Emilyann Kerr

Member News – Martian Photographs and Solar Awards

Posted on by Emilyann Kerr

Today in BAA member news:

Dan Marcus captured a great image of Mars on October 5th from the club’s C14 telescope at the Beaver Meadow Observatory. Click on the image below to see it close-up. Several famous Martian features are clearly visible:

As you may have heard or seen yourself, Mars is currently super close to earth, with its opposition happening on October 13th. It’s been high in the sky every October night so far, with a faint reddish light. I got a good look at it myself visually a few nights ago, and it’s worth seeing if you haven’t already! More info about Mars’ close approach can be found here on EarthSky:  https://earthsky.org/tonight/mars-closest-to-earth-october-6

 

(Click the picture above to go to the RMG website and see it at a higher resolution!)

Also, Alan Friedman recently won an international award for solar astrophotography. His image, titled “Ultraviolet,” netted him the Highly Commended prize in the Our Sun category at the Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition, held by the Royal Museums Greenwich. If you are a member you’ve probably seen Alan’s great images on the forum. You can also see many more at his website, and be sure to go to RMG’s website too to see it full size in their gallery. Congrats to Alan — it’s a beautiful picture, and a great honor to have the BAA represented at this competition.

Ernie Jacobs

How to Find, Observe, & Photograph Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE)

Posted on by Ernie Jacobs

How to Find, Observe and Photograph Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE)

For the next few days, early (before sunrise) is the only option. you will need a good view to the NE horizon. The comet is about one fist held out at arms length below the bright star Capella (located in the constellation Auriga). Dark Skies help (especially to see the comet without optical aid), but the good view of the horizon is a must. Try to be out to your observing location by 4 AM. So far this week the “sweet spot” has been between 4:15 am and 4:45 am. The comet is visible to the naked eye, but it is best to find it in binoculars first, then try to locate it without optical aid. A small telescope, like a spotting scope or birding scope will work well too.

Path of Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) before sunrise for the next several days.

Around July 12 – 15, the comet will appear early in the evening sky very close to the NW horizon, well below the bowl of the Big Dipper. The comet will continue to rise after that and start to approach the Big Dipper.

Path of Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) in the evening sky after July 12th. Image made using Sky Safari 6 Pro for Mac.

How to photograph the Comet:

Want to try to capture a picture of the comet? Have a DSLR and a tripod? Observatory Director Dan Marcus offers some advice for finding and photographing the comet. According to Dan, the same advice hold true for when you look for it in the morning or evening sky. You will need a LOW horizon to see it and a compass to help you get the right bearing. Use a 50 mm lens and put it where you think the comet should be located. If you are in morning or evening twilight (sky not fully dark), start by using you the camera’s automatic setting mode and reduce the exposure until the  camera says it is too dark. You’ll want to under expose the image so the sky is a dark blue and not washed out. If the sky is dark you will need to use the camera’s manual settings. Regardless if you use the camera’s automatic or manual settings, don’t overexpose the image as overexposing the image will cause the sky and the comet to appear washed out.

Also, most smartphones have really impressive low light capability. You can snap an image through the eyepiece of binoculars or a telescope. Also, you may be able to capture the comet in a wide-field shot. Having the phone on a tripod or leaning on something stable will help with getting a sharper image. Learn how to manipulate exposure, focus, and zoom controls on your phone to get the best results.

Good Luck and Clear Skies!