Archive for February, 2012

Photographing the Evening Planets

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

Venus and Jupiter are lining up nicely in the evenings so it’s time to get those shutters clicking!

If you’ve been waiting for a chance to use that new digital camera you got last Christmas, now’s the time to start using it. Don’t have a new camera? Don’t worry, just use what you have!

I like this first photo because it’s shows a very wide field, has nice foreground interest and is an easy shot to make with just about any camera that has a high ISO setting. Which means if you have just a simple point and shoot digital camera, give it a whirl!
YOU CAN DO THIS!

Set your camera on a tripod if you have one to steady it and shoot.
If you don’t have a tripod, a car hood, pillow, bean bag, etc. will work. Or brace the camera against a light pole, beam, etc….you get the idea.

This second photo is cool too and another good example of a shot that is easy for anyone to do.
This one is not as deep and doesn’t show the fine details as the one above, but it’s a nice memento type photo of the planet arrangement in line with the telescope aimed at them.

Photos that tell stories instead of just simply showing off something is always my pick of the litter.

When I first started taking astrophotos, it was planet conjunctions that had me wasting the most film. (This was back in the late 80′s)

You can make your own little cosmic sky diary with shots in series that show the movement of the planets from night to night.

I’m writing all this because now is the time to practice! You don’t have to stay up too late to do this and the Moon joins the party this weekend. It doesn’t get much cooler than that!

Also, if you start now, you could have a nice time-lapse series by the time the really close encounter occurs mid-March.

Have fun and good luck!

Venus and Jupiter

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

It’s time to start watching Venus and Jupiter.

These two bright planets will be getting closer and closer to each other as the month of February ends.  By mid March the pair will be side by side and shine like twin beacons.

It’s a night-time drama you won’t want to miss!

the Dove wrapper says it all!

Saturday, February 11th, 2012

dove.jpg

Full Moon

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

 june-full-moon.jpg

Last night’s Full Snow Moon was a stunner!  It will still be nice tonight, so give it a go if you missed it last night.

Earth for your desktop

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

 o-high-definition-earth-picture-900.jpg

NASA released this updated image of Earth and I think it’s fantastic!

If you want it for your computer, just go to  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/25/blue-marble-2012-earth-image-nasa-photo_n_1232173.html?ref=mostpopular and download it.