together:

I'm able to detect 2 of the moons (not sure which ones)- these are images (200%) taken on different dates, one of them trying to detect motion of the moons by imaging at about 8pm and again at midnight:

 

[Andy Resnick]

The Pleiades are in a good viewing location (for me) this time of year- this stack is about 5 hours @ 400/2.8:

 

[DennisN]

The Pleiades are in a good viewing location (for me) this time of year- this stack is about 5 hours @ 400/2.8:

Gorgeous!

 

[bruha]

Hi I send my attempt of sun with green filter 58-(part of image- supposing facuales).. .

 

[Andy Resnick]

Neptune and its largest moon Triton, also imaged during Oct/Nov 2016 (100% scale):

And finally, Pluto, daily images taken July 27- July 31 2017, 300% scale . Still a planet :)

Pluto's images were taken at 400mm and no tracking mount- no sightline was available for polar alignment. Visible trailing even with only 0.8s exposure duration.

 

[DennisN]

Info:

Just after sunset on the evening of Dec. 21, Jupiter and Saturn will appear closer together in Earth's night sky than they have been since the Middle Ages, offering people the world over a celestial treat to ring in the winter solstice.

Article: https://phys.org/news/2020-11-december-jupiter-saturn-planet-middle.html

Thanks to @fresh_42 who started a thread about it here.

 

[bruha]

Hello,
Mars (still sharp focusing problem-not sure why is squared..) , Sun (processing defect on the left) and Moon ..

 

[bruha]

o ..

 

[bruha]

Its just simple southern sky image in Bohmerwald -6 sec.exp. (Orion, Pleaides are recognizable...)

 

[DennisN]

I changed my mind and just bought a bluetooth remote control; I chose this one, which had good reviews and was recommended: CamKix Bluetooth Remote Control (about $7). I bought it on German Amazon, so I won't have to pay shipping/import fees. Instead of buying one of those dreaded selfiesticks , I instead bought a https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087JQW8TM/?tag=pfamazon01-20 for my camera when doing normal (i.e. non-astro) photography.

Brief review:

The Camkix Bluetooth remote control for smartphone photography works excellent. The only "downside" is that it is so small that it is easy to misplace/drop. But I've tied a small red cloth stripe to it, so it can be more easily found.

The K&F Concept tripod is excellent. Full size (up to 177 cm in height), but incredibly light. And very quick to set up. I am very pleased with that buy .

I also bought a good, sturdy https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y5C4DRV/?tag=pfamazon01-20, and a quite https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WC99RTF/?tag=pfamazon01-20 for future photography trips. The backpack is not specialized for photography, but it will work fine for me; I wanted a comfy, mediumsized backpack with many pockets, and the Mardingtop fit the bill (there are other backpacks specifically designed for DSLR photography, like this one (Lowepro)).

 

[chemisttree]

NASA has published a fairly significant e-book on smartphone astrophotography. It’s free!

192 pages, baby!

 

[DennisN]

NASA has published a fairly significant e-book on smartphone astrophotography. It’s free!

Thank you! I've downloaded it. Perfect info for me, and it's probably a great read during cloudy times .

 

[davenn]

06/12/2020 -- Jupiter and Saturn, getting closer together by the day
Canon 6D, exp - 50th sec, 70-200mm @80mm pic1, 200mm pic2, ISO 2500
In Pic2, the small bright point just above Jupiter is Jupiter's moon Ganymede, Saturn is much further to the upper right

cheers
Dave

 

[bruha]

Hi, its very nice and illustrating.. just is it left /right turned? because here in Czech by the evening Saturn is upper left
Have nice days and nights

 

[bruha]

Hello,
do you have somebody experience with eyepiece camera SVBONY SV105? ( I just bought it, because my old camera Bresser got damaging.) My first shot of Mars was overlighted and with strange blurring on the margins..
Thank you

 

[chemisttree]

I get that too when the image is overexposed. Try a faster frame rate and/or lower gain?
Good luck and keep trying!

 

[bruha]

Thank you

 

[chemisttree]

Thank you

I’ve read on Astro forums about the SV105. A variable density filter is recommended to bring the brightness into range since the camera has a limited maximum frame rate of about ~ 1/30th sec? That filter is great for the Moon as well.