And now for something completely different...
Go on, click it, you know you want to!
Orion, snapped on 06/01/2010 @ 21:30 from my back garden - a single 10s NEF exposure @ ISO200, Nikon D50 with 35mm prime @ f/1.8, no filters, fixed tripod and none of the fancy astrogear that's currently out-of-bounds in the iced-over obsy.
Processed with PSCS3 and Noel's Actions, saved as a PNG.
Conditions: average-to-poor seeing, -8C, gentle breeze, low haze with significant light-pollution.
Suffice to say that other than getting some still-to-be-processed pics of Gemini, I didn't do much other observing as it was too damned cold to stay outside.
THE SMALL(ish) PRINT... (updated 23/07/2016)
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Free Speech: you may well have the right to it, but you've no right to compel me to a) listen to it, or b) publish it!
No' bad.
😉
However, I think I saw a meteor last night.
I opened the the back door at about 9pm to let the dugs out, and there was for all the world what looked like the tail end of a rocket type-firework passing overhead from eastish to westish which petered out a bit as it disappeared into the distance- but get this. It couldn't have been a firework, because it didny make any noise!
Conclusive proof of an astronomical phenomenon, as I'm sure you'll agree. 😎
A man of your professional persuasion should know the hazards involved in speculation and circumstantial evidence, Scott. Mind you, your "astronomical phenomenon" terminology covers it (and pretty much everything like it) quite well, so I'll take your word for it.
You'll understand that my previous comment has used up my quota of big words for this month 🙁
Beautiful image! Something I aspire too and will one day maybe attempt!
You'll get crap results if you attempt it one day, Alistair 🙄
Why not give it a shot tonight if it's clear? The lack of light-pollution up there should allow you to get much better results.
ROTFL! I only have a small digital camera that's no use at night
Small digital cameras are great - just take the longest exposure that you can and butcher it with levels and curves in Photoshop or similar. If in doubt, I'll do a walk-through for you if you want, or I can process it for you.
I just found out how to set the long exposure on the camera:
http://answers.yahoo.com/quest.....008AAcNp2j
so I'll give it a bash - Orion is stunning just now with Sirius and Arcturus and the Pleiades. Did you know the Gaelic for the Pleiades is the same word as the sparkling you get from quartz slivers in a mountain burn?
Tell me more! Tips on how to pronounce it would be appreciated too 😉
@Alistair -
Re. your camera: I just found this - http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK - it might be handy if you want to experiment e.g. shoot in RAW.
Thanks for the link! I've just snapped Orion, now working on it. The Pleiades in Gaelic is:
Na Grioglachan (na greek-lachan, ch as in loch)
[...] by Stef’s picture of Orion and prodded by him to get out and do something, I headed out into the frozen night to [...]
Cheers, Alistair. I've just seen your pics - great results 😎