Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 23

Thread: Astronomy pic of the evening.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    1 hr from everything in SoCal
    Posts
    2,753

    Default Astronomy pic of the evening.

    So, I dusted off the old 8" Newtonian and aimed it at our neighbor. I expected the pictures to be half decent, holding my phone up to the eyepiece since have gotten okay result before. What I didn't expect was to see a satellite transiting the moon. Whether it is man-made or natural, who knows? When I saw it transiting, I snapped as fast as I could. I'm just glad I got it before it zipped out of the frame. You'll have to zoom in to see it. It's at the upper center. I will probably never get a pic like that again. Makes me wish I had my SLR hooked up. Oh well.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	moonWithSatteliteWM.jpg 
Views:	91 
Size:	1.32 MB 
ID:	44696


    And just for S&G, here's a pic I snapped about a year ago of Jupiter and friends with my cell phone to the eyepiece. I really need to get back into astronomy. Then again, it can drain my wallet just as proficiently as laser. *sigh*
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	20140125_195553.jpg 
Views:	48 
Size:	1.31 MB 
ID:	44697
    Last edited by absolom7691; 09-07-2014 at 00:18.
    If you're the smartest person in the room, then you're in the wrong room.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Switzerland
    Posts
    1,410

    Default

    Amazing pictures, thanks for sharing.

    Isn't these days that there will be the "super moon"? When it's at its closest point from earth.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    New Hampshire
    Posts
    3,513

    Default

    That is a fantastic image! There is a near earth asteroid predicted to pass just 25,000 miles away today. However, at 60 feet across it would subtend 0.1 arc second and so your satellite, which looks resolved, is not that one
    http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news184.html

    But, things in orbit repeat themselves. You just might see it again if you observe the moon tonight starting earlier and ending later. Also, it would be fun to see if you can estimate its size. If resolved, you can determine the angle represented by each pixel based on the angle and number of pixels across the moon. If you have some video then you can estimate how many diameters/second it is traveling. A low orbit satellite at say 300 miles should be around 1-2 arc seconds across and traveling at about 1,000 diameters/second. A geosynchronous satellite should not be resolvable and travel at about 5-600 diameters/second. If I'm wrong and it isn't resolved then the speed can be estimated by the fraction of the moon's diameter it is covering in a unit of time.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Mesa, AZ
    Posts
    1,277

    Default

    Excellent!!! I observe the sun and absolutely love it when a satellite transits. Or birds, aircraft, the space station, even the unidentified. Catching one when your finger is on the shutter button is even better. Great work!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    SoCal / San Salvador / NY
    Posts
    4,018

    Thumbs up

    Quote Originally Posted by absolom7691 View Post
    So, I dusted off the old 8" Newtonian and aimed it at our neighbor....
    ..She's that hot, eh? I had to read that twice to 'get it'.. Super-knarly pic, Man... 'Satellite-spotting' is one of my Boys / mine favorite 'pasttime', when in such-appropriate places (like on I-40 in NM, or AZ.. just nothing quite like the 'gauze' of space, when yer out among the Rocks, gazing..) 'Bout the only place (I've been..) on-par with the Deserts, is Canada.. '..Oh, Canada...' Wow, the Auroras you can catch up there, sometimes.. Talk about a 'light show'..

    ..But, I also have to say...

    Quote Originally Posted by planters View Post
    ...you can determine the angle represented by each pixel based on the angle and number of pixels across the moon. ...A low orbit satellite at say 300 miles should be around 1-2 arc seconds across and traveling at about 1,000 diameters/second. A geosynchronous satellite should not be resolvable and travel at about 5-600 diameters/second.... ..the speed can be estimated by the fraction of the moon's diameter it is covering in a unit of time.
    ..Man... just who the *hell* ARE you?? One minute yer DIYing a NASA-grade multi-up Blue / Red diode-engines for your own PJ, the next yer scratchbuilding yer own DPSS-green (..and blowing away SP 'Millenia' beam-quality, in so-doing..) the next, yer concocting some sub-zero LN-chilled Cryo-jector, or making 15W of 577 from a Jello-laser, or baking the latest galvo-claims.. ...And, the next, yer waxing-wisdom on the ails of the icecaps.. and.. dishing out 'how to train-on yer favorite moon-illite with yer iPhone??' ..Dude, are you like, really Benjamin Franklin or something?? Heh, jk, but.. Not trying to 'stroke yer ego' (..or stroke your-Anything but.. Yer posts are just some of the 'Best Part of PL' / what makes this place still special..

    ..Here's to Brian's magic iTelescope, and Eric's posting-breadth proliphery... http://media.saveur-biere.com/303-26...ed-en-bois.jpg

    j
    Last edited by dsli_jon; 09-09-2014 at 15:45.
    ....and armed only with his trusty 21 Zorgawatt KTiOPO4...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    1 hr from everything in SoCal
    Posts
    2,753

    Default

    Thanks, guys!

    Eric, unfortunately, the sky tonight was primarily cloudy so, I think I am going to miss my chance at getting a repeat. Thanks for the info though. I love astronomy but I am NOWHERE near the level you are, clearly!

    Jon, my family and I go out to the desert a lot. One of our favorite things around the campfire is seeing who can point out the most satellites. Unfortunately, SoCal is getting worse and worse for sky viewing. I used to go to Joshua Tree a bit but in the last 15 years, the sky has become ridiculous. About the only place left for me is Death Valley. Whenever I get time, I like to get up to Mahogany Flat. I think that's about the best sky you're going to get around here. Also, I completely second what you have to say about Eric. That guy knows is stuff in a super-hero like way!
    If you're the smartest person in the room, then you're in the wrong room.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    SoCal / San Salvador / NY
    Posts
    4,018

    Thumbs up

    Quote Originally Posted by absolom7691 View Post
    ...my family and I go out to the desert a lot. ..Unfortunately, SoCal is getting worse...About the only place left for me is...
    ..Oh, you gotta get 'up North' sometime, Bud.. The 'gauze', even in / around Sequoia, let alone Yosemite, is just.... beyond words.. Not to mention up-Shasta-way.. You're like O_O the whole time.. ..But, ya - 'around here', Needles / DV / out-yonder past Coachella / Blythe-way is about the best yer gonna get..

    Quote Originally Posted by absolom7691 View Post
    ...Also, I completely second what you have to say about Eric. ..
    ..I know, right? I think his 'title' should get changed from 'Senior Member', to 'Diode-Arraying Cryojectoring DPSScratchbuilding Dyemuxing Spacial-Filtering Scanner-spanking Moon-unit-Utilizing Revolutionary-ConstituLibertarian & Guru of Self-felled-Timber Workshops'.

    ..btw, the Moon was *quite* gorgeous, last nite, and being nice n' clear (..at least here, in Van Nuys-ish area..) She should be no-less spectacular, tonite..

    j
    ....and armed only with his trusty 21 Zorgawatt KTiOPO4...

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    DC/VA metro area, USA
    Posts
    554

    Default

    Amazing! I'm glad you told us what it was... I looked at the pic before I read the post and thought it was just a laser-burned camera!

  9. #9
    swamidog's Avatar
    swamidog is online now Jr. Woodchuckington Janitor III, Esq.
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    santa fe, nm
    Posts
    1,545,752

    Default

    there is a near infinite amount of very dark and clear sky where i leave.

    bring your scopes on over!

    here's my shot of the venus transit i took a few years ago with my improvised rig.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	venus-01.jpg 
Views:	18 
Size:	294.1 KB 
ID:	44703
    suppose you're thinkin' about a plate o' shrimp. Suddenly someone'll say, like, plate, or shrimp, or plate o' shrimp out of the blue, no explanation. No point in lookin' for one, either. It's all part of a cosmic unconciousness.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    SoCal / San Salvador / NY
    Posts
    4,018

    Thumbs up

    Quote Originally Posted by swamidog View Post
    there is a near infinite amount of very dark and clear sky where i leave...
    I know this, I know this..... YOU'RE A TRAVELING BLACK HOLE!! ..haha, just kid'n I know whatcha mean... AZ is quite 'sparkletacular' at nite.. And, rad shot of Lady Venus..
    ....and armed only with his trusty 21 Zorgawatt KTiOPO4...

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •