Planets

Mars on the 27th October at 00:40 GMT. Captured using a ZWO ASI385MC attached to a Celestron SCT 9.25 using SharpCap. Subsequently processed using PIPP and AutoStakkert!2 followed by Affinity and Photoshop Elements. MJPorter

Comet Catalina again, this time from a friend’s house in deepest darkest Kent and under a beautiful clear night sky! Technical information - Comet Catalina C/2013 US10 imaged from East Sutton, Kent on 15th January 2016 at 23:36:36 GMT, Canon 60D, F6.3, exp. 30 secs. F/L 250mm, ISO 6400 driven (_MG0780). MJPorter

This image of Venus close to the Pleiades was taken 2007 and Venus was again close in April 2015

Venus, Jupiter, and Mars Conjunction 25th October 2015 - Zoomed in.

Venus, Jupiter and Mars Conjunction 25th October 2015

This image demonstrates that you do not necessarily need the most expensive or sophisticated equipment to take half decent images! This image of a crescent Venus was taken in May 2004 using a simple 3 megapixel compact camera, attached to an, admittedly, good quality telescope, which is still very much in use. I am now using either a Canon 60D DSLR or a DFK21AU04 imaging camera and achieving little better! Sometimes, as they say, less is good! Technical information - Venus imaged from Petts Wood Kent 23rd May 2004 20:15 GMT – Intes Maksutov MK67 + 25mm Eyepiece + Nikon 885 (DSCN1310) – MJPorter

Another simple image of the conjunction of the Moon showing the ‘old moon in the new moons arms’ and Venus together, this time, with Aldebaran taken using a DSLR (could have been taken by any digital camera with an ‘M’ setting) affixed to a photographic tripod – Technical information - The crescent Moon, Venus and Aldebaran imaged from Petts Wood Kent 21st April 2015 20:25 GMT – Canon 60D 106mm f/5.6 for 1 secs ISO 2500 – undriven_MG7881-MJPorter

A reasonable image of Saturn, which is surprising given the low altitude (it isn’t going to get much better from the UK for a few years yet!) together with some light mist and prevailing apple trees! The good news being, of course, that the rings are open and therefore nicely displayed. Technical details - Saturn imaged from Petts Wood Kent 5th June 2015 21:49 GMT – Intes MN78 (7” Mirror, focal length 56 inches) + 1.6x Barlow + DFK21AU04 imager (video0046) - Processed using Registax 6 from 1000 frames – MJPorter

After a number of attempts to get a reasonable image of Venus I managed the one above. Although I try to keep the image as close to the ‘original’ as possible even with its relatively high altitude there was atmospheric ‘chromatic aberration’ which I removed. I will keep trying to get images of the increasing crescent as Venus moves closer to the Earth. Technical detail - Venus imaged from Petts Wood Kent, 5th June 2015 21:09 GMT – Intes MK67 + 1.6x Barlow + DFK21AU04 imager (vide0033) - Processed using Registax 6 from 1000 frames – MJPorter

Venus and the Pleiades, imaged from Pagham Sussex 16th April 2015 00:01 GMT – Canon 60D 50mm f/1.8 for 10 secs ISO6400 – undriven _MG7703 – MJPorter

Just a simple image of the conjunction of the Moon and Venus taken using a DSLR (could have been taken by any digital camera with an ‘M’ setting) affixed to a photographic tripod – Technical information - The Newish Moon and Venus, imaged from Petts Wood Kent 24th April 2015 20:28 GMT – Canon 60D 22mm f/4 for 1.3 secs ISO 2500 – undriven_MG7894-MJPorter

The same image of Jupiter as of the 31st January 2015 as previous however, with further post-processing in order bring out the colours.

Jupiter was high in the sky and close to opposition. There was some very light mist slightly cloaking the image, probably caused by aircraft on their flight paths into Heathrow, however, although the evening was cold it was also steady. Technical detail - Jupiter imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 02:13:34UT on 31st January 2015 - Intes MN78 + 2x Barlow +DFK21AU04 imager (Jupitervideo0014)

Comet Lovejoy, C/2014 Q2 Imaged at East Sutton, Kent – 10th January 2015 22:44GMT TMB-92mm Refractor F5.5 + Field Flattener + Canon 60D – 6 secs. Exposure ISO 12800 Driven MJPorter

Mars is now clearly visible and distinctly red despite the hazy cloud that seems to hinder observing! Whilst Mars will not reached the dizzy altitude that Jupiter has reached this year it will reach a reasonable height above the horizon and will continue to brighten until opposition which will be around the middle of April when it will subtend an angle of around 15 arc seconds. I was pleased to get this image of Mars and hope for better in April. Details - imaged at Petts Wood, Kent at 02.01UT on 17th March 2014 using a Skyliner 300P (f/5) FlexTube AUTO + 2x Barlow +DFK21AU04 imager – MJPorter

Mars Imaged from Petts Wood – 25th March 2014 23:09GMT – Skyliner 300P FlexTube Auto + 2x Barlow +DFK21AU04 imager (marsvideo0015) - MJPorter

Mars Imaged from Petts Wood, Kent – 16th May 2014 22:19GMT – Astro Physics Starfire 130 f/8 + 3x Powermate +DFK21AU04 imager (marsvideo0023) - MJPorter

I recently returned to one of my favourite imaging telescopes – My Maksutov Newtonian MN78 but I found that the cover that is supposed to provide protection up a Chilean mountain didn’t, which required the RA motor drive to be opened up, partially disassembled, dried and cleaned internally before the ‘scope itself was collimated. Despite the continued high vaporous cloud level this reasonable image of Jupiter was obtained. Technical details - Jupiter imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 00:48UT on 2nd March 2014 Maksutov Newtonian MN78 + 1.6x Barlow +DFK21AU04 imager – MJPorter

Again there was some high misty cloud, however, not as bad as previously. What is obvious is that the name ‘FlexTube’ is apposite in that this scope needs to be collimated each time it is set up – which, fortunately, is achieved pretty quickly with a laser collimator. The visual image was reasonable but Registax 5 managed to pull and stack enough frames to provide reasonable success. Technical detail - Jupiter imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 23:05UT on 25th March 2014 with a Skyliner 300P FlexTube, AUTO (effective telescope focal length 2400mm or approx. 96 inches) +DFK21AU04 imager – MJPorter

Not my best image of Jupiter, however, the blue festoons are clearly visible near the equator, probably still a tribute to the optical quality of the Intes MN78 which is comparable to that of my AstroPhysics 130. The advantage of the Maksutov Newtonian is there is almost double the light grasp with only a very small optical obstruction. The disadvantage is that on good night i.e. when the object of interest is high in the sky, your head can be around 3 metres from the ground! Technical Details: - Jupiter imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 20:20 GMT on 19th March 2013, Intes MN78 +2x Barlow +DFK21AU04 Imager, post processed using Registax 5. MJPorter

Given Saturn’s relatively low position in the sky for northern observers (where it will remain for some years yet), the fact that it is currently crosses the meridian around 03:30 AND the continuing thin high cloud/mist cover, I was pleased to get this image of Saturn. Details – imaged at Petts Wood, Kent at 03:55UT on 17th March 2014 using a Skyliner 300P FlexTube AUTO + 2x Barlow +DFK21AU04 imager – MJPorter

Jupiter imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 23:39UT on 2nd November 2012 using my Skyliner 300P FlexTube AUTO (12 inch Newtonian, Focal length 60 inches) + 2x Barlow + my DFK21AU04 imager connected to a laptop and producing approximately 250 frames which were then processed using Registax 5 and Photoshop Elements. All the main Jovian bands can be clearly seen as well as the Galilean Satellite Io – MJPorter

Jupiter imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 23:31UT on 27h November 2011 using my new Skywatcher Skyliner 300P FlexTube AUTO together with a Celestron NextImage for around 580 frames and processed using Registax 5 with minimal post-processing. Using this telescope, I had previously viewed the best visual image of Jupiter ever and now, in terms of detail, this stacked image is probably just about the best I have managed thus far– MJPorter

Mars close to opposition (favourable in terms of altitude but relatively distant at around 60 million miles resulting in an apparent diameter of approx. 13.8arcsecs) imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 02:09:00UT on 18th January 2010 using an Orion SkyMax 180 (f/l 2700mm) coupled with a NexImage webcam@F22.5 operating at 15 frames/sec for 40 secs. The post processing of the 600 or so frames was done principally with the excellent Registax 4 and the resultant image clearly shows the Northern Ice Cap and dark features to the south - MJPorter

This image of Jupiter does not do justice to the fine optics of Rob Miller's Newtonian. However, this is this fast 'scopes first time out imaging Jupiter and its real test will come when I get a suitable field flatterner and try it on the stars, certainly the visual images of such are pretty good! Technical details:- Jupiter imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 22:31UT on 23rd January 2014 - MJPorter

Jupiter imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 23:31UT on 27h November 2011 using my new Skywatcher Skyliner 300P FlexTube AUTO together with a Celestron NextImage for around 580 frames and processed using Registax 5 with minimal post-processing. Using this telescope, I had previously viewed the best visual image of Jupiter ever and now, in terms of detail, this stacked image is probably just about the best I have managed thus far– MJPorter

Saturn imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 23:11UT on 22nd May 2010 (unfortunately a somewhat misty night) using an Orion SkyMax 180 (f/l 2700mm) coupled with an Orion Planetary imager@F22.5 for 242 frames. The post processing was done with the Registax 4 and the resultant image clearly shows the effect of the Earth passing close through Saturn’s ring plane with a resultant ring tilt of 1.7 degrees – a phenomenon that will not happen again for some 15 years- MJPorter

Venus imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 20:00 GMT on 1st March 2012 using my Skywatcher Skyliner 300P FlexTube AUTO (Newtonian 12 inch F/5) together with my Canon 60D (exposure 1/100 second, ISO 800) connected afocal to a zoom eyepiece set at 8mm and processed using Photoshop Elements to remove the atmospheric chromatic aberrations - MJPorter

Saturn as imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 22:45:15UT on the 13th April 2009 using a Maksutov Cassegrain Orion SkyMax 180 linked to a NexImage webcam operating at F22.5 @ 30 frames/sec for 20 secs. Although we are slowly moving into line with Saturn’s ring plane, the ring plane has opened again slightly to about 3 degrees but will again close again towards the minimum angle in September - MJPorter

Venus, as imaged from Petts Wood, Kent and showing a slender crescent as the brightest planet started her dash towards the Sun. Some shading along the terminator was visible and the cusps clearly came to sharp points. The image was taken at 19:59:20 on the 14th March 2009 using the Orion SkyMax 180 (f/l 2700mm) with an 8-24mm zoom eyepiece connected to a Nikon 4300 operating at F4.1, ISO100, shutter speed 1/15sec. and with minimal post processing - MJPorter

Venus from Petts Wood, Kent-31stMarch2007-19:13:34UT – Intes MN78 +10mm eyepiece + Sony DSCH1, F3.5, ISO 64, exp. 1/13 secs – MJPorter

Nothing clever here but designed to show that with a simple configuration and approach information can be recorded. Jupiter and satellites imaged from Pagham, Sussex on the 24thAugust2008 at 22:59:09. Williams 80mm Refractor + 8mm eyepiece + Nixon 5400 at F4.6 - 0.5secs - ISO200 - MJPorter

Venus approaching the Beehive, imaged from Petts Wood, Kent 6th September 2012 – 04:01 GMT. In case the weather deteriorated as Venus approached her closest to the Beehive I decided to get in early given that it was a reasonably clear night and the moon was some way away. The camera was mounted on a photographic tripod and therefore unguided. Given Canon’s good noise levels at high ISOs I decided to run with 3200 and the result seems pleasant to me. Technical Details - Canon 60D + Astronomik EOS/CLS filter + 17-70 Zoom at F4, exp. 10 seconds at ISO 3200 – unguided - MJPorter

Saturn as seen from Petts Wood, Kent and imaged at 02:15:06 UT on the 11th February 2008 using an Intes MN78 with a 3x Barlow lens in front of a Philips ToUcam giving, effectively, a focal length of approximately 168 inches. The resultant 600 frames were reduced to the best 90 or so, optimized and stacked using Registax – The resultant image is better than the visual image seen at the eyepiece but not significantly - (2008-02-11-d-MJP-Sat080211d).- MJPorter

Jupiter, plus two satellites, imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 18:32UT on 21st January 2011 using an Intes MN78 (f/l 1400mm) coupled with an Orion Planetary imager. The post processing was done with Registax 5.1. Unfortunately, once again, the Orion imager had included black lines on many individual frames and I had to go through each frame and remove those frames that contained the interfering lines. As Jupiter is beginning to descend into the West the resultant image is not that well defined, however, the North Equatorial band is clear with the Southern Equatorial Band apparently showing signs of reforming – Technical Information - Jupiter, plus two satellites, imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 18:32UT on 21st January 2011 using an Intes MN78 (f/l 1400mm) coupled with an Orion Planetary imager@F13 for approx. 600 frames - MJPorter

Jupiter plus three satellites as imaged on the 27th October 2010 at 20:17UT from Petts Wood, Kent but minus its Southern Equatorial Belt (SEB) which had disappeared from view earlier in May of 2010 - or as NASA put it ‘Lost: A giant belt of brown clouds big enough to swallow Earth twenty times over. If found, please return to Jupiter’. However, this belt started to reappear towards the end of November 2010. Technical Information: - Jupiter + three satellites imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 20:17UT on 27th October 2010 Orion SkyMax 180+Orion Planetary Imager@15 frames/second for approx. 750 frames – MJPorter

Mars imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 02:12 GMT on 25th March 2012 using my INTES MN78. The Northern Ice cap is clearly visible, together with, what I believe, is the dark Mare Acidalium close to the north eastern limb and Mare Erythraeum to the southeast. In addition, what is probably the whitish Elysium is just visible close to the Martian equator approximately midway from the central point of Mars to the western limb. Technical Information - Mars imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 02:12 on 25th March 2012 MN78 + 3xzoom + DFK21AU04 imager – MJPorter

Venus approaching the Beehive, imaged from Petts Wood, Kent 6th September 2012 – 04:01 GMT. In case the weather deteriorated as Venus approached her closest to the Beehive I decided to get in early given that it was a reasonably clear night and the moon was some way away. The camera was mounted on a photographic tripod and therefore unguided. Given Canon’s good noise levels at high ISOs I decided to run with 3200 and the result seems pleasant to me. Technical Details - Canon 60D + Astronomik EOS/CLS filter + 17-70 Zoom at F4, exp. 10 seconds at ISO 3200 – unguided - MJPorter

Jupiter imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 23:26:27UT on 19th August 2009 using an Orion SkyMax 180 (f/l 2700mm) coupled with a NexImage webcam@F15 operating at 15 frames/sec for 40 secs. The post processing of the 600 or so frames was done principally with the excellent Registax 4 and the resultant image clearly shows Ganymede and its shadow transiting Jupiter as well as the ‘Red’ spot. Technical Information - Jupiter and Ganymede plus shadow imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 23:26:27UT on 19th August 2009 Orion SkyMax 180+NexImage webcam@F15 @15 frames/secs for 40 secs – MJPorter

Mars as seen from Petts Wood, Kent and imaged 01:52:06 UT on the 8th January 2008 using an Intes MN78 with a 3x Barlow lens in front of a Philips ToUcam giving, effectively, a focal length of 168 inches. The resultant 600 frames were reduced to approx 150, optimized and stacked using Registax again giving a clearer result than the relatively poor visual image seen at the eyepiece-(BAA - 2008-01-08-G-MJP-mars080108g). Technical Information – 2008-01-08-G-MJP- Mars imaged@01:52:06UT-8thJan2008-PettsWood,Kent-MN78-3xBarlow+ToUcam+Registax-MJPorter (mars080108g)

Venus, as imaged from Petts Wood, Kent, and similar to the view as seen through a moderately sized, quality telescope. Venus was fairly low down and showing some colouration due to atmospheric chromatic aberration as well as showing some shading along the terminator despite some earth bound high level atmospheric mist. Image taken at 19:12:30 on 3rd January 2009 using a 6 inch INTES MK67 (f/l 1440mm) with a zoom eyepiece set at 24mm connected to a Nikon 4500 operating at F3.0, ISO100, shutter speed 1/60sec. and with very little post processing. Technical Information - Venus, as imaged from Petts Wood, Kent. Time 19:12:30 on 3rd January 2009-6 inch INTES MK67+eyepiece set at 24mm+Nikon 4500 at F3.0, ISO100 @ 1/60sec-MJPorter

Uranus showing a greenish hue as seen from Petts Wood, Kent on the 24th January 2009 at 1900UT. Once again a simple set up was used consisting of Nikon 4300 connected to a 24-8mm zoom inserted into an Intes MK67 with minimal subsequent image adjustment. Uranus at a distance of approximately 1.9 billion miles from Earth and magnitude 5.9 was relatively easy to locate due to the fact that it was close by Venus shining brightly at magnitude -4.6 and elevated at about 30 degrees. Details as follows, Intes MK67 (6” diameter, F/L 1800mm) + Eyepiece 24-8mm zoom + Nikon 4300 set at F2.8, ISO100 for 2 secs; the only issue here was that no image could be seen on the screen due to the age of the camera and faintness of the stars and once the camera was connected, I was, effectively imaging ‘blind’ – the solution was, as ever, take lots of exposures! Next time I might try to stack a few!

Mars, the God of War, as seen from Petts Wood, Kent and imaged at 00:46:08 UT on the 8th December 2007 using an Intes MN78 with a 3x Barlow lens in front of a Philips ToUcam effectively giving a focal length of 148 inches. The resultant 500 frames were optimized and stacked using Registax giving a far better result than the relatively poor visual image seen at the eyepiece. Technical Information - Mars imaged@00:46:08-8thDec2007-PettsWood,Kent-MN78-3xBarlow+ToUcam+Registax-MJPorter

Mars clearly showing a number of markings including an icy pole imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 23:50UT on 4th March 2010. Technical Information - Orion SkyMax 180+Orion Planetary Imager@F22.5 for 780 frames – MJPorter

Venus some 59 minutes after reappearing from behind the Moon and lots of cloud as seen from Petts Wood, Kent on the 18th June 2007 at approx. 16:20UT. The image was taken using a Williams Refractor and a Nikon885 coupled to a 32mm eyepiece, zoomed at f9.2, ISO100, for 1/347secs. Venus’s reappearance from behind the Moon was observed and recorded visually.

Venus some 59 minutes after reappearing from behind the Moon and lots of cloud as seen from Petts Wood, Kent on the 18th June 2007 at approx. 16:20UT. The image was taken using a Williams Refractor and a Nikon885 coupled to a 32mm eyepiece, zoomed at f9.2, ISO100, for 1/347secs. Venus’s reappearance from behind the Moon was observed and recorded visually.

Reconstructed from a drawing of Venus and an image of the Moon showing 3rd contact as seen from Petts Wood, Kent at 15:21:45 on the 18th June 2007 using a Williams 80mm refractor, 8-24mm zoom eyepiece and diagonal-MJPorter

Mars as seen from Petts Wood, Kent and imaged at 23:16:22UT on the 26th February 2008 using an Intes MN78 with a 3x Barlow lens in front of a Philips ToUcam giving, effectively, a focal length of 168 inches. The resultant 600 or so frames were reduced to around 90, optimized and stacked using Registax 4, again, giving a reasonably clear gibbous image despite Mars fading, once again, into the distance. (2008-02-26-E-MJP-mars080226eg).

Saturn with her rings clearly showing Cassini’s Division together with a belt across the main body of Saturn. Imaged from Petts Wood, Kent using an Intes MN78 plus a Philips ToUcan + 2x Barlow on the 9th April 2007 at 01:08GMT. The video frames were stacked using Registax- MJPorter

Saturn 11 minutes after reappearing from behind the Moon as seen from PettsWood, Kent on the 22nd May 2007 at 20:29:15. The image was taken using an Intes78MN telescope with a Nikon885 coupled to a 32mm eyepiece, zoomed at f4.8, ISO400, for 1/30secs. Saturn's reappearance from behind the Moon was observed visually but the camera decided to fail at that moment!

17p Holmes was easily visible despite a gibbous moon. It appeared slightly brighter than delta Persei at around magnitude 2.7/2.8 and almost 'jelly fish' like in appearance. The centre core was brighter than the surrounding area with a concentric, slightly darker, ring surrounding the centre core together with a star like small area just off-centre. Comet 17P/Holmes was imaged at 21:31:15 on the 29thOctober2007 - Petts Wood, Kent using a Williams Megrez 80mm APO refractor. Undriven + 32mm eyepiece + skyglow filter + Nikon4300@f2.8@ ISO400 for 2 secs-MJPorter

Venus, as imaged from Petts Wood, Kent and showing a slender crescent as the brightest planet started her dash towards the Sun. Some shading along the terminator was visible and the cusps clearly came to sharp points. The image was taken at 19:59:20 on the 14th March 2009 using the Orion SkyMax 180 (f/l 2700mm) with an 8-24mm zoom eyepiece connected to a Nikon 4300 operating at F4.1, ISO100, shutter speed 1/15sec. and with minimal post processing.

Saturn as imaged from Petts Wood, Kent at 22:45:15UT on the 13th April 2009 using a Maksutov Cassegrain Orion SkyMax 180 linked to a NexImage webcam operating at F22.5 @ 30 frames/sec for 20 secs. Although we are slowly moving into line with Saturn’s ring plane, the ring plane has opened again slightly to about 3 degrees but will again close again towards the minimum angle in September.