FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Re: Moonlit Canyon photos

["Bernie Sanden" <bsanden@xxxxxxx>]

Thanks Rick.  

Regarding the planets in the image 
http://www.pbase.com/bsanden/image/64751444 :

I consulted Megastar and now I see how close I was to capturing Uranus
in the photo, as you noted.  You were, of course, right on the money
that I just wanted to tease all the conjunction photo enthusiasts out
there (I painstakingly hid Uranus behind a small shrub atop a boulder in
the V of the cliff).  I think I missed Neptune, too, but only because
the exposure time was just barely too short.  By comparing the field
with Megastar, it looks as if my shot shows stars only to about 6.2 -
6.5 mag or so.  Neptune is at about 6.8.  OK, with some averted
imagination, maybe I see it.  Take a look at the following comparison
chart where I circled what I believe to be the location of the planets
and see if it makes sense (I hope I got this right):

http://www.pbase.com/bsanden/image/64923532

As far as other hikers on the trail, I left the top at 10pm and even the
last stragglers were up and out by then, so I saw no other humans while
I was in the Canyon (between 10pm and 2am).

By the way, Geoff Babcock just reminded me about the Perseids next
weekend.  Even though the moon will be rising at 9:30pm or so (and
therefore ~80% illuminated) I think Cedar Ridge would still be a unique
location to watch the show.  So it may be a good weekend for any
considering one of these moonlit hikes.  It's out of the question for
me...I can't afford another $90 round-trip gas expense on back-to-back
weekends.

Thx,
Bernie


-----Original Message-----
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Rick Scott
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2006 8:58 PM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Moonlit Canyon photos

Hi Bernie,

Nice shots! Even though you went solo, were there other hikers on the
trail?

Do you realize that on your photo "A view back up the trail from Ooh-Aah

Point" that you missed having Uranus by just a hairs width? Look just 
above center, in the V-shaped notch in the rocks. There's a bright star 
(Lambda Aquarii) toward the right side of the notch and three fainter 
stars in at a 45 degree angle toward the left side. If you imagine those

star making the upper part of a diamond shape (45 degree rotated 
square), then Uranus is at the bottom completing the diamond just below 
the edge of the rock. I'm sure you knew that and just wanted to tease
us.

Here's something else to mention about that photograph. It you go to the

brightest star down the right side from the top, you can see that it's 
the beginning of a line of four bright stars going down to the left with

the last two being closer than the others. The second star down from the

upper right is Neptune!

See ya,
Rick


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