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Other Things => Off Topic => Topic started by: barman on March 13, 2012, 08:37 PM

Title: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: barman on March 13, 2012, 08:37 PM
The planets Jupiter and Venus are now positioned close to each other on the celestial sphere. You can see them very easily from virtually any point of the globe if you have a cloudless sky and look in the western direction shortly after sunset. They appear as two very bright points of light (Venus is the brighter one) and you can actually note the change of their apparent positions if you observe them for several consecutive nights. Try it!

Here's how they looked from my backyard 2 days ago, quite a beautiful sight isn't it :)
DSC_3258.jpg
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Dulek on March 13, 2012, 09:03 PM
Yup, I agree. Yesterday was a possibility of seeing an aurora borealis so we gathered and drove to a darkest and highest point in the area. Didn't see the aurora borealis but the sky was crystal clear and the stars where shining like crazy diamonds (PF fans! ;) ). We saw these planets and all the stars pretty much while lying down on the grass. That was quite amazing experinece I must say!
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: THeDoGG on March 13, 2012, 09:09 PM
Can this be related to the fact that I had passed a very bad night, with a lot of difficulty to get asleep ?
I mean do the astres influence on the human behaviours ?
I've heard full moon does it !
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Dulek on March 13, 2012, 09:19 PM
You're just turning into a werewolf. :)
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: barman on March 13, 2012, 11:38 PM
Quote from: THeDoGG on March 13, 2012, 09:09 PM
Can this be related to the fact that I had passed a very bad night, with a lot of difficulty to get asleep ?
I mean do the astres influence on the human behaviours ?
I've heard full moon does it !
If you live in a dark area and are not used to artificial light during the night, a full moon can be really distracting and stressful if it's shining right into your room. But if you live in an urban area, there's not much of a difference in the ambient sky brightness produced by a full moon and city lights.
Planets don't really influence us at all, neither physically nor psychologically.

Quote from: Dulek on March 13, 2012, 09:03 PM
Yup, I agree. Yesterday was a possibility of seeing an aurora borealis so we gathered and drove to a darkest and highest point in the area. Didn't see the aurora borealis but the sky was crystal clear and the stars where shining like crazy diamonds (PF fans! ;) ). We saw these planets and all the stars pretty much while lying down on the grass. That was quite amazing experinece I must say!
That's cool to hear, I'll probably (not 100% sure yet) be visiting your region in the second half of August for a star party in Jeziorowskie, we could possibly hang out for some star hunting and rope racing 8)
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: THeDoGG on March 13, 2012, 11:48 PM
hehe i was half joking; but full moon has an influence on life on earth for sure! and its not only about light :)
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Guaton on March 14, 2012, 12:57 AM
omg , so these two points ive been seeing are jupiter and venus? wow nice , i have been watching them for some days , cos i knew that had to be something weird  XD i like to see at the stars in night when im high , and i didnt remember those 2 points before , and about change of position they changed a little until today , they are closer if im right

wow this rly impressed me , i like this weird stuff from space , never thought they would be jupiter and venus

tx bar :D!
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Husk on March 14, 2012, 08:21 AM
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Dulek on March 14, 2012, 01:13 PM
Quote from: THeDoGG on March 13, 2012, 11:48 PM
but full moon has an influence on life on earth for sure! and its not only about light :)

It's true, the closest example known by me are the tides which both the Moon and the Sun affect on its appearance. The strongest tides are at the full moon.

Quote from: barman on March 13, 2012, 11:38 PMThat's cool to hear, I'll probably (not 100% sure yet) be visiting your region in the second half of August for a star party in Jeziorowskie, we could possibly hang out for some star hunting and rope racing 8)

Yay, I totally would go for it. It's indeed really near my city. :) I'm looking forward for it!
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: harpy on March 14, 2012, 02:15 PM
ha who distinguish between astronomy and astrology ha. I disagree that they are complementary aspects of astrology reach people like introverted orientation (real angelic aspects are few and depending on the degree of solar and other factors), some these energies come as a gift (moral strength) - physical energies , others need treatment and awareness. I watch the coincides Jupiter and Venus  cal will be conjunct my birthday Venus conjunct Rahu on MC.
for years I seeker elemental precious stones, or they find me. at last there is movement among people to seek natural stones. I do not like blatant speculation but will have to lev(or eur)to the family
cheers
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: DarkOne on March 14, 2012, 09:49 PM
Quote from: harpy on March 14, 2012, 02:15 PM
ha who distinguish between astronomy and astrology ha.

Astronomers :) And other people who know what astronomy is about, of course
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: harpy on March 14, 2012, 10:18 PM
aha :) I sometimes sorry these moments. Sigourney am that astronomy is very cool  8)
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Rok on March 22, 2012, 06:57 PM
Today the two planets are almost exactly vertical to each other, Jupiter being below, correct? I knew the Evening Star is in fact Venus, but had no idea Jupiter can be spotted so easily.
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: barman on March 22, 2012, 07:19 PM
Quote from: Rok on March 22, 2012, 06:57 PM
Today the two planets are almost exactly vertical to each other, Jupiter being below, correct?
Yes, only from intermediate northern latitudes though. If you were to travel south (or north), they would appear more and more tilted with respect to the horizon.

Quote from: Rok on March 22, 2012, 06:57 PMI knew the Evening Star is in fact Venus, but had no idea Jupiter can be spotted so easily.
Planets are actually among the brightest objects in the sky. You can also see Mars in the evening, search for the bright orange point of light in the southeast after sunset. It's actually the third brightest object after Jupiter and Venus.
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Husk on March 22, 2012, 10:22 PM
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Ramone on March 22, 2012, 11:47 PM
Quote from: barman on March 22, 2012, 07:19 PM
Quote from: Rok on March 22, 2012, 06:57 PMI knew the Evening Star is in fact Venus, but had no idea Jupiter can be spotted so easily.
Planets are actually among the brightest objects in the sky. You can also see Mars in the evening, search for the bright orange point of light in the southeast after sunset. It's actually the third brightest object after Jupiter and Venus.

And U forgot to mention that when Mars "rise up" we can also see Saturn in the southeast at this time of the year.. ;)
Mercury is also visible with the naked eye, but he's very rarely on the position to be seen cause he's always somewhere "near" to the Sun from out point of view.. For other planets like Uranus or Neptune U need some good lenses, binoculars or telescope..

Here's Jupiter, Moon and Venus on 26.February:
(http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/7594/img7585psm.jpg)

Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Ramone on March 27, 2012, 09:39 PM
26th March, conjunction from my point of view:

(http://i43.tinypic.com/3520pwo.jpg)

;x
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: NinjaCamel on March 27, 2012, 10:48 PM
28.3.2012 at 01.46 point view from da camelos bed
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: philie on March 28, 2012, 08:49 AM
 :D :D
nice gun-pointing..
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Ramone on March 29, 2012, 09:07 PM
Looks like tus is not a good place for astronomy lovers.. ;x f@#! it.
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: barman on March 29, 2012, 09:31 PM
Moon, Jupiter and Venus on 2012-02-27
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Ramone on March 29, 2012, 09:42 PM
vns!  :)
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: ShyGuy on March 29, 2012, 11:18 PM
Quote from: NinjaCamel on March 27, 2012, 10:48 PM
28.3.2012 at 01.46 point view from da camelos bed

rofl woah what is that!!
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: NinjaCamel on March 30, 2012, 06:47 AM
Quote from: ShyGuy on March 29, 2012, 11:18 PM
Quote from: NinjaCamel on March 27, 2012, 10:48 PM
28.3.2012 at 01.46 point view from da camelos bed

rofl woah what is that!!

i have no idea! it happens once in 2 months. i think it could be pluto and stars blackout but not sure.  it looks awesome...
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: barman on June 05, 2012, 03:17 PM
The planet Venus will pass in front of the Sun in less than 12 hours. This won't happen anymore until 2117, so you should take a look if you can! With a proper eye protection (a DVD should be alright for a quick peek) you should be able to see a tiny dot on a solar disk.

The event starts at 22:09 GMT today, ends at 4:49 GMT tomorrow.

Visibility map: (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1f/Visibility_of_2012_Transit_of_Venus.jpg.png/650px-Visibility_of_2012_Transit_of_Venus.jpg.png)

Simulation:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Venus_transit_2012_animation.gif)

I'm waking up before sunrise in order to try to take some photos, but the weather predictions for my location are not quite promising :( (less than 50% chance of success)
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Casso on June 05, 2012, 03:31 PM
I'm waking up at 3.00 GMT about to watch this passage with my telescope. I hope the weather will be clear
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Tomi on June 05, 2012, 04:52 PM
So we will can see the planet Venus in the Sun? :o Interesting
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: sock on June 05, 2012, 10:38 PM
ya you can see it right now, some1 at work had a telescope
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Husk on June 05, 2012, 10:42 PM
I saw uranus, it's not looking good.
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: HHC on June 05, 2012, 10:47 PM
You can also watch it here: http://www.ustream.tv/nasahdtv

And ye, its just a tiny black ball moving across a big red ball with the speed of HHC finishing the biggest tower rr there is without rope.
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: barman on June 06, 2012, 05:35 AM
Yay for luck :D The sky has cleared up about 40 minutes before the end of transit.

Here's a pic I snapped. You can see some sunspots as well.
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Ramone on June 06, 2012, 08:43 AM
gj barman, vns! Which scope and camera have U used for this shot?
We had bl here, it was cloudy all the time :/
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: barman on June 06, 2012, 12:11 PM
Quote from: Ramone on June 06, 2012, 08:43 AM
gj barman, vns! Which scope and camera have U used for this shot?
We had bl here, it was cloudy all the time :/
Thanks 8)

My setup consisted of a Nikon D5100 plus a Nikkor 55-300 telephoto lens with a homemade mylar filter:
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: barman on August 27, 2012, 11:24 AM
Here's a photo that won me a nice pair of binoculars for the first place in the astrophoto contest during a star party I attended last week 8)
startrails.JPG

And here are all the prizes and gifts I got in various contests, quizzes and events in the last 4 days
nagrody.JPG
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Alien on August 27, 2012, 11:36 AM
really nice photo barman.
how did you do that, rotating the camera ?
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Kaleu on August 27, 2012, 11:39 AM
amazing but I can't understand the photo :D
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Dulek on August 27, 2012, 11:44 AM
Quote from: Alien on August 27, 2012, 11:36 AM
really nice photo barman.
how did you do that, rotating the camera ?

Long exposure time I guess.

Quote from: barman on August 27, 2012, 11:24 AM
Here's a photo that won me a nice pair of binoculars for the first place in the astrophoto contest during a star party I attended last week 8)

Fss, so you prefered to make pictures instead of meeting me, shame on you! ;) Great photo btw.
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: barman on August 27, 2012, 11:55 AM
The camera is not rotating, the sky is! I took 120 pics, each with an exposure time of 30 seconds and then stacked them together in Gimp with a "Lighten" blending mode. This way, you can see the paths of the stars during a 1 hour period :)
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Free on August 27, 2012, 12:19 PM
That pic is sick!

Put it on my background.
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: MonkeyIsland on August 27, 2012, 01:17 PM
barman that pic is impressive. It got even more impressive when you explained how you did it :o
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: TheKomodo on August 27, 2012, 01:25 PM
Yeah that's incredible barman very good work, my Brother is doing some Astronomy courses at University, he's spent so many thousands on equipment over the last few years you should see this moving mobile hut thing he's building lol, i'll get some pictures or something soon !
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Casso on August 27, 2012, 01:29 PM
This is really fantastic :O compliment !
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Ramone on August 27, 2012, 04:31 PM
Quote from: barman on August 27, 2012, 11:55 AM
The camera is not rotating, the sky is!
....

The sky is not rotating, the earth is!!!  ;)

Vns barman! It looks like it's a pretty wide angle, can U tell me what lens have U used?

Here's my startrails from few months ago with 18mm lens, I don't have a remote shutter yet so U can see a little pause between series of 10 photos... It's a stack of 220 photos, 30 sec each (also). Stacked in http://www.startrails.de/html/software.html (http://www.startrails.de/html/software.html) - cool free application, U can make timelapse videos with it also..

(http://i47.tinypic.com/j6mq79.jpg)
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Statik on August 27, 2012, 04:47 PM
nice, and I would say... everything is rotating relative to something :D
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: barman on August 27, 2012, 05:29 PM
Good photo there, don't hestitate to bump up the ISO sensitivity in order to record more stars, the noise becomes less apparent after you stack a lot of images.

Quote from: Ramone on August 27, 2012, 04:31 PM
Vns barman! It looks like it's a pretty wide angle, can U tell me what lens have U used?
Samyang 8mm fisheye, stopped down to f/4.8. ISO 6400.
This lens is extremely wide angle indeed, about 180 degrees across the diagonal of the frame.

More pics:

Andromeda Galaxy - Samyang 85mm f/1.4, stack of 32 exposures 6 seconds each, ISO 6400
andromeda-1024.jpg

The North America Nebula in Cygnus - same as above
cygnus-1024.jpg

The constellation of Lyra - Samyang 85mm f/1.4, single 8 second exposure, ISO 6400
lyra-1024.jpg

All of these photographs were taken with the camera mounted on a tripod, without any compensation of the daily rotation of the sky Earth. This limits my exposures to about 6-8 seconds, any longer times make the images of the stars spread out into little streaks. I'm going to buy some tracking device really soon, this will allow me to enter a whole new level of possibilities :D
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: TheKomodo on August 28, 2012, 07:43 AM
Quote from: barman on August 27, 2012, 05:29 PMI'm going to buy some tracking device really soon, this will allow me to enter a whole new level of possibilities :D

Ah yeah my brother has all that stuff, it's awesome :)
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Kaleu on August 28, 2012, 10:27 AM
I started to love astronomy, been all night searching about planets galactics and stars*, so beautful.  ;)
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Kaleu on September 04, 2012, 06:31 PM
Please barman and Ramone, keep sharing I love this thread so much !
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Kaleu on September 04, 2012, 06:51 PM
Deleted*
Title: Re: Any astronomy lovers around?
Post by: Ramone on September 12, 2012, 03:03 PM
Quote from: barman on August 27, 2012, 05:29 PM
All of these photographs were taken with the camera mounted on a tripod, without any compensation of the daily rotation of the sky Earth. This limits my exposures to about 6-8 seconds, any longer times make the images of the stars spread out into little streaks. I'm going to buy some tracking device really soon, this will allow me to enter a whole new level of possibilities :D

Without "tracking device", seconds of exposure that U can make (without stars looking like a "little streaks") are limited with the level of magnification that U use. Larger magnification = less secs for exp. With your 300mm U can take 6-8 secs exposures, but with larger magnification (ie. 500mm) U could take exposures of maybe 0,5-1 sec.. And that's all fine for the wide field astro-photo.. But if U wanna "enter the new level of possibilities" and take photos of DSO (Deep Sky Objects) like Galaxies, Nebula's or Star clusters, U would need a telescope and a "tracking device" as U call it.. I use Equatorial mount - to be precise..

This is what I use:
(http://tavcso.hu/kepek/swn1507eq3.jpg)
Newtonian reflector SkyWatcher 150/750 and EQ3 mount with built-up motors for tracking. I'm taking photos with the "prime-focus" technique with my Canon EOS 500D. Prime-focus is when U take off the lens from ur camera and connect it directly on the telescope, and the photons of light are "falling" directly on a chip of a camera.

The whole process of taking and processing photos this way is much more complicated and I won't explain it here now, but if U're interested in any of this, don't hesitate to ask for a suggestion cause I'm into this hobby for several years already..

Here's some of my DSO photos, just to get a clue what am I on about:
Whirlpool galaxy or M51, located approx. 25 million light years away. It's a stack of 12 photos, 30sec exp each on ISO1600:
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ohAjdA97TnQ/T7AhxCGKEkI/AAAAAAAAA1k/2XYzuZmLizg/s1600/M51_28-4-2012_ZB_1440x900.jpg)

Star cluster M13, that's formed of approx. 300,000 stars, located 25,000 light years away. 20 photos, 30 sec each, ISO400:
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J-q_CBND0o0/T6725n8-BEI/AAAAAAAAA0M/Pz6dThEWfgM/s1600/M13_28-4-2012_ZB_1440x900.jpg)

Eagle nebula M16, 20x30sec ISO3200 + 20x30sec ISO1600 + 18x30sec ISO800:
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qfb0TyUewGg/UC5GBaH4f7I/AAAAAAAAA90/Tp73PqIQZ7Q/s1600/M16+15-7-2012_1920.jpg)

Lagoon nebula M8, 9x30sec ISO3200 + 30x30sec ISO1600 + 10x30sec ISO800:
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m8cA_fROaiU/UC5FGsRjELI/AAAAAAAAA9c/jZSdPD5WfF4/s1600/M8+15-7-2012_1920.jpg)

And I have to say that the credits is not only on me, 2 friends and me are doing all of this together.. We have our own amateur-astronomy association and a blog where we present our work to the local astronomers.. The whole technique and the equipment that we use is already obsolete.. It was not too expensive, we've got the whole equipment for smth like 850 euros, 2 yrs ago. Today, there's a lots of new equipment that's much easier to use, like auto-guiders, Go-To, CCD cams and stuff, but for us it's too expensive for a hobby from which U cannot gain any money back..
At least we have the enthusiasm and the results which satisfies us..  ;)