Gwen Forrester (starhag)

Drop something skeletal

The planet Jupiter, seen as an oblate spheroid with mottled cloud bands in various shades of cream and reddish brown and white. Two moons can be seen to the left as small pale dots, and their shadows appear on the face of the planet as two small black dots.

Jupiter with two of its moons and their shadows.
Left-right: Europa, Io, Io’s shadow, Europa’s shadow.

Happy agingayearday!

Well, last time I tried photographing and ended up missing a couple moments I would have liked to see as a result, and the images weren’t nearly what I had hoped for.

I decided to just watch in the eyepiece. It was still very bright but I could still see the stars disappear behind the moon

Also the image description is wrong. The dark spot at 10 o’clock is Titan. It’s shadow is seen at the very top edge of the planet.

The window is more like 12 months. The first transit of Titan this cycle occurred February 8, 2025, and the last will occur January 25, 2026.

That sounds like a katydid
I mean it sounds like it sounds like a katydid?

Wait, what are we doing now?
Fill a witch in please.

Very cool, I mean except for the fog part of course. I ended up getting lucky, and the heavy cloud cover dissipated just in time. I was also able to see Titan visually this time, which was exciting. On previous transits I was only able to see the shadow.

The planet Saturn, with its largest moon, Titan passing in front as a small brown dot upper right, and its shadow, a small black dot at the very top

Last Titan shadow transit until 2038. Titan will continue to transit every 16 days through January, but its shadow will miss the planet. In this image, it is at the very top edge, with Titan below and to the right.
I was actually able to see Titan this time. Last time I could only see the shadow.

6.2 is definitely not naked eye visible for a comet. Maybe for a star in super dark skies, but comets are more diffuse

Thank you, I will be over all the moons if these clouds clear off

Well, it’s 94% illuminated tonight, so I think their timing is a bit off.

The planet Saturn, seen as a pale oblate spheroid with rings tilted mostly edgewise. It’s moon Titan is seen to the upper left as a small dot, with its shadow seen as a black dot on the planet.

Yes, I just find a stick and hold it relatively level in front of the scope and try to replicate the angle I see in the secondary mirror. Not super precise but I figure I can tweak the levers accordingly. Also, it will be different in half an hour anyway, lol.
This is one of my better recent tries

They do make a difference but yeah I’m never quite sure I’m using it right. And so awkward to position correctly with a Newtonian on an equatorial mount.
Your image looks good though!

The planet Uranus, seen as a small bluish greenish orb

It’s actually kinda pretty with some magnification

The planet Neptune, seen as a small, pale blue orb, with its largest moon, Triton, a greyish speck to the lower left.

From Friday night, with Triton

Has anyone ever seen her and Leavitt in the same room?

The planet Neptune, seen as a small, pale blue orb, with its largest moon, Triton, a greyish speck to the lower left.

Neptune and Triton,
September 20
8” f/6 Newtonian, 3x Barlow,
ZWO ASI224MC

Never thought the call for more gender neutral restrooms would come from Oklahoma but ok I guess.

Well, this is with an 8” f/6 Newtonian and 3x Barlow, total focal length is 3600mm.

Image of the planet Saturn, with its largest moon, Titan passing in front, towards the top, seen as a small dark grey blob against the much lighter surface of the planet. Titan’s shadow on the surface is visible as a small black blob just above and to the right.

Transit of Titan and its shadow across the northern polar region of Saturn.

No that’s pretty good. I can see which is which. They were super close together. I was surprised at how dark Titan appeared in the images I took.

You are misunderstanding the strategy. Uranus would not be used as a gravity well, but as bait. Perhaps you haven’t heard enough jokes about this particular planet?

Geez.. why would anyone plant these things when we have L. tulipfera as a native? Literally one of the best trees

“I’m a big fan of your website “

Many fond memories. That was when I was first getting into astrophotography and still wrestling with a Celestron Astromaster on a cg-3

2022 E3?

Ah, ok sounds like things have advanced a bit since the days of my t3i