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Post by virgo on Apr 1, 2012 18:44:34 GMT
Hoping for clear skies over the next few nights. Attachments:
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Post by virgo on Apr 4, 2012 12:41:41 GMT
The day of 3rd April was most unpleasant, intermittent snow showers and gale force winds. The snow stopped around dusk and the sky started to clear, but large amounts of thick cloud obscured most of the sky. Eventually a nice clear strip appeared along the Northwestern sky ( miracle ) and Venus and M45 sparkled in the evening sky. Attachments:
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Post by virgo on Apr 4, 2012 12:50:13 GMT
Shot with a 400mm lens at F8 20 seconds 400asa. Attachments:
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Post by brianb on Apr 4, 2012 13:04:11 GMT
Nice catch! The wind and a sprained shoulder put me off ... Which lens are you using? The diffraction spikes from Venus are impressive!
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Post by virgo on Apr 4, 2012 14:49:27 GMT
Hello Brian,sorry to hear of your injury. Hope you mend soon. The lens was an old Photax ( Dixons Cameras)400mm F5.6 but set to F8. This lens was bought on Ebay for a relativly small sum and is in near mint condition. The only downside is that bright objects tend to produce unwanted reflection effects, no doubt caused by the shiny surface of the iris, or lens surfaces. Attachments:
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Post by virgo on Apr 12, 2012 12:08:45 GMT
Venus and M45 part company Attachments:
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Post by brianb on Apr 12, 2012 12:26:28 GMT
Yeah, the event is over but Venus is still exceptionally well placed for observation - and will remain so until mid May when it dives in towards the June transit.
Nice images recording the event.
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Post by virgo on Apr 13, 2012 10:56:31 GMT
Yes Brian, Quite a spectacle. Venus had a near approach to M45 some 30 years ago, can't remember exactly when. I took a pic then using a Practica camera loaded with Kodak VR100 colour film, very fast but very grainy! Attachments:
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Post by virgo on Apr 14, 2012 10:04:23 GMT
Venus through the telescope at 21.30. Attachments:
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Post by brianb on Apr 14, 2012 10:27:12 GMT
Great image - integrated white light I suppose. Have you tried finding Venus in the daylight when the altitude is greater so steadier seeing, especially if the sun isn't actually shining on the scope tube!
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