Moon Mars Occultation

Mars is about to move behind the Moon during a recent occultation shot through obscuring atmospheric ionic conditions, and resurrected via multiple core gradient level image processing. Note the various unexpected albedo levels from the planet and the aura produced by the Moon disk perimeter, likely due to limb variations in brightness and scattering in the atmosphere.

Moon Mars Occultation

Heavily processed and amplified Moon Mars occultation image shot through heavy random upper ionic atmospheric pollution. Shooting through a blanket layer of total sky obscuration is an art within itself. Subtracting off light pollution and balancing a view through ionic obscura requires numerous software packages programmed to resurrect the latent digital image. Background sky is a contentious variable dealt with by using multiple iterations of software processing.

Jupiter Mars

Jupiter Mars

Jupiter Mars conjunction on the morning of June 6th, 2022, and compared with a planetarium program, Celestron's SkyPortal, at approximately the same time.

Shot with iPhone 6 Plus and NightCap Camera at 1 second exposure. Visually, through intense and massive urban light pollution, only Jupiter and Mars were visible.

The Apple iPhone NightCap app brings out more stars in Aquarius, Pisces and Pegasus constellations.

The original image is processed with multiple software programs to suppress grain and bring out additional stars.

Left: The additional planetarium view shows stars at a smaller image scale for more easy identification.

NightCap is $2.99. NightCap Camera 4+ is a night and low light camera from Realtime Dreams Limited. The app review: Do you find your photos and videos dark and grainy in low light? NightCap will help by unlocking the full potential of your iPhone or iPad's camera.

AI camera control makes it easy by automatically setting optimum focus and exposure for a brighter, clearer shot. All you need to do is hold steady and tap the shutter. If you prefer manual control then instant gesture based adjustment is always available, and special camera modes give you DSLR like results. You can even shoot photos, videos and time lapse in black and white if you want to. Try Long Exposure mode for amazing motion blur effects and reduced image noise in low light. NightCap has an ISO Boost feature that allows 4x higher ISO than any other app, producing much brighter low light photos with low noise in Long Exposure mode!

Light Trails mode preserves moving lights - ideal for moving traffic at night, fireworks or light painting. These modes are stunning when combined with HD or 4K time lapse! There are 4 dedicated astrophotography camera modes. Stars Mode is ideal for a starry sky or Northern / Southern Lights (Aurora), or leave your device capturing in Star Trails Mode and watch the stars paint circles in the sky! There are also modes for easy photography of the International Space Station (ISS) and meteors (shooting stars).

Visit nightcapcamera.com for tutorials. Features:

• Video recording with special Night Mode and full manual control.

• Time lapse recording with adjustable speed, long exposure and light trails support and up to 4K resolution on iPhone 6s or newer or 1080p HD on older devices.

• Aidie, a fully automatic AI camera operator chooses the optimum camera settings for you automatically, meaning brighter, clearer photos in low light with less risk of blurring the shot. All you need to do is hold steady and tap the shutter.

• AI enhanced focusing in very low light for fast, reliable focus.

• Automatic camera modes for Meteors (shooting stars), ISS (International Space Station), stars and star trails make these difficult tasks easy.

• Innovative manual camera controls designed for photographers: intuitive gesture-based control of exposure, ISO, focus and even white balance. Simply swipe to adjust.

• Long Exposure mode: Capture detailed, noise-free low light shots.

• Light Trails mode: Perfect for light painting and even astronomy: photograph star trails with unlimited exposure time!

• ISO Boost allows up to 4x higher ISO than any other app.

• Light Boost instantly boosts brightness while preserving image detail.

• Noise Reduction Mode helps reduce image noise.

• 8x Zoom control (camera-style for easy, smooth zoom).

• Full Apple Watch support with live preview and control of the main app features.

https://www.nightcapcamera.com/

Signing of Otis Astroimaging with Space1

Signing of Otis Astroimaging with Space1
As of Wednesday, May 18, 2022, under the auspices of Otis Astroimaging (consisting of a conglomerate of 19 space observatories and dozens of Otis United Technology Laboratories) has signed an agreement with SPACE1 to handle the new flight schedules pertaining to the Solar System, deep space development and beyond.

System schedules include Solar as supported by Sun Baked Observatory, the Moon as supported by Singularity Observatory, Mars as supported by the Mars Observatory Initiative, and deep space by the Deep Space Network. Space1 is interested in extreme high tech inventions by Mike Otis through Otis Astroimaging many of which are classified.

Space1 & the Dynamonic Electrodynamic Stargate Explorer

Each year, the mode of space exploration was evolved and upgraded with new science, technology and invention. Space1 is proud to have carried the development of the safety rocket for eight years, now culminating with the epitome of an incredible vehicle for space exploration - the Dynamonic, which took part in the Lunar Extravaganza Dynasty (SPACE1's Pacific Lunar Extravaganza Dynasty is founded by Humanoido to support upcoming lunar bases, colonization of the Moon and continued exploration of the new world.)

https://space1usa.blogspot.com/2021/08/dynamonic-propulsive-invention.html

https://space1usa.blogspot.com/2021/08/dynamonic-test-run-to-moon.html

The Dynamonic is now renamed to the Dynamonic Electrodynamic Stargate Explorer.

https://space1usa.blogspot.com/2021/11/space1-dynamonic-stargate-explorer.html

Venus Jupiter Conjunction

 
INDOOR ASTRONOMY

Venus Jupiter Planetary Conjunction

The planets moved closer when the sky was raining and overcast for two weeks. During some partial clearing on the morning of Thursday, May 12, 2022, both Venus and Jupiter made an appearance. Jupiter, at right, was up around 30 degrees in altitude at 4:48 when this photo was taken from indoors with a mobile phone - Apple iPhone XS Max 4.25mm f/1.8 ISO500 1/30 second exposure. The photo was processed with multiple software and Apple iMax Catalina to remove window glass.

All Four Planets

Depiction: Facing southeast, all four planets in the current conjunction - this depiction shows the view to the right of the photo above, seen are two more planets - Mars and Saturn. These are currently around a half year or more from opposition and very dim, and were seen popping in and out of view through the moving clouds and haze. Light pollution and upper atmospheric haze is seasonal and is very heavy in this region of urban astronomy and can obliterate objects as bright as zero magnitude. From lower left to upper right - Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn. The diameter of the objects simulates the approximate brightness in magnitude.  Approximate color is also added.

Acuter Mak 60 Planet Observations

Jupiter and Galilean Moons near Jupiter as observed by Mike Otis early morning May 12, 2022 with the new Acuter Maksy 60 telescope using a 20mm EP and table top mount. The drawing graphic depicts two of the three moons visible and the image scale is vastly increased from the raw visual. The moon closest to Jupiter is Io and farther to the left is Ganymede. Not shown at this image scale, located farther to the left is Europa.

Acuter Mak 60 Planet Observations
On the early morning of May 12, 2022, around 4 to 4:20 am, the Acuter Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope was used for the first time to observe all the main planets Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn. A number of things were learned about the telescope.

Left: the smaller image scale is more like the visual at the telescope and depicts Io, Ganymede and Europa from right to left. The observations were made through window glass at around 4:20 am on the morning of May 12th. At a 30-degree altitude, Jupiter had the least effect from the atmosphere compared to Venus.

* The 20mm eyepiece with 37.5x is too low a magnification to show significant detail on planets. It is, however, good for showing all the Galilean moons of Jupiter. For detail on the globe, the telescope should be ramped up to around 120x but then tracking the planet will become a great challenge.

Venus was spectacular in brightness and showed a "moon-like" phase. The low altitude was affecting the image. This drawing rendition by Mike Otis shows the phase of Venus through the new Acuter Maksy 60 telescope and a 20mm eyepiece. The scale is greatly exaggerated.

Left: this depiction of Venus and its phase, with the 60mm telescope, is closer to the actual visual observation regarding image size. At the lower "bubbling atmospheric" altitude and with the brightness of Venus, the phase was a challenge

* The small table top tripod is insufficient for astro imaging of planets and fine detailed motions. Therefore, the first observations included here will be various visual drawings and representations. In the future, the Maksutov will mount onto the Celestron Nexstar 6SE and have total digital control and tracking.

Left: Mars was a tiny dot very pronounced in orange color and too small to see any detail

* The bumps on the side of the telescope are not sufficient for finding objects during the night. Even with some illumination near the telescope, the bumps are difficult to see and line up. For study other than the Moon, a finderscope is needed. The Mak could also be mounted on another telescope and use its finding resources.

Saturn and its ring systems were too small to show any detail and the image scale from a 37.5x ocular was not enough. When Saturn is closer to the Earth, 120x should show more. The visual depiction here is only a guide.

As the rich and successful observing night with the new Acuter Maksy 60 telescope concluded, a beautiful golden sunrise appeared in the East with noctilucent appearing clouds, flanked by the tallest skyscraper in Taiwan located nearby - Taipei 101 (with 101 stories) towering at a height of 1,667-feet and scientific antenna dishes for various satellite and weather studies. The skyscraper is so tall, it often can be seen rising up into the clouds with the top section completely obscured and the bottom visible. Three such skyscrapers placed end to end would reach a full mile into the sky. The spectacular skyscraper sports a tower at the peak which is lit according to aircraft and airport rules and regulations. This is ideal for use as an artificial star and for calibrating finderscopes and checking telescope parametrics.

About 101

Its design incorporates a number of features that enable the structure to withstand the Pacific Ring of Fire's earthquakes and the region's tropical storms. The tower houses offices, restaurants, and indoor and outdoor observatories. The tower is adjoined by a multilevel shopping mall that has the world's largest ruyi symbol as an exterior feature.

Going to the Top Observatory

After the construction of Taipei 101, I was given permission to go up to the top of the skyscraper at the tallest point of the tower. The last part to get there is by taking the steps. The extra steep steps did not conform to what I expected to be USA building code dimensions and in my exuberance and excitement, I stumbled on a step and nearly fell all the way down. A couple security agents probably almost had heart attacks! I finally made it up to the top where it was extremely windy, cold and dangerous, feeling that a strong gust of wind could pick me up and send me sailing out across the sky! But the risk was well worth it - the view was spectacular! Some time later, all people were prohibited from going outside to the top so I had a very lucky and exciting experience.

Astroimaging Venus & Celestron Nexstar 6 SE

Astroimaging Venus & Celestron Nexstar 6 SE

Venus, along with three other planets (Mars, Saturn and Jupiter) are now increasingly well positioned, rising in the Eastern sky, for observing and astroimaging. The totally new powerful Celestron Nexstar 6 SE telescope is being prepped and pruned for planetary visual observing and electronic digital photographic astroimaging. The 6-inch catadioptric has ultimate superb optics and calibration and is being run through the paces as an indoor telescope viewing through a single pane of high quality white window optic for observatory convenience.

On the morning of Wednesday, April 6, 2022, the telescope was positioned by the window but initially not close enough. Once it was moved very close to the window, the sky field of view was increasingly wide enough to take in the planets. Jupiter had not yet risen from behind a tall skyscraper to the left, but extremely bright Venus was an easy centered target. Dimmer Mars and Saturn to the upper right were more difficult to locate given all the extreme light pollution, air pollution, and upper atmospheric haze.

This marks the beginning of a spectacular lunar and planetary observing and astroimaging season with a new telescope that's very easy to align, fast & efficient to use, and a breeze to transport.

Mini Solar System Ephemeris
Sun: 31.9 arcmin, mag. -27.7
Moon: 30.1 arcmin, 23.2% illuminated, mag. -7.8
Jupiter: 33.6 arcsec, mag. -2.0
Venus: 20.6 arcsec, 57.7% illuminated, mag. -4.3
Saturn: 15.9 arcsec, mag. +0.9
Mars: 5.3 arcsec, 91.3% illuminated, mag +1.0

Ephemerides

 Ephemerides

http://astropixels.com/ephemeris/ephemeris.html

Light Pollution

Light Pollution Friday Sept. 4, 2020

Photos of light pollution in the Taipei area after midnight on Friday September 4 2020 using NightCap camera and the iPhone. A mix of lights in the early morning hours continue to light up the sky demanding drastic measures for telescope imaging. Using the same smartphone camera and app, the sky was imaged to show the Moon and Mars. The image was processed to subtract light pollution and remove noise using Apple Photos and PhotoScape X.