The Night Sky

[LAT]

If that is real it's an amazing photo!

[Bunnylump]

Yes it is real. It was also shown on Stargazing live programme which was very interesting if you like this kind of thing. There were also lots of hints and tips on how to take pictures of the night sky (which, if I wasn't such a technophobe I might have been tempted to try). Lots of amateur photographers were sending in their pictures, some of which were amazing.

There were a couple of bits of the programme which were irritating. One was a bit about science fiction versus reality and the other bit was watching Jonathan Ross, who had been given an enormously expensive telescope from his wife, which was housed in its own little shed observatory, and he'd NEVER USED IT. He also couldn't even identify the plough. So basically it was there as a symbol of his enormous wealth and nothing else.

Oh, and by the way folks, do look out for Jupiter in the early evening. It was quite high in the sky to the south west today when I saw it. It was the brightest object in the sky by miles.

[Scurra]

Oh, and by the way folks, do look out for Jupiter in the early evening. It was quite high in the sky to the south west today when I saw it. It was the brightest object in the sky by miles.

No, the brightest thing in the sky by miles here in the middle of London is, um, a streetlight.

[Bunnylump]

That is SUCH a shame. If it hadn't been P***ing down yesterday* I'd have forced you to do some stargazing with me. It really was something special to see tonight. It's such a shame you can't see it too.

*I dragged Scurra out for the afternoon yesterday in the rain. But the good news is we have identified where the Roman treasure is located, so all is well... (that'll get them guessing... )

[Scurra]

Hey, you weren't supposed to tell them that! (That we worked out where the treasure is, not that you dragged me out there in the pouring rain, I mean... )

[Bunnylump]

...But otherwise they might be a bit surprised when we suddenly become rich beyond our wildest dreams buy a big mansion and a Rolls Royce each...Oh OK. I won't tell them. Shhh...

[LAT]

You and Scurra are buying a big mansion and a pair of Rolls Royces, and you expect us not to be surprised do you?

Is there anything more you don't want to tell us?

[Bunnylump]

Well there is something I'd LIKE to tell you following that comment, but it's unprintable...

[LAT]

Just whisper it then.

[clvrlad]

If that is real it's an amazing photo!

yep its real
whats more the photographer went out of his way to get the photo
went to the right place at the right time......apparently he had a window of 1 second

the artist has a web site
http://www.astrophotographie.fr/

[LAT]

Quite incredible! Thanks for sharing that

[Bunnylump]

Just think of the dedication you'd need to travel to Oman and do all those calculations just for ONE photograph (which, let's face it, he had a pretty slim chance of getting)!!

[giraffe]

Presumably they don't just point the camera and click, they have motorised whatnots that take however many pictures in a row and big tripods to make sure they are lined up properly. They know what they are doing.

I can't work the camera I have and every third shot tends to be of my feet as I press the shutter instead of the off button

[Bunnylump]

That's exactly like me!

[giraffe]

I'd had it quite while and said to my sister in law that it was a shame it didn't have a removable memory card, and she pointed out that it did, but I'd just failed to find it despite a thorough search.

[Bunnylump]

Look away Scurra, you are only allowed to look at streetlights.

Here's a nice simple guide as to what to look out for when and where!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/tv/features/starga ... ides.shtml As you scroll down it gives you a really clear picture of what you're seeing at certain times of the year with a star map.

I had a look out yesterday and saw the stellar nebular in Orion's belt (which is mentioned) using some fairly unspectacular binoculars.

[clvrlad]

Presumably they don't just point the camera and click, they have motorised whatnots that take however many pictures in a row and big tripods to make sure they are lined up properly. They know what they are doing.

I can't work the camera I have and every third shot tends to be of my feet as I press the shutter instead of the off button

well looking at the artist's website he uses either a ccd camera (claims 1 frame every10 to 30 s or a webcam/vedeo recorder with 2/10 frames a second )

and

Considering its conviviality and its relative tolerance toward atmospheric instability, a webcam allows to obtain more easily and more often results that are equal or superior to those of CCD cameras.

for deep pace work he prefers the ccd but for planets/close objects the webcam/videocam

[SparkOut]

Bunny! where's your alert about the Perseids?

[Looby]

...at the moment we have too much cloud to see even the full moon let alone any shooting stars.

[Scurra]

Bunny! where's your alert about the Perseids?

I think she's gone away on holiday to see them properly.