Solar System

Lunar Night and Day

Thin crescent moon 30th December 2019. I wanted to show the "EarthShine" effect. This happens when most of the moon is in darkness and the only light falling onto that part of the moon is reflected from our planet Earth. If you were on the moon you would have a similar amount of light to what we have when there is a full moon.

The terminator (line where night becomes day) is also interesting as it highlights the mountains and somehow makes them look more dramatic when the lighting is like this.

To pick up the "Earthshine" the exposure has to be overdone making the sunlite part of the moon very overexposed. Which is why I have included the same crescent moon correctly expose on the right.

My Field of View would not give me the whole moon in one view so I had to use Microsoft ICE (Image composite editor) to join then the individual parts together, then processing in photoshop.

Taken from my Lumacomi Observatory. Using Altair Astro ED110 telescope and ZWO ASI178 mono camera.

Waxing Moon

First image with my new ASI 178MM camera. Used on my TS65Q telescope this has enabled me to capture the full moon disk.
Taken July 12th 2019

Daylight Moon

Afternoon moon shot ASI 120MC-S April 2019

Partial Lunar Eclipse 16th July 2019

Taken with my Canon 6D. Using my 75-300mm zoom at 300mm.

First time in a long while I got lucky tonight. The forecast was cloudy and I never expected to see anything of this event. However I took a walk over the park and there it was just sitting there. I tweeted this picture put it on facebook. Within a few minutes quite a few locals were out to see it as well.

Jupiter 18th April 2017

Taken 18th April with Skywatcher 250pds No Barlow. Colour ASI camera

Moon Closeup 13th September 2016

Taken as waxing moon was about 91% illuminated.

Skywatcher 250pds Newtonian. DMK 21 Camera, and 2.5 power mate.

This was a 30 second exposure giving me almost 2000 frames. Used 70% of them in Registax plus a little tweaking in Photoshop.

Neptune 23rd Sept 2016

Neptune was very difficult to capture. It is so small and dim. Don't get me talking about the focus! Not sure I had it right really. Spent some time cleaning up the large amounts of noise caused by having the gain up to much to get anything at all.

This image is a single frame. Because I had gain up so much I was only collecting about 4 frames per minute!! Slow!
At least it's one for the collection.
250pds Scope
DMK21M camera
Pixinsight and Photoshop

Our Sun early morning 9th August 2016

Lunt LS60T Ha using DMK 21AU618.AS Camera. 2 video streams used. One for the Proms and the other for the disk with different exposure for each. Processed this in Registax and then Photoshop. False colour added.

I set up fairly early for this one as I was off work. The air is much more stable earlier so the video wobbles are far less which should give sharper results.

Sun with Insert 19th July 2016

Lunt LS60T Ha using DMK 21AU618.AS Camera. With x2 Barlow for the insert close up.

Mars Sunday 5th June 2016
Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my SW250pds telescope. Avi video processed in PiPP,Registax and Photoshop.

Am I pleased with this image? Yes I am! I am perfectly aware that there are far better pictures around at the moment but I think this is the best possible with my current equipment and of course the conditions. The elevation was well under 18 degrees and it's quite murky down there! Not to mention the lights of Gatwick airport. My 10" Newtonian was so close to horizontal that part of the large aperture was obscured by the lip of my observatory. I was surprised to get this much detail with all those issues working against me.

I don't know too many names of Mars features but here are a few of the dark area's

Middle left Acidalia Colles
Bottom right Capri Chasma
Middle right Arabia Terra

Data from <a href="http://www.calsky.com" rel="nofollow">www.calsky.com</a>
Image date 5th June 2016 23:13 BST (UTC = 22:13)

Hoping to have another go as soon as possible with a mono camera.

Solar Image 15th May 2016
Lunt LS60T Ha using DMK 21AU618.AS Camera.

Mercury Transit 9th May 2016

This image was taken around 2.5 hours into the transit. Using my Lunt Solar scope and DMK21 mono camera.

The full story, and its a long one is here http://www.lumacomi-observatory.com/mercury-transit.html

Mercury Transit Mercury Transit 9th May 2016

Taken with my ED110 and Canon 1100D using white light filter. The full story, and its a long one is here http://www.lumacomi-observatory.com/mercury-transit.html

Mercury Transit 9th May 2016

This is first Contact of Mercury onto the disk. The full story, and its a long one is here http://www.lumacomi-observatory.com/mercury-transit.html

Solar Image 2nd April 2016

Lunt LS60T Ha using DMK 21AU618.AS Camera.

This was a wonderful prominence. Hoping to be able to produce a time lapse video of one in the near future.

The image is made up of two 30 second frame video's, one for the disk and one for the Proms. Around 1400 frames used. Both video's were processed In Registax and put together in PS.

I think I like the blue sky effect. Obviously it is false colour but pleasing to view.

This picture featured on the BBC Sky at night website for April 2016

Solar Image 2nd April 2016

Lunt LS60T Ha using DMK 21AU618.AS Camera.

The image is made up of two 30 second frame video's, one for the disk and one for the Proms. Around 1400 frames used. Both video's were processed In Registax and put together in PS

Solar Image 13th March 2016

Lunt LS60T Ha using DMK 21AU618.AS Camera.

Jupiter and Europa

You can see the moon Europa on the edge of Jupiter and the moon's shadow just behind it. This was a few days away from opposition which is why the shadow is almost hidden. Taken at 23:20 7th March 2016
Skywatcher 250pds Newtonian using DMK 21AU618.AS Camera.
My first Mono Jupiter. Three 30 second frame video's, one for each of R,G and B. Captured using Firecapture. Video's were processed In Registax and put together in PS.

I feel the need to get myself a motorised focuser. Jumping between RG and B is a nightmare to keep focus.

The Sun 19th Feb 2016

Lunt LS60T Ha using DMK 21AU618.AS Camera.

The image is made up of two 30 second frame video's, one for the disk and one for the Proms. Around 750 frames used. Both video's were processed In Registax and put together in PS.

Solar Image Ha 16th Feb 2016

First light (imaging) for my Lunt LS60T Ha using DMK 21AU618.AS Camera.
The image is made up of two 2000 frame video's, one for the disk and one for the Proms. Both video's were processed In Registax and put together in PS.
Considering the poor conditions and that this is my first Solar image with the Lunt I am very pleased with the result.

Luna Eclipse 28th September 2015

Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my TS 65QAPO telescope.
Used Focal Reducer x0.8 to obtain whole disk in one image. However in this case with the moon being a super moon it still didn't fit ! Had to use MS ICE to stitch together.
Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight.

Take your pick of what you want to call this. Full Moon, Supermoon, Harvest moon, Blood Moon. All of them accurate :)

What I liked so much was that you were able to see the background stars around the moon. That was quite rare and beautiful but none in this picture.

Worth getting up for :)

Early part of Luna Eclipse 28th September 2015

This image was taken at the early stage of the eclipse. The shadow is much less defined than a normal terminator in fact it is the shadow of the Earth. Taken around 35 minutes before totality.

Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my TS 65QAPO telescope.
Used Focal Reducer x0.8 to obtain whole disk in one image. However in this case with the moon being a super moon it still didn't fit ! Had to use MS ICE to stitch together.
Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight.

Our Moon 20th September 2015

Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my TS 65QAPO telescope.
Used Focal Reducer x0.8 to obtain whole disk in one image
Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight.

Sun 19th September 2015

Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my TS 65QAPO telescope.
Used Focal Reducer x0.8 to obtain whole disk in one image
Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight.

The Sun 9th August 2015

This was taken with Daystar QUARK H-Alpha Eyepiece - Chromosphere Model.

Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my TS65Q APO telescope. Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight,

Modified version using different settings and to process.

Twitter friend Wendy Clark brought her Daystar for me to try. Some wonderful sights to be seen looking at the sun. I took a couple of avi's, this one of the Prom's and a second one of the large sunspot currently on the surface. Not had any previous experience of processing Solar images like these so quite pleased with them.

Still unsure if I should look at other solar scopes. The Daystar seems to work brilliantly with my TS65Q and the ZWO camera and the "Wow" factor using it optically was all very pleasing. Thank you Wendy for bringing it down to me to try :)

Sun surface and Sunspot 12396

This was taken with Daystar QUARK H-Alpha Eyepiece - Chromosphere Model.

Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my TS65Q APO telescope. Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight,

This is one of the larger sunspots seen for a while now.

Twitter friend Wendy Clark brought her Daystar for me to try. Some wonderful sights to be seen looking at the sun. I took a couple of avi's, this one of the Prom's and a second one of the large sunspot currently on the surface. Not had any previous experience of processing Solar images like these so quite pleased with them.

Still unsure if I should look at other solar scopes. The Daystar seems to work brilliantly with my TS65Q and the ZWO camera and the "Wow" factor using it optically was all very pleasing. Thank you Wendy for bringing it down to me to try :)

Full Moon 31st July 2015 (Blue Moon)

This moon was also known as a Blue moon due to it being the second full moon during the calendar month of July.

I reverted back to my IMG 132 Camera on my SW250pds telescope. Avi video processed in Registax, PS and Pixinsight.
Image was done in two frames and stiched with MS ICE.

The Blue moon shot is artificially coloured but a bit of fun.

Sunspots 31st July 2015

Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my SW250pds telescope. Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight.

Video was 30 seconds nearly 1000 frames

Venus taken in daylight 21st July 2015

Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my SW250pds telescope. Avi video processed in PiPP,Registax and Pixinsight.

Video was 45 seconds nearly 4000 frames.

I think this has a nice surreal effect to it. Not been able to capture such a thin crescent of Venus before

Saturn 25th June 2015

Conditions were very poor when I took this. By the time Saturn had cleared an Oak tree everything was blurred by a slight mist.

Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my SW250pds telescope. Avi video processed in PiPP,Registax and Pixinsight.

The Sun, taken 28th May 2015
The only Sunspot I can see today

Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my TS AP65Q telescope. Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight.

Moon 28th May 2015

Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my TS 65QAPO telescope. Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight.

Playing around with colour which I may have overdone !! You judge !

Jupiter May 2015

First light for my ZWO ASI120MC-S on my 250pds

Slightly earlier image with Callisto before it is on the planet.

Not really very pleased with the quality of this image.
Unfortunately Jupiter was sitting right above my roof which was causing massive turbulence. So I am unable to compare with my IMG132e. More testing required.

Moon, Apollo 15 landing area 26th May 2015

Taken just as it was getting dark. Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my 250pds telescope. Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight.

Apollo 15 was the ninth manned mission in the United States' Apollo program, the fourth to land on the Moon, and the eighth successful manned mission. It was the first of what were termed "J missions," long stays on the Moon, with a greater focus on science than had been possible on previous missions. It was also the first mission on which the Lunar Roving Vehicle was used.

Moon Closeup 26th May 2015

Taken just as it was getting dark. Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my 250pds telescope. Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight.

Moon Close up. 26th May 2015

Taken just as it was getting dark. Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my 250pds telescope. Avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight.

Jupiter and GRS 26th May 2015

Taken just as it was getting dark. Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my 250pds telescope. This was around 3800 frames of avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight.

Venus 26th May 2015

Taken just as it was getting dark. Camera was ZWO ASI120MC-S on my 250pds telescope. This was around 4000 frames of avi video processed in Registax and Pixinsight.

Only the second time I have been able to use this camera. However I am very pleased with this result so I think I will be using it much more. Also used it to capture Jupiter and moon close ups, plus waiting to capture Saturn in the early hours later tonight. Will have to process them another day.

Venus is looking very beautiful at the moment just hanging there looking at the sun!

Sun 5th May 2015 with Sunspots

Just managed to grab this between high gusts of wind and clouds.

ED110 with Canon 1100D prime Focus
5 exposures 1/4000 sec ISO100 Processed in Registax 5 frames used.
Small process in Photoshop for colour.

Thin Moon 12% 20th April 2015

Captured with my Canon 1100D. Telephoto lens set to around 250mm. LP filter.
ISO1600
1/25th
f36.0

Moon and earthshine 21st April 2015

Captured with my Canon 1100D. Telephoto lens set to around 90mm. LP filter

Only got a few shots before the sky misted over where the moon was going down. The aircraft in the picture was just a lucky thing. I didn't intend it but I like it now it's there :)

Mars 12th April 2014

Taken with VC200L not v X2 televue barlow and IMG 132E colour camera.
My best Mars to date but I must admit to being a little disappointed with it. I think I would do better with a mono camera.

800 frames of avi video stacked in Registax, Best 80% used. Wavelets adjusted in Registax

Copernicus area 18th July 2013

Skywatcher Explorer with IMG132e camera. Processed in Registax. 1300 frame video. created this shot. Conditions not ideal.

Sinus Iridum 18th July 2013

Image taken with my Skywatcher Explorer 250pds with IMG132e camera. Processed in Registax. 1300 frame video.
Conditions very wobbly !

This is one of my favourite moon area's. The crescent shaped bay was considered to be a natural harbour area for ships to take refuge by ancient

Daylight Moon 29th October 2013

Quick Moon shot. ED110 with Canon 1100D prime Focus
10 exposures 1/1250 sec ISO100 Processed in Registax 7 frames used.
Small process in Photoshop.
Slight pink tinge to this as my camera has been modded for astro work making it more sensitive to IR
Waning Moon 27%. Moon was approx. 243,000 miles from my scope and camera.

This pictured featured in Flickr Explore and had nearly 8000 views and over 270 people listed it as a favourite.

Neptune Sept 2012

It's small, it's not very impressive but I believe it is Neptune. So I posted it. I was also trying to capture Uranus but that was behind a big oak tree. Neptune was just between trees for a half hour or so. I couldn't wait for Uranus to follow the same path or I would have captured that to.

Taken with my Vixen VC200L and Canon 1100D prime focus. Single shot photo 20 seconds exposure ISO 3200. No edit except titles added.

Mercury 18/6/12

It's tiny but it's Mercury. Wasn't quite dark but it was rapidly going behind clouds. Taken with my ED110 Prime focus Canon EOS 1100D

Sun 18/6/12

I took this picture just before the one above of Mercury. This was from Jack and Jill on the South Downs.

Nice feel to this even if its not that sharp.
Canon EOS1100D on ED110 Scope. Prime focus

Venus May 2012

Prime focus. Nikon D3000. Single shot cropped. This was one of my first images taken when I started out imaging. Don't think I have used the Nikon since