2020 Apr. 2 ~ Venus and the Pleiades star cluster
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Photographed from mid-town Toronto, Canada, at 21.05 EDT (Venus altitude: 28.3° | Sun 14° below the horizon)
* Temperature 10° C.
* Total exposure time: 17.5 seconds
* 1253 mm focal length telescope
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Description:
Venus is always the most brilliant planet in the sky, and the third brightest celestial object (as seen from Earth) after the Sun and Moon.
The star cluster M45 (commonly known as the Pleiades or the "Seven Sisters") is the best known star cluster in the sky, and is easily visible to the unaided eye, even from light polluted cities (if the sky is very clear).
During this week, Venus approaches very close to M45, and the pair of objects can be seen high in the western sky after sunset, and even into complete darkness.
In this view, composed of 7 stacked identical exposures of 2.5 seconds each, brilliant Venus is at the right side, and the stars of the Pleiades are strewn across the frame to the left.
With long exposures from a good dark sky location, distinctive blue reflection nebulosity surrounds the Pleiades, as seen in this photograph from Sept. 2017:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/36660736734
For a version of this photo WITH LABELS showing star names and brightnesses, and the star pattern of the Pleiades, click on your screen to the RIGHT of the photo, or click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/49730260383
___________________________________________
Technical information:
Nikon Z7 camera body on Explore Scientific 152 mm (6") apochromatic refracting telescope, mounted on Sky-Watcher AZ-EQ6 SynScan mount.
Seven stacked subframes; each frame:
1253 mm focal length
ISO 800; 2.5 seconds exposure at f/8, unguided
(with LENR - long exposure noise reduction)
Subframes stacked in RegiStar;
Processed in Photoshop CS6
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2020 Apr. 2 ~ Venus and the Pleiades star cluster
***************************************************************************
Photographed from mid-town Toronto, Canada, at 21.05 EDT (Venus altitude: 28.3° | Sun 14° below the horizon)
* Temperature 10° C.
* Total exposure time: 17.5 seconds
* 1253 mm focal length telescope
___________________________________________
Description:
Venus is always the most brilliant planet in the sky, and the third brightest celestial object (as seen from Earth) after the Sun and Moon.
The star cluster M45 (commonly known as the Pleiades or the "Seven Sisters") is the best known star cluster in the sky, and is easily visible to the unaided eye, even from light polluted cities (if the sky is very clear).
During this week, Venus approaches very close to M45, and the pair of objects can be seen high in the western sky after sunset, and even into complete darkness.
In this view, composed of 7 stacked identical exposures of 2.5 seconds each, brilliant Venus is at the right side, and the stars of the Pleiades are strewn across the frame to the left.
With long exposures from a good dark sky location, distinctive blue reflection nebulosity surrounds the Pleiades, as seen in this photograph from Sept. 2017:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/36660736734
For a version of this photo WITH LABELS showing star names and brightnesses, and the star pattern of the Pleiades, click on your screen to the RIGHT of the photo, or click here:
www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/49730260383
___________________________________________
Technical information:
Nikon Z7 camera body on Explore Scientific 152 mm (6") apochromatic refracting telescope, mounted on Sky-Watcher AZ-EQ6 SynScan mount.
Seven stacked subframes; each frame:
1253 mm focal length
ISO 800; 2.5 seconds exposure at f/8, unguided
(with LENR - long exposure noise reduction)
Subframes stacked in RegiStar;
Processed in Photoshop CS6
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