Comets
<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="13ea11c3.png"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://members.lycos.co.uk/peterjgarbett" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.lycos.co.uk/peterjgarbett"><B><IMG SRC="14f64510.png" border=0 width="100" height="81" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.lycos.co.uk/peterjgarbett" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.lycos.co.uk/peterjgarbett"><B>Home...</B></A></div> <bR> <div> Although Venus is the brightest planet, its exceptionally dense atmosphere obscures surface features entirely. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC00" FACE="Arial" >Venus' upper atmosphere rotates once about the planet in just 4 days and so the change is considerable from one day to the next. This only shows itself clearly when imaged using a U.V. transmitting filter, otherwise the image is generally very bland.</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Venus</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="19658020.png" border=0 width="600" height="2" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Venus in 2007</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1c088400.jpg" border=0 width="648" height="320" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">5.10.07</div> <bR> <div> Left: R filtered image; 05:31 UT; C14 @ F28; SKYnyx 2-0M camera</div> <div> Right: Schuler UV filter; 05:45 UT; C14 @ F28; SKYnyx 2-0M camera</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1bed58d0.jpg" border=0 width="469" height="397" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">4.8.07</div> <div> Centred on 16:08 UT. 30cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F25; Lu075M CCD stack of 2649 </div> <div> exposures; Trutech R filter; Baader UV/IR blocker; phase = 6.4%; ang. diam. = 53.0"; </div> <div> seeing = calmer spells amongst much turbulence on very warm afternoon.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1bf95730.jpg" border=0 width="405" height="371" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">18.7.07</div> <bR> <div> Centred on 19:11 UT. 20cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F40; Lu075M CCD stack of 2453 x 4ms </div> <div> exposures; Trutech R filter; phase = 21%; angular diameter = 41.2"; altitude = 19 deg.;</div> <div> seeing = turbulent.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1979a990.jpg" border=0 width="154" height="153" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">12.6.07</div> <bR> <div> 20cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F25; Lu075M CCD; phase = 47.6%; angular diameter = 24.6".</div> <div> Schuler U.V. filter.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1980bec0.jpg" border=0 width="267" height="236" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="199f8010.jpg" border=0 width="248" height="257" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <bR> <div> 10.6.07</div> <bR> <div> Phase = 48.8%; angular diameter = 24.0".</div> <div> Left: 30cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F25; Lu075M CCD stack of 6380 0.05s exposures; Schuler U.V. filter.</div> <div> Right: 30cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F40 stack of 1758 0.05s exposures; Trutech R filter. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1bbccbf0.jpg" border=0 width="204" height="191" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1bae7d50.jpg" border=0 width="231" height="213" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">9.6.07</div> <bR> <div> Phase = 49.3%; angular diameter = 23.7".</div> <div> 30cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F25; Lu075M CCD stack of 5000 images; Schuler U.V. filter.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1bd0ce70.jpg" border=0 width="268" height="231" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">4.6.07</div> <bR> <div> 20cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F40; Lu075M CCD stack of 8736 exposures; </div> <div> Schuler U.V. filter; phase = 52.1%; angular diameter = 22.4".</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="19defdd0.jpg" border=0 width="239" height="221" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="19ee1ce0.jpg" border=0 width="225" height="206" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="19fd2c60.jpg" border=0 width="210" height="198" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 4.6.07 </div> <bR> <div> 20cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F40; Lu075M CCD; Trutech R filter</div> <div> Left: 950 stack. Middle: 6140 stack. Right: 6140 stack deliberately over-processed to make rare cloud</div> <div> details more apparent.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1b502f10.jpg" border=0 width="258" height="241" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> 2.6.07</div> <bR> <div> 49cm Newtonian Reflector @ F18.6; Lu075M CCD 1600 image stack; Schuler U.V. filter.</div> <div> Phase = 53.2%; angular diameter = 22.0".</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1b7e6d30.jpg" border=0 width="230" height="211" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">1.6.07</div> <bR> <div> 49cm Newtonian Reflector @ F18.6; Lu075M CCD 1976 image stack; Schuler U.V. filter.</div> <div> Phase = 53.7%; angular diameter = 21.7".</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1a2bfba0.jpg" border=0 width="191" height="186" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1a3c5c70.jpg" border=0 width="197" height="199" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> 24.5.07</div> <bR> <div> 20cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F40; Lu075M CCD; phase = 57.8%; angular diameter = 20.0".</div> <bR> <div> Left: stack of 1182 exposures; Trutech R filter</div> <div> Right: stack of 4800 exposures; Schuler U.V. filter</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1b9bb490.jpg" border=0 width="443" height="585" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >3.5.07 </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >18:47 - 19:03 U.T.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> 30cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F40; Lu075M CCD stack of 2328 0.13s exposures; Schuler U.V. filter.</div> <div> Altitude = 38 deg.; phase = 67.2%; angular diameter = 16.75".</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1bca18e0.jpg" border=0 width="161" height="142" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" > </FONT>3.5.07</div> <bR> <div> 30cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F25; Lu075M CCD stack of 7541 0.06s exposures; Schuler U.V. filter.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1a6850a0.jpg" border=0 width="389" height="266" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">2.5.07</div> <bR> <div> Left: Venus through R filter plus IR/UV blocker: stack of 639 images, 0.02s exp.</div> <div> Right: Venus through Schuler U.V. filter: stack of 5208 images, 0.13s exposures.</div> <div> 30cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F40; Lu075M CCD</div> <div> Altitude = 33 deg.; phase = 67.6%; angular diameter = 16.63".</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1a7bfb90.jpg" border=0 width="191" height="185" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">30.4.07</div> <bR> <div> Phase = 68.4%; angular diameter = 16.4".</div> <div> 30cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F25; Lu075M CCD stack of 9081 0.06s exposures; Schuler U.V. filter.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1a89d8e0.jpg" border=0 width="157" height="142" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >19.4.07</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Phase = 72.6%; angular diameter = 15.2".</div> <div> 20cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F25; Lu075M CCD stack of 8872 exposures; Schuler U.V. filter.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1a9b4a40.jpg" border=0 width="180" height="164" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >18.4.07</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Phase = 72.9%; angular diameter = 15.1".</div> <div> 20cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F25; Lu075M CCD; Schuler U.V. filter.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1aa01d20.jpg" border=0 width="257" height="210" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">10.4.07</div> <div> Phase = 75.7%; angular diameter = 14.4".</div> <div> Baader U filter; 20cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F25; Lu075M CCD</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1abdebb0.jpg" border=0 width="222" height="187" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> 9.4.07</div> <bR> <div> Phase = 76.0%; angular diameter = 14.3".</div> <div> Baader U filter; 20cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F25; Lu075M CCD</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1ace5c30.jpg" border=0 width="229" height="195" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> 6.4.07</div> <div> Phase = 77.0%; angular diameter = 14.1".</div> <div> Baader UV/IR blocker; 20cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F25; Lu075M CCD</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Mercury and Venus in close conjunction</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="1ad16260.jpg" border=0 width="278" height="550" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </B></div> <div> 27.6.05 18:34 UT</div> <div> This close conjunction of Mercury and Venus </div> <div> placed both planets easily within the same</div> <div> high power field of view in my 20cm Meade!</div> <div> A tricky picture to capture! The seeing was poor and</div> <div> it was taken in broad daylight with the Sun shining.</div> <div> The planets were only 4.3' apart. Mercury's tiny disk</div> <div> was only 6.5" in diameter (phase 63%) and Venus 10.8"</div> <div> (phase 92%). Mercury was 3.6 magnitudes fainter than</div> <div> Venus which made simultaneously imaging both without</div> <div> saturatinf the Venus image rather difficult! The image is </div> <div> a stack of 14 x 0.05s exposures taken with an SXV-H9</div> <div> CCD on my 20cm Meade LX200 SCT @ F25. I used an</div> <div> IR blocker and Baader Solar Continuum filter.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Venus makes its first transit across the face of the Sun since December 1882...</div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="1aef4c30.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="451" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> Transit of Venus 8.6.04 in H-alpha light 05:39 UTC </div> <div> SXV-H9 CCD 8 x 0.003s expsoures with Coronado SM-40 filter on Orion 90mm f=500mm refractor</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1af908d0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="397" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <div> A stack of 6 x 0.002s exposures taken with SXV-H9 CCD using Solar Max 40 H-Alpha Filter on Orion 90 refractor.</div> <bR> <div> In the days before the transit, images of Venus were obtained in brilliant sunshine using </div> <div> a Philips ToUcam web cam on my 30cm Meade LX200 using a Tele Vue 2.5x </div> <div> Powermate:</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1b027130.jpg" border=0 width="295" height="275" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="1b127130.jpg" border=0 width="295" height="275" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <div> <B> </B> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Times New Roman" >30.5.04 3.5.04</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1b2588f0.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="399" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Times New Roman" >2.4.04</FONT></div> <div> Venus in close conjunction with M45 'The Pleiades' open star cluster. Elitechrome 200 film; </div> <div> OM2N SLR with 50mm lens.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1b39d590.jpg" border=0 width="413" height="345" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Drawings of Venus made (mainly with 0.5m Newtonian) on:</div> <div> 3/2/96; 10/3/96; 1/4/96; 13/4/96; 28/4/96; 20/5/96; 2/6/96.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>