[meteorite-list] Off topic- the weather IS getting worse + On topic Geminid pic

From: John Hendry <pict_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2010 11:20:40 -0700
Message-ID: <C92E4E72.A24E%pict_at_pict.co.uk>

Thank you Carl. I did set out to capture half a dozen emanating from the
radiant with something earthbound in the foreground, but just too much
light pollution to hold the shutter open more than a couple of minutes
even looking completely at the sky. I think I'd cut it back to 30 secs or
so during the successful frame to avoid blowing the glow on the clouds too
much. I'll try again at the next promising opportunity, and make plans for
a more rural location. I think you either have to shoot for a shortish
shutter exposure/wide angle to minimise star trailing or use a long
shutter speed to emphasise the trails. To my eye, very short star trails
make it look like you've got a dodgy tripod. I may keep my eye open for a
used Meade and adapt the equatorial mount, but that approach would cause a
smeared foreground if there were terrestrial objects in frame, though I
could get round that with multiple exposures.

Regards,
John

On 15/12/2010 09:40, "cdtucson at cox.net" <cdtucson at cox.net> wrote:

>John,
>Wow what a great shot.
>
>--
>Carl or Debbie Esparza
>Meteoritemax
>I suppose
>
>---- John Hendry <pict at pict.co.uk> wrote:
>> Carl,
>>
>> Don't jinx this! We just got here from Manitoba on Friday and are
>> thoroughly enjoying the 100 degree leap in our ambient temperatures. It
>>is
>> perfect.
>>
>> We're on a resort in Apache Junction and I took the mutts out to the
>> dogpark around 9pm last night and set up the camera with a wide-angle
>> trained to the east. Loosed off half a dozen 2 minute exposures and
>>never
>> caught anything. I had long exposure noise reduction turned on so there
>> was an equal amount of time between shots while the camera collected
>>noise
>> data from the sensor to subtract from the frame information. Over about
>>30
>> minutes I didn't see any meteors. However the place is lit with numerous
>> sodium lamps and the scatter and flare in the sky was awfully strong.
>> Would have thought to have caught something as cloud cover was whispy
>>and
>> minimal and you could see the majority of the bright stars just fine.
>> Called it a night, but got up at six and this time headed to the ball
>> diamond away from the lights as best I could. Sky was still pretty clear
>> with some patchy haze. Saw one bright one dropping vertically in the
>>east
>> as I was setting up and got about 6 frames off before the dawn got the
>> better of the heavens. Over about 30 minutes I saw about 5, most of them
>> appearing roughly to the south. Only managed to get one in frame...
>>
>> http://pict.co.uk/geminid.jpg
>>
>> (typically all the rest decided to pop into view as the camera was doing
>> its noise reduction thing).
>>
>> In comparison to some of the astrophotography out there, this is
>> extraordinarily lame, but I'm quite please I got something at my first
>> attempt.
>>
>> Image is looking roughly south with the camera axis elevated to about 75
>> degrees from horizontal. Angle of view is around 100 degrees diagonally.
>>
>> Is the temporal distribution of these things completely random or do
>>they
>> tend to arrive in 'clumps' or with relatively constant intervals between
>> them? I don't think I was seeing enough to get a feel for this.
>>
>> Regards,
>> John
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 14/12/2010 19:22, "cdtucson at cox.net" <cdtucson at cox.net> wrote:
>>
>> >ET, Mike, all,
>> >Thanks so much for the warning. It has been over 80 here in Tucson the
>> >past 4 days. Can't wait for some cooler weather.
>> >Sorry. I couldn't resist. But, it is supposed to get down to a chilling
>> >79 tomorrow.
>> >Carl
>> >--
>> >Carl or Debbie Esparza
>> >Meteoritemax
>> >
>>
>>
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Received on Wed 15 Dec 2010 01:20:40 PM PST