The Dark Side Observatory - Planetary Photography

Planetary Photography

Uranus, Titania and Oberon

Here is a quick image of the planet Uranus and two moons called Titania and Oberon.
Tech Specs: Sky Watcher Esprit 120ED, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO ASI290MC and ASI071MC-Pro, ZWO AAPlus, ZWO EAF. 20 x 60 seconds at -10C plus darks and flats. Image Date: October 27, 2021. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Uranus and Several Moon

Here is a quickly stacked 15 x 60 second exposure of Uranus and showing several moons.
Tech Specs: Orion 8" f/8 Ritchey-Chretien Astrograph Telescope, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ASI071MC-Pro, ZWO AAPlus, ZWO EAF, 15 x 60 seconds at -10C plus darks, processed using Tycho Tracker. Image Date: November 15, 2022 @ 0330 UT. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W95), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Movement of Jupiter’s Moons - December 21, 2023

I decided to spend some time on a wide-field view of the planet Jupiter and try to capture the movement of the Galilean Moons. In this 39-second video, you can watch the moon Io disappear behind Jupiter on one side, and Europa appear from Jupter’s shadow on the other side. This is about 5 hours compressed to 39 seconds.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at -10F, 3 second exposures with 120 second delays over a period of 5 hours, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in PixInisght. Image Date: December 21, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

The Planet Mars

Mars imaged last evening, best 15% of 20k frames.
Tech Specs: Meade 12” LX-90, ZWO ASI290MC, unguided. Captured using SharpCap v3.2 (64 bit), processed in Autostakkert and Registax. Image date: October 9, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Jupiter and Saturn from September 19, 2021

Jupiter and Saturn from September 19, 2021, just a quick 30-second video capture of each testing out the ZWO AAP for video capture. You can see Europa in transit on Jupiter.
Tech Specs: Meade 12” LX-90, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO ASI290MC. Captured using ZWO AAP and processed using Autostakkert and Registax. Image date: September 19, 2021. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Jupiter in Two Views

Testing some new equipment - here is Jupiter on September 24, 2021. Jupiter’s moons from left to right are Ganymede, Io, Europa and Callisto.
Tech Specs: Sky Watcher Esprit 120ED, Celestron CGEM-DX pier mounted, ZWO ASI290MC and ASI071MC-Pro, ZWO AAPlus, ZWO EAF. Image date: September 24, 2021. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

Crescent Venus 6%

Here is a view of the planet Venus captured during mid-day. Venus is currently only 6% illuminated and getting a bit harder to image with the heat causing a lot of shaking.
Tech Specs: Meade 12” LX-90, ZWO ASI290MC, best 10% of 5,000 frames, UV/IR filter, unguided. Captured using SharpCap Pro, stacked in Autostakkert, processed in Registax. Image date: May 21, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Changing Face of Venus

Here is a composite image showing how the view of planet Venus is changing just from April 28th the May 13th, each night forming a thinner crescent shape. I’m now at the point where I must image Venus during the day because it is too low after sunset to image from inside the observatory. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I'll be able to add a few more pics to this series.
Tech Specs: Meade 12” LX-90, ZWO ASI290MC, UV/IR filter, unguided. Captured using SharpCap Pro, stacked in Autostakkert, processed in Registax. Image date(s): April 28 to May 13, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Venus - May 13, 2020

Here is a view of the planet Venus captured during the day. Venus is currently only 13% illuminated and heading between the Sun and Earth causing the crescent to get progressively thinner and the planet to get progressively larger.
Tech Specs: Meade 12” LX-90, ZWO ASI290MC, best 10% of 2,000 frames, UV/IR filter, unguided. Captured using SharpCap Pro, stacked in Autostakkert, processed in Registax. Image date: May 13, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Venus in the Evening Sky

Here is a shot of Venus in the western sky taken on 1 March 2020 just after sunset. Did you know Venus shows phases similar to the moon? Currently, Venus is 62% illuminated. You can read more about the phases of Venus here: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/tracking-venus-in-late-2019-and-early-20
Tech Specs: Meade 12" LX-90, ZWO ASI290MC, best 25% of 5,000 frames, captured with SharpCap Pro v3.2 at 800 x 600 resolution. Image date: March 1, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Bright Venus in the Western Skies

As of last evening, the planet Venus is 27% illuminated and near its maximum brightness. Its brightness comes from its proximity to Earth, it is currently passing between us and the sun. The crescent phase will grow thinner and thinner until we lose sight of Venus in the western glow. It reappears in the morning skies of late June. You can check our EarthSky’s article on this at: https://earthsky.org/tonight/venus-at-its-brightest-in-late-april
Tech Specs: Meade 12” LX-90, ZWO ASI290MC, best 25% of 10,000 frames, UV/IR filter, unguided. Captured using SharpCap Pro. Image date: April 28, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Venus in the West

Venus from last night is now only 22% illuminated and now past peak brightness.
Tech Specs: Meade 12” LX-90, ZWO ASI290MC, best 10% of 10,000 frames, UV/IR filter, unguided. Captured using SharpCap Pro. Image date: May 3, 2020. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Uranus and Four Moons

Here is a quick view of the planet Uranus and four moons including Titania, Umbriel, Ariel and Oberon. Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Canon 6D stock camera, ISO 3200, 6 x 60 second exposures with dark/bias frames, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Image date: November 10, 2018. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Venus in Daylight

First time I have attempted this - this is a capture of Venus during daylight hours. 44% full at the time this was taken. Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, ZWO ASI290MC, ShaprCap v3.1 capture, 5000 frames, stacked the best 25%. Image date: December 27, 2018. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Jupiter and NGC 6235

Here is a view of Jupiter's close approach to globular cluster NGC 6235, a small 10th magnitude globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Canon 6D, ISO 3200, 5 x 60 second exposures with dark/bias frames, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Image date: July 26, 2019. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Saturn - October 18, 2018

A quick shot of Saturn on October 18, 2018. Probably the last imaging for this season. Best 25% of 30k frames. Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount, ZWO ASI290MC, unguided, 30k frames captured with SharpCap. Image date: October 18, 2018. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Mars on October 30, 2018

Mars as imaged on October 30, 2018. Some planet details and almost no sign of the polar region, 86% illuminated. Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount, ZWO ASI290MC, Televue 4x Powermate, best 25% of 30k frames captured with SharpCap v3.1. Image date: October 30, 2018. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Neptune and Triton

Here is a view of the planet Neptune and the moon Triton (at the 11 o'clock position). Limiting magnitude in this image is around 15. Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Canon 6D stock camera, ISO 3200, 5 x 60 second exposures with dark/bias frames, guided using a ZWO ASI290MC and Orion 60mm guide scope. Image date: November 10, 2018. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

Saturn and Moons - August 23, 2018

Here is a view of Saturn and several moons taken on August 23, 2018.
Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mmED Triplet Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount, ASI 290MC, and Televue 2.5x Powermate (1.25”). Captured with SharpCap software and processed in Corel Paintshop Pro. Image Date: 23 August 2018. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, Pennsylvania, USA.

Saturn and Ring Components - August 28, 2018

Here is a view of Saturn taken on August 28, 2018 along with some of the major rings components identified. Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mmED Triplet Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount, ASI 290MC, and Televue 2.5x Powermate (1.25”). Captured with SharpCap software (best 25% of 30k frames) and processed in Corel Paintshop Pro. Image Date: 23 August 2018. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, Pennsylvania, USA.

Mars - October 18, 2018

A quick shot of Mars on October 18, 2018. Currently 86% full and the southern polar cap is clearly visible. Best 25% of 30k frames. Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO Refractor, Celestron CGEM-DX mount, ZWO ASI290MC, unguided, 30k frames captured with SharpCap. Image date: October 18, 2018. Location: The Dark Side Observatory, Weatherly, PA, USA.

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