Stargazing and Space Exploration

[Kevin Farnell]

I currently use a Nikon D200 and always shoot in RAW mode. I generally use Nikon's excellent free software to then process the RAW files before converting them to JPEG format.
RAW format allows for far more adjustment in processing than can be done with JPEG, including even changing the exposure setting.
A friend uses Adobe Lightroom for HDR work and I believe this is considerably cheaper than Photoshop.
An excellent free alternative is GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) and can be found at -

https://www.gimp.org/

Kevin

 

[Aviador]

Oops, yes your correct and my fault for replying on the mobile as the laptop is 135 miles away. I presume I'm working off an older version as it was downloaded a few years ago.

As an aside when I was transferring my photos to a remote hard drive I noticed a difference in file size of over 20gb! It turns out that Picasa has its own hidden files.

I loved the old version. Wish I could get it back.

 

[alice1]

I have canon 200D. I think I will try several tools for the next week and see which one suits me better. But I will def start with Picasa (Google Photos). I think it is the right approach. What do you think?

 

[Aviador]

It's a good start and it's a free service.

 

[Scottie Dog]

I agree with Aviador, start with something that is available for free and does the job, then when you have started to understand the processes you can look at upgrading.

One thing I found when looking at Adobe tools is that they try to sell you an annual subscription - which is fine if you want continual upgrades etc. I prefer to pay a one-off fee, provided the tool does what I want it to. For an example with Lightroom I was able to get a non-subscription version after searching really hard.

The important thing, and I am only a very amateur photographer, is to enjoy your hobby. It will take time but do enjoy. There are a couple of weekly newsletters that are available for free subscription and that cover a whole range of photographic topics. I will try sending you a PM with a link, if you like, but I am only on a mobile at the moment so it may not work initially.

 

[Scottie Dog]

I thought I just drop this photo in as I rediscovered it earlier today...View attachment 6360

 

[Jerry]

Astronomers are trying to track down a mystery object passing through our solar system. They believe it could the first sighting of an object not from our solar system. The course of the object designated A/2017 U1 is taking it out of the solar system towards the constellation Pegasus.
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/27/u...17mystery-object-solar-system-trnd1112AMStory

 

[Aviador]

There was a red alert for the northern lights about an hour ago. A red alert means they are visible throughout the whole of the UK. This is the second time in just a few weeks.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

A red alert means they are visible throughout the whole of the UK.

Except that it's chucking it down here in Cambridgeshire 🙁
I did once see them many years ago. I was working in Birmingham and one evening, myself and my colleagues went to Mad O' Rourkes Pie Factory in Tipton (they do a fantastic 'Desperate Dan Cow Pie' - including pastry horns). On leaving, the sky was awash with a swirling whitish/pale green haze (yes, it's a great pub but no, I hadn't been drinking as I was driving). Hopefully, I'll see them again soon.

Kevin

 

[Kevin Farnell]

If anyone's up at dawn on Monday, the weather is clear and you have a high vantage point you may see Venus and Jupiter in conjunction. Jupiter's four Galilean moons should also be visible through a telescope.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41956191

Kevin

 

[Elmdon80slad]

I tried with Seven Sisters (Pleiades) not a very good shot - its hard to get the blue gases around the stars.
But guess it wasn't bad for a start.

E.

 

[Scottie Dog]

I do enjoy the 'heads up" and other posts in this thread and just wanted to thanks all those who contributed.

I do have a Celestron telescope up at my caravan in the north Lakes but for some reason, apart from old age, I can't find where I have put the lenses - I really must have a thorough sort out next weekend and, now that the dark nights are here, start to look at the heavens.

I'll try posting, a little later in the day, a photo that I took last year of Venus.

 

[Scottie Dog]

And here, slightly later than said, is my attempt at photographing Venus back on 12th March 2017.

For those who may be interested the photos was taken with a Canon EOS 70D through a Celestron Astromaster 76EQ telescope. ISO was 2500, shutter speed 1.30sec.

View attachment 6673

 

[Scottie Dog]

Just to add a further comment with regards to the photo of Venus. In the original RAW version you can see a large number of red and blue stars - the first time that I had captured such an amazing collection (well amazing to me) - however the file size is too large to load into F4A.

 

[Elmdon80slad]

My go at capturing Orion, it took about 100 seperate frames of 1.6sec each then stacked.

E.
View attachment 7298

 

[Aviador]

My go at capturing Orion, it took about 100 seperate frames of 1.6sec each then stacked.

E.

Good effort, it's great is that!

@Scottie Dog Is there a reason why Venus looks like Pac Man? Is it distorted?

 

[Scottie Dog]

Hi Aviador. I don't think it's distorted but I'll check the original when I'm back home. Can Venus have a partial eclipse?

I did think that it looked rather "special" as, after all Venus is the goddess of love, and it looks heart shaped to me!!

 

[Elmdon80slad]

Jupiter and his four moons.

E.

 

[Elmdon80slad]

Pleiades (seven sisters)

E.View attachment 7311

 

[Scottie Dog]

Hi Aviador. I don't think it's distorted but I'll check the original when I'm back home. Can Venus have a partial eclipse?

I did think that it looked rather "special" as, after all Venus is the goddess of love, and it looks heart shaped to me!!

Well I've now had a chance to check the original and it looks to be okay - but still with the 'heart' shape!

Unfortunately the file size is 19mb and so too large to put on here -is there anybody who, if I was able to email directly, could look and give their comments?