I’d Swiss for a big loaf of bread. Boy, that was a cheesy post.
I’d Swiss for a big loaf of bread.
Boy, that was a cheesy post.
Other people’s toys
I love playing with other people’s toys. These are short exposure, single stack images taken with a older Mallincam Universe camera. No processing. Next step is learning how to stack and edit. Hopefully, I’ll have something better to post in the future.
I love playing with other people’s toys. These are short exposure, single stack images taken with a older Mallincam Universe camera. No processing.
Next step is learning how to stack and edit. Hopefully, I’ll have something better to post in the future.
The Trident of Neptune is the Scepter of the World
I’ve searched for Neptune many times and thought I’ve seen it a few of those times, but I was never sure I had the right target. In late October, it was just within a Telrad target of he Moon, and I had my chance! I was able to confirm the position by stars near it […]
I’ve searched for Neptune many times and thought I’ve seen it a few of those times, but I was never sure I had the right target. In late October, it was just within a Telrad target of he Moon, and I had my chance! I was able to confirm the position by stars near it and see, what I knew to be Neptune! (Do I sound a little excited?) Not only was I able to see it, but I even had a happy accident and was able to image it.
This image was taken on my handheld point and shoot Canon G16 camera at the eyepiece. I love how you can see the spherical shape and the brilliant blue color.
If you don’t know anything about Neptune, then you probably aren’t impressed. So, let me tell you a little about Neptune. This little guy is actually a very big guy. He is about 17 times the mass of the earth, and the 4th largest planet in our solar system. Neptune is the furthest planet from the sun and it orbits the sun every 164.8 years. That means that since it’s discovery in 1846, it’s JUST completed a cycle around the sun. Neptune is about 2.8 billion miles away from the sun.
Neptune’s atmosphere is made up of hydrogen, helium with traces of hydrocarbons and possibly nitrogen, but it contains a higher proportion of “ices” such as water, ammonia, and methane. He gets his beautiful blue color from the methane in the upper atmosphere absorbing the red light from the sun and reflecting the blue light back into space, making it appear blue.
Neptune is a really cool planet. I encourage you to read up on him soon, or better yet, go find him in the sky.
Don’t tell me the Sky’s the Limit, when there are Footsteps on the Moon
Two days of ISS passover’s
Two different images, two different nights same space station.
Two different images, two different nights same space station.
It’s unusual…but is it bad?
I’m going to try my hand at some different astrophotography techniques. I normally do very little editing to my images, if any, so now I’m going to see what I can come up with in Affinity. (Editing software for a Mac) This was my first attempt. Totally unnatural coloring, lights blown out a bit, but […]
I’m going to try my hand at some different astrophotography techniques. I normally do very little editing to my images, if any, so now I’m going to see what I can come up with in Affinity. (Editing software for a Mac) This was my first attempt. Totally unnatural coloring, lights blown out a bit, but I think I like it. I also want to try layering for some fun effects. Ok, yeah, as soon as I figure layering out. Luckily there are lots of tutorials on YouTube.
Sooo, what do you think?
Totality!
There’s just nothing to say about this. It was fantastic!
There’s just nothing to say about this. It was fantastic!
Harvest Moon
A Harvest Moon is the moon nearest to the beginning of the fall equinox. It was given this name because the extra evening light it provided would allow farmers to see later into the evening to finish their Harvest. i tried shooting this in raw and stacking and the result was awful. Appearently, my skills […]
A Harvest Moon is the moon nearest to the beginning of the fall equinox. It was given this name because the extra evening light it provided would allow farmers to see later into the evening to finish their Harvest.
i tried shooting this in raw and stacking and the result was awful. Appearently, my skills are lacking. I went back to the he eyepiece and did it old school and came up with a better version.
The Plato Crater was very prominent as well. Such a beautiful crater.
Portrait – Painting with Light
I love this image. It’s so rare that you actually get to see yourself doing what you love, when what you love is sitting in the dark. It was taken by Micheal D. Reynolds at Southern Star. It’s a long exposure image that was briefly painted with red light.
I love this image. It’s so rare that you actually get to see yourself doing what you love, when what you love is sitting in the dark. It was taken by Micheal D. Reynolds at Southern Star. It’s a long exposure image that was briefly painted with red light.
Totality or Bust
August 21, 2017 Some people have panic attacks over bills, work or their family. Not me, I have panic attacks over totality. Stargazers, such as myself, spend years thinking about an eclipse they might get to see. For this particular eclipse. For nearly 10 years, I waited anxiously for that 2 minute 45 second stretch […]
August 21, 2017
Some people have panic attacks over bills, work or their family. Not me, I have panic attacks over totality. Stargazers, such as myself, spend years thinking about an eclipse they might get to see. For this particular eclipse. For nearly 10 years, I waited anxiously for that 2 minute 45 second stretch of glorious darkness. The Great American Ecliose of 2017. An eclipse spanning the entire length of the continental United States and watched by millions of people.
So many variables to worry about when viewing an eclipse. Will I be in a good location? Will there be clouds? Will their be traffic? Will there be coffee and a bathroom? These don’t even begin to touch on the more difficult factors to worry about, like will I get a good picture, how do I want to image it, do I have equipment to image and of course, will I get to enjoy totality.
After nearly 2 weeks of heart palpitations, horrible sleep, wrecked nerves and the last of my Xanax, I decided, I’ll get what I get and I’ll spend my time enjoying the beautiful show. I just won’t worry about pictures. Millions of people will get images, a few thousand will get decent ones and a few will get some really nice ones. My images won’t matter, but my experience will.
I’ve seen a couple of partial eclipses, and even SLEPT thru one annular eclipse, but I’ve never experienced Totality. Heck, less than 10 years ago, I didn’t even realize that it actually got dark during Totality. So, you see, I had to make sure I experienced Totality..
I planned, i ordered my glasses early, I practiced imaging, I packed up the family and we headed west to Tennessee.
Turns out, not only did I get to enjoy Totality, but I also got pictures!