Sky Haze Experiment with Venus Jupiter Conjunction

SKY HAZE EXPERIMENT WITH VENUS JUPITER CONJUNCTION

SATURDAY JULY 21ST 2012

4:39:40 am

This test exposure is maximum processed to show clouds and haze (at top of photo) that was not visible to the naked eye. It's obvious that on nights of this typical haze, which apparently is often, the limiting magnitude takes a reduction hit. Planets shown are Jupiter and Venus next to Aldebaran in the Hyades star cluster in the constellation Taurus the Bull. This is a screen capture from the original 1016 x 1529 (752K) image. Exposed at 1/10th second, the ISO 1,600 image was at f/2 with a 28mm lens without zoom, using a Canon PowerShot S95.

The next color photo shows a normalized enhanced conjunction view with two planets and three brighter stars including Aldebaran in Taurus (at right of Jupiter and Venus) and Capella (far left) in the constellation Auriga, visible in this early morning dawn view. The conjunction view shows less stars around 4:30 am due to the encroaching sky glow. However, earlier clouds prevented completely clear sky imaging. Refer to the previous conjunction images for the identification of stars.




 
In the next view, a kind of "Where's Waldo" of stars, shown at larger image scale, a maximum number of eight stars are visible. Two above 101, four at left, and three at top.

6 Objects Conjunction

Rare 6 Celestial Conjunction

SPECTACULAR 6 OBJECTS CELESTIAL CONJUNCTION

Sunday July 15th 2012 4:19:53 local Taipei time

 This is a rare recorded image of the Moon, Venus, Jupiter, Aldebaran, Hyades, and Pleiades Cluster, Conjunction as seen next to the second tallest skyscraper in the world - Taipei 101.

All six celestial objects moved together on the morning of July 15th 2012. Seen on the original to the right is the Hyades Star Cluster (see map for Aldebaran and positioning).

Imaged at 4:19:53 am and shot with ISO 1,600 at f/2 with a one second exposure. The Canon PowerShot S95 has a CCD element and a 28mm lens. Although imaged before sunrise in darker skies, the great sensitivity of the CCD element collects sky glow, pre dawn light, and light pollution, creating a spectacular view including full visible clouds and a bright blue sky looking like daytime with a city skyline! This image was taken at the right moment, just when the clouds cooperated by making a clearing for the mentioned celestial objects. This event marks the first conjunction viewed with a combined set of 2 planets (Jupiter and Venus), 2 star clusters (the Pleiades and the Hyades), the Moon and a bright star (Aldebaran) in the Hyades Star Cluster in the constellation Taurus the Bull. Also visible but farther away is a bright star near the zenith.

Star map from John Walker's "Your Sky"

Star Map prior to the actual event shows the Moon in a slightly higher position. From top to bottom, the Pleiades, Moon, Jupiter, Hyades, Aldebaran, and Venus. Adapted from Your Sky by John Walker.

http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/

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Lucky Shot Venus Jupiter Conjunction

Lucky shot through clouds

BIG BRAIN PROJECT'S LUCKY CONJUNCTION SHOT

THIS IS A LUCKY SHOT showing the current Venus-Jupiter-Aldebaran Conjunction as the objects popped into view through openings in cloud cover.

Astro Image Details

The astro image was obtained at 4:23:12 am on Thursday July 12th 2012 with the Canon Powershot S95 eye at ISO 1,600 and a setting of f/2. The 1/2 second exposure recorded this pre-sunrise view of Taipei 101 with clouds illuminated by the city lights and a number of stars.

Processing
Processing is with Apple iPhoto 11 v9.2.1 running on the Big Brain's Right Brain with activated 724 processors. This is a screen shot from the original 2736 x 3648 5.2 MB JPEG image. (processing to reduce file size, increase contrast to 100, adjust white balance AWB, sharpen 95, adjust highlights 100, set shadows 9, increase definition 100, verify temperature 21, adjust exposure to 0.79, set saturation to 56 and de-noise at 33.

Celestial Objects

Venus is the lower brightest object. Venus is said to appear as a small crescent shape in a telescope at its current distance of 44 million miles. Jupiter is seen above Venus - the gas giant is currently 530 million miles away. Note the star just to the immediate right of Venus. This is Aldebaran in the Hyades Star Cluster, located in the constellation Taurus the Bull. Click on the photo for a larger image showing more stars in this early morning view.

Sky Chart
The star map is only approximate as the locations of Venus and Jupiter have changed. Note the small star cluster towards the top known as the Pleiades, or Seven Sisters.

Venus Jupiter Aldebaran Study

Venus Jupiter Aldebaran Conjunction

Venus-Jupiter-Aldebaran

NOTE: YOU CAN View this ongoing planetary conjunction of Venus and Jupiter with the star Aldebaran all throughout the month of July 2012.

IMPROVING CONJUNCTIVE VIEW STUDY

Tuesday July 10th 2012

Several factors improved images of the ongoing planetary conjunction with Venus, Jupiter and the star Aldebaran in the constellation Hyades. An earlier observation time led to a darker sky and better contrast and fewer clouds compared to the previous observation made the event appear spectacular. In this view, the focus is slightly offset to successfully make larger planetary dots and more accurately represent visual brightness levels. Jupiter is above Venus and the star is very close to Venus at the bottom right. The first photo shows both planets appearing very bright but does not come close to representing the human eye view which was spectacular. The star is barely visible in this view taken on July 10th 2012 at 4:24:36 am with ISO 1,600 at f/2 and 1.8th second exposure. This is a digitally enlarged snippet screen capture of the original 2594 x 3459 pixel 2.3 MB JPEG image.

Aldebaran to lower right of Venus

STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF CLOUDS & ATMOSPHERE PARTICULATES RELATIVE TO STELLAR EXTINCTION

In the next photo, taken at 4:27:49 am on July 10th, 2012, the star is clearly visible and most clouds have momentarily passed by this section of the sky. Cirrus clouds appear very light and tenuous although are very good at blocking stars - this is because the city of 8 million has many lights that can reflect off not only the bottom of the clouds but the atmospheric particulates. Keep in mind the clouds can absorb starlight, reflect starlight, and block out starlight with a shroud of reflective brightness. This image was captured with a Canon PowerShot S95 at Telephoto f/3.5 and 12.8mm focus. The 1/8th second exposure was combined with ISO 1,600 sensitivity to compensate for the encroaching sunlight. This is a screen shot snippet from the original 2736 x 3648 pixel 2.9 MB image.

Full Zoom & All 3 Conjunction Elements

ZOOM CAPTURE STUDY

In the Zoom Capture Study, full Zoom is set to include both planets and the star in the same FOV. This was shot at 4:36:16 am on July 10th, 2012. ISO was increased to 3,200 manually, and the 22.5 mm Zoom focus was combined with a 1/4th second exposure at f/4.9. This is a screen capture snippet from the original 2736 x 3648 pixel 3.4 MB JPEG image. The Zoom Capture is more suitable for measuring relative object positions. Due to the fast ISO and relatively fast exposure, this and similar images are made possible by merely holding the camera by hand.

OBSERVATIONS OBSERVATORY

These observations were made at Observatory Lab 50. The Lab is very convenient at it locates off an adjacent wing to Static Lab 49 where images are processed. For higher resolution on similar Zoom studies, shoot in RAW mode rather than JPEG mode to increase resolution and reduce artifacts.

Two more stars at left seen in between clouds

MORE STARS VS CLOUD COVER STUDY
At left in the image, two more stars are visible through clearing in the clouds. This was taken on July 10th at 4:27:21 am local time at ISO 1,600 with a 1/8th second exposure (no telephoto) and f/2 lens, using a Canon PowerShot S95 in 2662 x 3550 pixel 4.5 MB file size JPEG mode. The image is cropped and processed in this screen shot snippet.

GRAIN REMOVAL STUDY
Photographic grain at high ISO is removed with Apple iPhoto function. This effect further delineates the cloud to sky differential showing which areas of clearing will have the opacity to show better stellar and planetary viewing.

CONJUNCTIVE COVERAGE

This Conjunction is currently observed a total of four times. It was imaged on July 3rd, July 8th, July 9th and July 10th. Other days were overcast, cloudy or raining and observations were not possible.

Humanoido Labs List

http://humanoidolabs.blogspot.tw/2012/06/humanoido-labs-list.html

Other Observations of This Conjunction

Venus Conjunction 

Deep Camera Venus Experiment 

Venus Jupiter Conjunction Revisit 

Lab 50 Observatory 1st Astro Image

Lab 50 Observatory 1st Astro Image

Early Morning: Rare double planet

& star conjunction seen next to

Taipei 101 in the Hyades Cluster

BIG BRAIN LAB 50 TAIWAN OBSERVATORY 1ST ASTRO IMAGE

This is the first astro image photo taken at Big Brain's Taiwan Lab Static Observatory (TSO) early this morning 

JULY 3RD 2012 AT 4:27:38 AM - Taipei 101 and planets Venus (brightest) and Jupiter with the star Aldebaran in the Hyades Cluster. This is a rare twilight conjunction captured at 4:30 am this morning. The telephoto was shot at ISO 6,400 with an exposure of 1/20th second at F4 using a hand held Canon PowerShot S95. This example shows great sensitivity to capture planets and bright stars with a hand held telephoto lens and a rather fast exposure of 1/20th second. This demonstrates the real potential for fast shooting entire digital star maps at F2 with a hand held camera and a dark sky. Closer inspection of this photo (at full size) reveals another star. This image is taken downtown in the heart of Taipei. The Taipei metropolitan area consisting of Taipei, New Taipei and Keelung, has a population of 6,900,273. Taipei is the political, economic, and cultural center of Taiwan.

Twilight The diffused light from the sky during the early evening or early morning when the sun is below the horizon and its light is refracted by the earth's atmosphere.