Solar System

As for the Latest page, the most recent images are at the top of the page.

A stable high pressure system established during the second week of October 2010, but unfortunately most of the period for me was plagued by cloud from the North Sea. But the sky cleared beautifully on the night of 16th. There was a bright gibbous Moon, so I first tackled Jupiter. Some software problems meant I just missed the Great Red Spot - disappearing bottom right. But the bonus then was Io just kissing the planet. Ganymede shadow and the moon to the right. Toucam on 12" LX200ACF with 3x Barlow. One of my better planetary images!

At the end of June 2010, finally our long awaited extended holiday began, and after some interesting stops in America we arrived in French Polynesia for the July 11th Total Solar Eclipse. Although staying on Tahiti and the adjoining Moorea, to view the eclipse we flew to Tatakoto Atoll which was situated very close to the centre line.

This was the diamond ring at second contact, with some Bailey's beads evident along with prominences. All these Solar images were taken using my Canon 350D camera and Canon 400 mm f5.6 L lens, and ISO 100. This single frame 1/1000 second. Full size.

We witnessed 4 1/2 minutes of totality, but as always the time flew past. Nevertheless I was able to view the event while taking a range of photos. This is a composite of several frames between 1/1000 and 1 second. Despite the thin haze, I also succeeded in capturing Earthshine, and several stars, the brightest being magnitude 3.5 Delta Geminorum (above the disc).

Larger image.

All too soon came third contact with again a nice diamond ring and prominences. We were very fortunate with the weather - clouds before and after, indeed totally obscured 10 minutes later. Phew!

Full size.

As well as taking close ups I managed a wide angle shot with my Panasonic TZ5 on a lightweight tripod. The Sun was washed out, but my wife fortunately took a photo with her Canon Ixus 40 at a shorter exposure nicely showing the 'black dot', so this is again a composite. Note Mercury lower right of the Sun. This and the above two pictures featured in the August BBC 'Sky at Night' programme with Sir Patrick Moore, and this photo appeared in the September 2010 issue of Astronomy Now.

Larger image.

On New Year's Eve, December 2009, there was the second full Moon of the month - a 'Blue' Moon. And to add interest there was also a partial eclipse. Only a small Umbral effect, and because of clouds I only managed to capture a few frames. This was the best, taken with my Canon 350D on the Meade 80 mm f6 refractor at prime focus (cropped from the full frame). Single frame, 1/640sec at ISO200.

Full Size

Jupiter, 24th September 2009 from Les Granges with 10" LX200 OTA and Toucam. The moon shadow is from Ganymede.

Noctilucent cloud, 19th July 2009 around 2320 BST.

This image was published in the October 2009 issue of Astronomy Now.

Noctilucent clouds, 17/18th June 2009 around 0030 BST (British Summer Time).

Saturn, 20th April 2009. Toucam on 12" LX200 ACF with 3x Barlow.

Comet C/2007 N3 (Lulin) in Leo, 1st. March 2009.

The bright star at the left of the image is psi Leonis.

Larger size

16th February 2008.

The upper part of Mare Imbrium , featuring Sinus Iridum to the left, and crater Plato with the Alps.

Full Size (321 KB)

Towards the South of the Moon, a study of the huge crater Clavius with Tycho above. Even in this gibbous phase the streaks of ejecta from Tycho are clearly visible.

Both these images were taken with the Artemis 285 and 12" LX200 ACF at f10. Individual exposure times 1/50th second. I used a Red filter to improve contrast.

Full Size (547 KB)

Comet 17P/Holmes, October-November 2007. See Holmes page for more images and information.

Saturn, 14th April, 2007. Toucam and 3x Barlow with Mirage 8.

Total Lunar Eclipse, 3rd. of March 2007. Zermatt Switzerland. Canon 350D with 300 mm lens.

Solar prominence, 23rd. April 2006.

Artemis 285 camera and Solarview 50 Hydrogen alpha solar telescope with 2x Barlow.

Total Solar Eclipse, March 29th 2006, Side,Turkey. Canon 350D on Stellarvue AT1010.

Mars, 17th and 18th November 2005.

If you can do 'cross-eyed stereo', these images were taken approximately 24 hours apart, and the slight rotation gives a stereo effect. Click here for the stereo image.

Comet C/2004 Q2 Macholz and Pleiades, 10th. Jan 2005. MX716 and 35 mm lens.

Comet 2001Q4 NEAT passing across M44. 15 May 2004. MX716 with 135 mm camera lens, 5 x 1 minute frames.

Mars, 24 August 2003. Vesta Pro Webcam, LX90 + 3x Barlow

(Mars Previewer II simulation with full size image)

Venus over moonlit French Alps (Samoëns ski resort), January 2003. Olympus 2100, 16 sec at f4

Saturn, 18 December 2002. Vesta Pro Webcam, LX90 + 3x Barlow

Jupiter, January 2002. Vesta Pro Webcam, LX90 + 3x Barlow

26 January 2002, Lunar Occultation of Jupiter. Vesta Pro Webcam, LX90

Planetary line up with the Angel of the North, 29th. April 2002. Olympus 2100

Aurora, a.m. 8 September 2001, Norfolk. Olympus 2100, 16 sec. at f2.8

Sunspot Sequence with Jupiter to scale, August 2002.

Total Solar Eclipse Sequence, June 2001 Zambia. Olympus 2100 afocal with 80mm Short Tube.

Hadley Rille, 3 March 2001. Vesta Pro Webcam with LX90 and 3x Barlow

Full Moon, 9 January 2001. Olympus 2100 afocal with Celestron 8

Tycho and Clavius, April 14 2000. Vesta Pro and Celestron 8

At the end of June 2010, finally our long awaited extended holiday began, and after some interesting stops in America we arrived in French Polynesia for the July 11th Total Solar Eclipse. Although staying on Tahiti and the adjoining Moorea, to view the eclipse we flew to Tatakoto Atoll which was situated very close to the centre line. This was the diamond ring at second contact, with some Bailey's beads evident along with prominences. All these Solar images were taken using my Canon 350D camera and Canon 400 mm f5.6 L lens, and ISO 100. This single frame 1/1000 second. Full size.
We witnessed 4 1/2 minutes of totality, but as always the time flew past. Nevertheless I was able to view the event while taking a range of photos. This is a composite of several frames between 1/1000 and 1 second. Despite the thin haze, I also succeeded in capturing Earthshine, and several stars, the brightest being magnitude 3.5 Delta Geminorum (above the disc). Larger image.
All too soon came third contact with again a nice diamond ring and prominences. We were very fortunate with the weather - clouds before and after, indeed totally obscured 10 minutes later. Phew! Full size.
As well as taking close ups I managed a wide angle shot with my Panasonic TZ5 on a lightweight tripod. The Sun was washed out, but my wife fortunately took a photo with her Canon Ixus 40 at a shorter exposure nicely showing the 'black dot', so this is again a composite. Note Mercury lower right of the Sun. This and the above two pictures featured in the August BBC 'Sky at Night' programme with Sir Patrick Moore, and this photo appeared in the September 2010 issue of Astronomy Now. Larger image.