dune Posted 26 March, 2012 Posted 26 March, 2012 And tell me what is the "star" about 4 inches above the cresent moon and what is the "star" about 2 feet below it? Are either of them planets? (yes i know my distances are a bit out)
Verbal Posted 26 March, 2012 Posted 26 March, 2012 Or maybe Jupiter, rather than Mercury - definitely Venus. I think.
Scummer Posted 26 March, 2012 Posted 26 March, 2012 Venus and Jupiter according to the Google Sky Map app on my phone.
JackFrost Posted 26 March, 2012 Posted 26 March, 2012 And tell me what is the "star" about 4 inches above the cresent moon and what is the "star" about 2 feet below it? Are either of them planets? (yes i know my distances are a bit out) Their spy satellites, secretly launched into space by the last socialist government
dune Posted 26 March, 2012 Author Posted 26 March, 2012 Their spy satellites, secretly launched into space by the last socialist government Is the dim one called Ed?
saintscottofthenortham Posted 26 March, 2012 Posted 26 March, 2012 Their spy satellites, secretly launched into space by the last socialist government You got the first part correct. But they were sent up by Cortese to spy on us. Shhhhhhhh. You didn't hear that from me.
Jonnyboy Posted 26 March, 2012 Posted 26 March, 2012 (edited) http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/shortcuts/2012/mar/13/venus-jupiter-put-on-show http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/120313-conjunction-venus-jupiter-sky-space-science/ Edited 26 March, 2012 by Jonnyboy
scotty Posted 26 March, 2012 Posted 26 March, 2012 Their spy satellites, secretly launched into space by the last socialist government Is the dim one called Ed? :lol:
anothersaintinsouthsea Posted 26 March, 2012 Posted 26 March, 2012 And tell me what is the "star" about 4 inches above the cresent moon and what is the "star" about 2 feet below it? Are either of them planets? (yes i know my distances are a bit out) Stars twinkle while planets don't.
trousers Posted 26 March, 2012 Posted 26 March, 2012 Uranus* *Yes, I have the mental age of a 6 year old
gjphilsaint Posted 26 March, 2012 Posted 26 March, 2012 top one is venus lower one is jupiter. Both in the western sky. Mars can be seen in the east, a less radiant planet but distinctively red. It is easier to distinguish these from the stars because all 3 are visible in the sky long before dusk, whilst constellations are only really visible in the dark sky.
Baj Posted 26 March, 2012 Posted 26 March, 2012 the bright "star" above the moon is Venus, the duller one beneath the moon is Jupiter
alpine_saint Posted 26 March, 2012 Posted 26 March, 2012 And tell me what is the "star" about 4 inches above the cresent moon and what is the "star" about 2 feet below it? Are either of them planets? (yes i know my distances are a bit out) Venus above moon, Jupiter below moon. Trace a line from west to east in line with Jupiter and Venus, and you will find Mars, and a little later in the evening Saturn is also visible further along this line.
dune Posted 26 March, 2012 Author Posted 26 March, 2012 Cheers for the replies. I'd heard venus was up there somewhere but had no idea what to look for. Just thought all the bright things were stars.
Viking Warrior Posted 26 March, 2012 Posted 26 March, 2012 Yep been there for ages . Incredible sight up here in Orkney
Jillyanne Posted 26 March, 2012 Posted 26 March, 2012 Just been out with my telescope, very impressive and the rings around Saturn are pretty impressivw in this clear sky too.
Saint in Paradise Posted 26 March, 2012 Posted 26 March, 2012 They've been there ages. Millions if not billions of years I suspect?
Cascadia Saint Posted 26 March, 2012 Posted 26 March, 2012 http://gizmodo.com/5896283/jupiter-venus-and-the-moon-will-menage-a-trois-tonight From Gizmodo: Jupiter, Venus, and the Moon Will Ménage à Trois Tonight Ohhh baby, space is about to get real sexy tonight. Starting around 9pm EST (for North America) the Moon and Venus will be just three degrees apart in the western sky, with Jupiter joining only ten degrees below. You can even watch it on a webcam. Check out the celestial bodies on them! From 8pm to 10pm EST, NASA will be hosting a live webchat, where you can have all of your Q's A'ed by NASA expert Melissa McGrath. According to NASA: This will be the best Venus-Jupiter conjunction for years to come. While bright to the unaided eye, they're even better when seen through a telescope... And look at that, even Orion is trying to get in on the action. Man, it's about to get so freaky! So, when the sun goes down and the light gets dim, look westward and enjoy the show. [NASA via Space.com via Trapit]
Seaford Saint Posted 27 March, 2012 Posted 27 March, 2012 Just been out with my telescope, very impressive and the rings around Saturn are pretty impressivw in this clear sky too. I have a celestron telescope 4 inch refractor, but cant see Saturns rings...what telescope do you have. I would consider upgrading mine.
TheCholulaKid Posted 27 March, 2012 Posted 27 March, 2012 Mars is easily seen with the naked eye at the moment too. Obviously red in the East. Early heads up for transit of Venus across face of the Sun on June 6th. You'll have to be up early but it'll be worth it - not another one until 2117.
sussexsaint Posted 27 March, 2012 Posted 27 March, 2012 I have a celestron telescope 4 inch refractor, but cant see Saturns rings...what telescope do you have. I would consider upgrading mine. 4 inches should be easily enough to see saturns rings with - iots not in a great position at the moment but will get better as the year goes on I'm into astrophotography so if anyone is vaguely interested
Jillyanne Posted 27 March, 2012 Posted 27 March, 2012 4 inches should be easily enough to see saturns rings with - iots not in a great position at the moment but will get better as the year goes on I'm into astrophotography so if anyone is vaguely interested I am not an expert in any shape or form and my telescope is a basic £350 one and has 5 lenses. I used a book to fins Saturn, changed the lens twice and bingo! I wouldn't say it's in perfect focus but definitely visable.
Ohio Saint Posted 27 March, 2012 Posted 27 March, 2012 (edited) http://www.stellarium.org/ This is awesome FREE software that will show you where everything is, where it's been, where it's going, how far away every star is, and even what Jupiter had for breakfast. It's used in planetariums, apparently......It takes a bit of setting up to your location though. Edited 27 March, 2012 by Ohio Saint
LVSaint Posted 27 March, 2012 Posted 27 March, 2012 I am not an expert in any shape or form and my telescope is a basic £350 one and has 5 lenses. I used a book to fins Saturn, changed the lens twice and bingo! I wouldn't say it's in perfect focus but definitely visable. What kind of scope do you have? At 350 quid, should be good. Is it tripod mounted lens refractor or a fat Dobsonian on a swivel base? I'm going to attempt that supernova near Mars with some good skies. You should give it a shot yourself. Although it might need a video feed exposure and dark skies as Mars is so close to it. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/120322-new-supernova-sn2012aw-stars-explode-space-science/ TwentyTwenty, I've got a 6 inch reflector (been very happy with it) but want to upgrade to at least a 10 inch. I like reflectors because they offer more aperture for the buck. Light gathering ability is key over mounts, fancy eyepieces, tracking, etc. Are those your shots SussexSaint? Bloody marvelous!
Jillyanne Posted 27 March, 2012 Posted 27 March, 2012 What kind of scope do you have? At 350 quid, should be good. Is it tripod mounted lens refractor or a fat Dobsonian on a swivel base? I'm going to attempt that supernova near Mars with some good skies. You should give it a shot yourself. Although it might need a video feed exposure and dark skies as Mars is so close to it. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/120322-new-supernova-sn2012aw-stars-explode-space-science/ TwentyTwenty, I've got a 6 inch reflector (been very happy with it) but want to upgrade to at least a 10 inch. I like reflectors because they offer more aperture for the buck. Light gathering ability is key over mounts, fancy eyepieces, tracking, etc. Are those your shots SussexSaint? Bloody marvelous! It's the one down from this - http://www.amazon.co.uk/SkyWatcher-Explorer-200P-1000-EQ5-Telescope/dp/B002OTZZPA/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&qid=1332872123&sr=8-23
sussexsaint Posted 27 March, 2012 Posted 27 March, 2012 Are those your shots SussexSaint? Bloody marvelous! Cheers bud all my own work from my light polluted front garden on the drive. Main imagine scope is a skywatchers ed80 pro so not even very big, taken with a canon 350d slr
Saint Garrett Posted 27 March, 2012 Posted 27 March, 2012 I barely have an interest in space....but those photos are amazing !!!
LVSaint Posted 27 March, 2012 Posted 27 March, 2012 Cheers bud all my own work from my light polluted front garden on the drive. Main imagine scope is a skywatchers ed80 pro so not even very big, taken with a canon 350d slr It is quite small...ahem. Gorgeous results. Our club tried a Messier Marathon last weekend in our normally cloudless, decent seeing conditions (if you drive an hour out of the Vegas valley that is). Stormy all weekend..... It's the one down from this - http://www.amazon.co.uk/SkyWatcher-Explorer-200P-1000-EQ5-Telescope/dp/B002OTZZPA/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&qid=1332872123&sr=8-23 Nice. How do you find the finder scope bolted on to the side? They can be awkward on some setups. I like using my Telrad 'targeter' - doesn't magnify, but lines things up perfectly. Ohio - Agree, Stellarium is a great free download and a doddle to use.
Jillyanne Posted 27 March, 2012 Posted 27 March, 2012 It is quite small...ahem. Gorgeous results. Our club tried a Messier Marathon last weekend in our normally cloudless, decent seeing conditions (if you drive an hour out of the Vegas valley that is). Stormy all weekend..... Nice. How do you find the finder scope bolted on to the side? They can be awkward on some setups. I like using my Telrad 'targeter' - doesn't magnify, but lines things up perfectly. Ohio - Agree, Stellarium is a great free download and a doddle to use. Took a while to work out tbh and still find it tricky, the fact that my bolt on is massive makes no sense until if course I actually find a planet/moon etc!!!
LVSaint Posted 27 March, 2012 Posted 27 March, 2012 Took a while to work out tbh and still find it tricky, the fact that my bolt on is massive makes no sense until if course I actually find a planet/moon etc!!! That's the issue I have found with finder scopes. Unless they are very low magnification with a wide field of view, can be tricky to acknowledge what you're looking at. You might want a 'target finder' (uses no magnification) to replace or use in conjunction with the finder scope. You can hone in on larger stars, planets, the moon much faster and use it to navigate from there.
sussexsaint Posted 27 March, 2012 Posted 27 March, 2012 I barely have an interest in space....but those photos are amazing !!! Thanks bud , that means a lot. Got into it after playing online with my nipper and was go smacked you could take images like that in your own garden. It ain't cheap but it's all doable. Amazing what's up there. Always thought that sort of stuff only came from expensive probes
Whitey Grandad Posted 27 March, 2012 Posted 27 March, 2012 Thanks bud , that means a lot. Got into it after playing online with my nipper and was go smacked you could take images like that in your own garden. It ain't cheap but it's all doable. Amazing what's up there. Always thought that sort of stuff only came from expensive probes Great photos! I've just bought myself a Meade LX200 8" but I've not had a chance to look at anything yet. Your results have given me even more encouragement.
sussexsaint Posted 27 March, 2012 Posted 27 March, 2012 The lx will be superb for planets and the moon, you may get some short nebula shots but not so much the long exposures. You'll see some great stuff throug there
Cascadia Saint Posted 27 March, 2012 Posted 27 March, 2012 Cheers bud all my own work from my light polluted front garden on the drive. Main imagine scope is a skywatchers ed80 pro so not even very big, taken with a canon 350d slr Wow, those shots are incredible mate. I'm a photographer but have never dabbled in astrophotography, you've definitely inspired me to look into it. Nice work.
Whitey Grandad Posted 28 March, 2012 Posted 28 March, 2012 The lx will be superb for planets and the moon, you may get some short nebula shots but not so much the long exposures. You'll see some great stuff throug there Is that because I'll need an equatorial wedge or a field derotator? (See I'm learning all the jargon)
sussexsaint Posted 28 March, 2012 Posted 28 March, 2012 Yep the LX Meads are all on Alt Az mounts which is fine for visual astronomy and taking solar system shots but for long exposures the field rotates so you need a wedge - to be honest you need to guide the scope to get really long exposures - my horsehead nebula shots are 10 minute exposures the best you would get on a wedge would be 60 seconds I'd guess and the field of view would be small The problem with astronomy is there is no one scope for every purpose. My 80 mm ED imaging scope would be useless to look at much stuff through but it is a 'quick' scope with great optics and is great for photography For planets and moon and visual I have a celestron 9.25" all of these I mount on a sysnscan HEQ5 pro It don't come cheap, but it is a cool hobby
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