Mars

A little over exposed, the planet diameter of Mars became visible for the first time after adjusting camera settings:

Location: Tilburg, Netherlands

Date: Decmber 26, 2009 (22:26)

Settings: ISO 100, 0.8 sec, f/5.6

For comparison of the planet diameter my first Mars shot:

Location: Tilburg, Netherlands

Date: November 19, 2009 (23:30)

Settings: ISO 800, 1/25 sec, f/5.6

For comparison of the planet diameter I added an image of Jupiter:

Location: Tilburg, Netherlands

Date: August 7, 2009 (22:27)

Settings: ISO 100, 1/8 sec, f/8

For comparison the over exposed planet diameter of Jupiter:

Location: Tilburg, Netherlands

Date: September 7, 2009 (21:28)

Settings: ISO 800, 0.8 sec, f/5.6

Jupiter: retrograde loop - animation

This animation of the 2009 retrograde loop of Jupiter is made by aligning 18 images on the star Iota Capricornus.

Location: Tilburg, Netherlands

Date: September 7, 2009 - November 15, 2009

Mars: the red planet

My first image of Mars, the red planet:

Location: Tilburg, Netherlands

Date: November 19, 2009 (23:30)

Settings: ISO 800, 1/25 sec, f/5.6

For comparison of color I added an image of Jupiter:

Location: Tilburg, Netherlands

Date: August 7, 2009 (22:27)

Settings: ISO 100, 1/8 sec, f/8

Jupiter: orbit Galilean Moons

To visualize the orbits of the Galilean Moons around Jupiter I used 11 images, taken over the last few months.

Visualizing the orbits (using Matlab software):

Step 1: Rotated each image until the orbit of the Galilean Moons was horizontal.

Step 2: Determined the position of the visible moons by measuring the distance from Jupiter to each moon in each image in pixels.

Step 3: Plotted the data: x-axis: position of jupiter and the Galilean Moons in pixels, y-axis: date & time.

Example image: november 15, 2009.

Example image: October 13, 2009.

Calculating the orbits (using Matlab software):

Step 1: Using a sinus fit through the generated data, both the orbital diameter [pixels] and the orbital period [days] of all 4 Galilean Moons can be estimated:

Io:

Orbital diameter: 58 [pixels]

Obital period: 1.7637 [days]

Europa:

Orbital diameter: 94 [pixels]

Obital period: 3.5700 [days]

Ganymede:

Orbital diameter: 148 [pixels]

Obital period: 6.9810 [days]

Callisto:

Orbital diameter: 250 [pixels]

Obital period: 16.5347 [days]

Jupiter: retrograde loop

To make the orbit of Jupiter visible against the background stars I used 18 images taken over the last few months.

Visualizing the orbit:

Step 1: Rotated each image until the orbit of the Galilean Moons was horizontal.

Step 2: Aligned the images on Iota Capricornus, a star visible on all images.

On October 13, 2009 the more or less linear orbit of Jupiter changed into the opposite direction. I had captured the end of the 2009 retrograde loop of Jupiter!

Retrograde loop explained:

Location: Tilburg, Netherlands

Date: September 7, 2009 - November 15, 2009

Jupiter & Galilean Moons

After my first image of the moon I pointed my camera at Jupiter. The result was even more impressive than my first lunar shot.

Although only 14 pixels wide, the planet diameter of Jupiter was clearly visible:

Location: Tilburg, Netherlands
Date: September 7, 2009 (21:28)

Settings: ISO 200, 1/200 sec, f/5.6

To my surprise overexposuring the next attempt made even the 4 Galilean Moons visible!

Callisto - Ganymede - Jupiter - Io - Europa:

Location: Tilburg, Netherlands

Date: September 7, 2009 (21:28)

Settings: ISO 800, 0.8 sec, f/5.6

Moon

A few months ago I curiously pointed my mirror reflex camera at the moon. I was amazed to see so much detail and so many visible craters!

Location: Vinsobres, France

Date: August 30, 2009 (22:33)

Camera: Sony Alpha 200

Lens: Minolta 75-300

Settings: ISO 100, 1/200 sec, f/5.6