Saturn-Jupiter Conjunction, Moon & SharpStar2
Dec 21, 2020 14:18:47 #
Looked at the forecast for the Dec 21st and thought I'd better shoot the Saturn-Jupiter Conjunction before the snowstorm!
Set up the Nikon P1000 on a good solid tripod and shot away...
I think I got a reasonable focus using Lonely Speck's SharpStar2 (Bahtinov) mask, although the 4 sec. example below has a fair bit of trailing. It's the first time I've used this focusing aid designed specifically for camera lenses; considerably brighter than a normal opaque mask. I also found the P1000 would autofocus on Jupiter at 3,000mm which helped.
I shot 4K video and lots of subs at various focal lengths from 3,000mm to 12,000mm. Decided 3,000mm was the optimum, although the conjunction did fit in the 6,000mm field-of-view.
I also shot the Moon while I was set up.
Enjoy!
bwa
.
Set up the Nikon P1000 on a good solid tripod and shot away...
I think I got a reasonable focus using Lonely Speck's SharpStar2 (Bahtinov) mask, although the 4 sec. example below has a fair bit of trailing. It's the first time I've used this focusing aid designed specifically for camera lenses; considerably brighter than a normal opaque mask. I also found the P1000 would autofocus on Jupiter at 3,000mm which helped.
I shot 4K video and lots of subs at various focal lengths from 3,000mm to 12,000mm. Decided 3,000mm was the optimum, although the conjunction did fit in the 6,000mm field-of-view.
I also shot the Moon while I was set up.
Enjoy!
bwa
.
Saturn-Jupiter Composite (3,000mm, f/8, 1/4sec, ISO1600, best 11of 40subs). Insert shot at 6,000mm & 1/200sec. (full size):
(Download)
Moon (1,800mm, f/8,1/80sec, ISO100, best 6of64 subs):
(Download)
Lonely Speck's SharpStar2 (4sec, f/8, ISO100). Focusing on Jupiter & Saturn:
(Download)
Dec 21, 2020 15:55:41 #
Very Cool Brian! 
Thanks for the tips!
I'm planning on Dinner and a Binocular Conjunction Viewing with the Grandkids tonight.
I think my best spot is the front yard, or the next door neighbors sidewalk.
Thanks for the tips!
I'm planning on Dinner and a Binocular Conjunction Viewing with the Grandkids tonight.
I think my best spot is the front yard, or the next door neighbors sidewalk.
Dec 22, 2020 08:06:08 #
How in the world do you shoot at 3000mm
What size lens do you have. Great Picts BTW
What size lens do you have. Great Picts BTW
Dec 22, 2020 12:49:40 #
Ballard
Loc: Grass Valley, California
Nice work bwana. What was the day and time that you took the picture at? That info would help to determine if the dim object in the photo was Iapetus (which has a magnitude of 11.2).
Dec 22, 2020 12:57:43 #
sumo wrote:
How in the world do you shoot at 3000mm
What size lens do you have. Great Picts BTW
What size lens do you have. Great Picts BTW
The Nikon P1000 camera has a 24-3000mm zoom lens. Optical zoom to 3,000mm, Nikon's Dynamic Fine Zoom (digital) to 6,000mm and full digital zoom to 12,000mm. Image quality it pretty reasonable up to 3,000mm and then drops off as you go higher, although I've used 6,000mm for critters in our pasture when shooting from the deck with fair results...
As mentioned I played around with various zoom setting for this imaging session. Sky conditions were the limiting factor and I stayed with 3,000mm.
bwa
Dec 22, 2020 12:59:40 #
Ballard wrote:
Nice work bwana. What was the day and time that you took the picture at? That info would help to determine if the dim object in the photo was Iapetus (which has a magnitude of 11.2).
Session shot at about 5:45pm MST. It is Iapetus per Starry Night Pro.
bwa
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.