Category: Photography

Comet PanSTARRS—VIII

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Comet PanSTARRS continues to amaze sky watchers! Even though it has significantly diminished in brightness as it moves away it is still easily photographed. Even more amazing is the incredible “anti-tail” that has developed. Astronomy Photo of the Day (APOD) has a nice image of the anti-tail of Comet PanSTARRS. APOD notes that “…PanSTARRS anti-tail is one of the longest since the appearance of Comet Arend-Roland in 1957.”

 

Comet PanSTARRS: 30 May 2013.
Comet PanSTARRS: 30 May 2013.

This image was taken using a fixed tripod along with a moderate and fast telephoto lens (Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.8G). Thirty separate images of 15s duration were stacked using the free Deep Sky Stacker software. This relatively-long exposure with a telephoto lens was only possible because the comet is located so close to Polaris (North Star) resulting in minimal star motion. This shows that high-end astronomy equipment (i.e. equatorial tracking mount, telescope, modified cameras, etc.) is not necessary to take photographs of the comet.

 

Triple Planetary Alignment in the Western Sky

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During the latter half of the month of May the planets Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury have been drawing closer together. Their closest approach was on 26 May 2013 when the three planets could fit within a 3° circle. For comparison, the disk of the Moon and Sun are about ½ degree.

Triple planetary alignment of Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury in May 2013.
Triple planetary alignment of Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury in May 2013.

For several nights leading up to the closest approach and for a few nights afterward I shot photos of the three planets during the evening hours. I then took the best image from each day (i.e., cloud free!) and made a composite image. Next, I shifted each image up/down, left/right until the planet Jupiter lined up. The result was that the composite contains a single image of Jupiter along with five images of Venus and Mercury. This makes it easy to see how all three planets were shifting relative to each other over the course of five days. During this period, Venus and Mercury were quickly rising higher in the sky while Jupiter was slowly moving towards the horizon.

Comet PanSTARRS — VII

This will probably be the final entry for Comet C/2011 L4 PanSTARRS. The comet is heading farther away from Earth each day and its brightness has diminished substantially. I have still been able to photograph it using long exposures or by stacking* many shorter exposures.

Comet PanSTARRS
Comet PanSTARRS

Here is an image from a few days ago that clearly shows the fan-shaped tail of the comet.

Comet PanSTARRS and M31.
Comet PanSTARRS and M31.

From a month ago — this stacked image shows both the comet and M31 (Andromeda Galaxy).

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* I’ve been experimenting with the free Deep Sky Tracker for image stacking.

 

 

Jupiter, Venus, Moon, and Comet PanSTARRS in the night sky

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The evening of 11 May 2013 presented an assortment of visual treats in the night sky. In the evening twilight the planets Venus and Jupiter clustered around the thin crescent of the moon. With one planet above and one below it was a delightful sight.

Details: ISO 200; f/2.8; 28mm; 1/8 second.

Moon, Jupiter, and Venus in the evening twilight.
Moon, Jupiter, and Venus in the evening twilight.

As the sky darkened it was possible to photograph the fading Comet C/2011 L4 PanSTARRS, located near the constellation Cepheus. The combination of several short exposures stacked together allowed the faint glow of the comet to appear. This was photographed using a fixed tripod and an 85mm/f1.8 lens. No telescope required.

Details: ISO 1600; f/1.8; 85mm; 10x4s.

A distant and fading Comet PanSTARRS.
A distant and fading Comet PanSTARRS.

As twilight faded the celestial objects sank lower in the sky until Venus set behind the distant hills. As the moon began to follow, the dark sky allowed the zodiacal light to shine upwards providing illumination around the planet Jupiter.

Details: ISO 3200; f/2.8; 28mm; 8 seconds.

Jupiter, Moon, and zodiacal light.
Jupiter, Moon, and zodiacal light.

The planets Jupiter and Venus will draw closer together over the coming weeks and this should present many great photographic opportunities.

Mountain biking in Fruita, Colorado

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It was a great weekend for mountain biking in Fruita, Colorado. Daytime temperatures were in the 60’s in the morning and 70’s in the afternoon. Abundant sunshine, blue skies, and light winds all contributed to wonderful conditions.

The Fruita Fat Tire Festival was held the previous weekend. We have attended that biking party several times in the past (great fun most years) but this time we were interested in riding without the festivities. Or the crowds.

So we met in Fruita for three days of riding. We split our time between the trails near Loma and those located off of 18 Road north of Fruita.

 

Kessel Run. A fast trail.
Kessel Run. A fast trail.
Kessel Run with one of its many banked turns.
Kessel Run with one of its many banked turns.
Frontside Trail. The long way to Joe's Ridge.
Frontside Trail. The long way to Joe’s Ridge.
Joe's Ridge. Justifiably one of the favorite trails in the area.
Joe’s Ridge. Justifiably one of the favorite trails in the area.
Traffic jam on Horsethief Bench.
Traffic jam on Horsethief Bench.
Collared lizard.
Collared lizard.

It’s been a long time since I have been able to get a photo of a collared lizard. Not that they are rare — they aren’t. It’s only that I haven’t had a good opportunity. Until this weekend when one lizard sat perfectly still and allowed me to take a couple of photographs.