Star gazing

Can't see the pic, Gail

I'm never in a hurry when it comes to observing the skies, Gail, as no matter what constellation is in the skies at the time it always fills me with awe. Hopefully, I will be able to see Venus at night in May, Mars in the evening in August, Jupiter in July, Saturn in August. Neptune and Uranus are too small for imaging so I will view them in October and November.

 

I'll look in April onwards, Gail, when Leo first appears. I just hope you won't be disappointed.

 

Well, after struggling to upload the images from the previous night I managed the task. That particular night the atmosphere was clear but full of moisture which didn't help to get the clear images that all Star Gazers want The prime purpose was to find out more what the new camera can do, even in adverse conditions, and squeeze some more details out of the Orion Nebular.

This is an image of the Orion Nebebula taking when I first tried out the camera months ago,


and this is one taken on the 19th of this month.

So you can see more of the Nebula cloud including around the Star on the upper right. It's still not a brilliant image which is just a single exposure instead of maybe 50 or more blended [stacked] together, which takes time, as I couldn't trust the skies not cloud up. In the first image, if you look carefully, you can see about 4 Stars in the center of the major cloud but not in the 2nd image. So the aim is to show as much detail, while showing the inner Stars properly, which is not easy to do.....but I'll get there.

 

As I said the night skies on the 19th January were clear but full of moisture so instead of the Stars looking more like this...



The moisture in the air made them look like this.




And again

 

I'm glad you seeing the Orion Nebula as an image you like, Gail.

You're right about it being an "explosion" as that cloud of dust and gas was probably made by a Star going Supernova. The skies cleared without warning last night and I managed to get some more images of the Nebula and the Moon while experimenting with the settings of the new camera and I'm working on those images at the moment. I was hoping that we would get clear skies tonight but it has clouded over so I don't think I have a chance even though the Observatory is all powered up and ready for use.

 

Nothing humble about a Bridge Camera, Bilbo, the best camera you can have is the one you have got!! Those are great handheld shots, and it''s nice to see someone who knows his way around the skies.


The Orion Nebula can be seen in your images in the three vertically lined Stars below the actual Belt, it being the middle, red, "Star". I tip my hat to you, my friend.!!