December | 2020 | Bud Branch

Archive for December, 2020

The Grand Conjunction

Posted in 600mm, Astrophotography, Sony A7III on December 22, 2020 by budbranch

Well, that was fun!

We’ve been watching Jupiter and Saturn ease closer for months. Knowing that this was a once in a lifetime thing, I studied up and practiced a little. In the final analysis I think it boils down to 1) stabilizing the camera, 2) focusing carefully and, 3) taking LOTS of frames of varying exposures.

This was an early test – no detail in Saturn or Jupiter

Another test from the deck, as it set over the Canyon

My best effort from 12/21, includes Saturn’s moon Titan…

Once the shooting was over, we made a group Conjunction photo before it set…

3 Comments »

Secy of Interior designee Haaland Came to Taos!

Posted in Gopro Hero5 on December 17, 2020 by budbranch

I was in the right place at the right time last year to grab a selfie with Deb Haaland. SO happy for her, and for our country.

4 Comments »

Geminid Meteors

Posted in Astrophotography, Composite, Long exposures, Sony A7III on December 16, 2020 by budbranch

The Geminid meteor shower peaked early Monday morning. This is a composite of 26 images that highlights the phenomenon of the “radiant”.

Very top center are Castor and Pollux, the heads of the Twins: Gemini. Notice all 26 meteors (except one) “point” to constellation Gemini. The renegade is blue-green, non-Geminid random meteor, and beautiful.

Mars at the bottom, Orion top left, Pleiades near center.

It was COLD. I wrapped a hat around the camera, and left it with a hand warmer! I used the camera’s self-timer to delay the start of automated exposures until 1AM, then it made 800 30-second exposures before it ran out of battery. Then it was a matter of reviewing each frame and selecting the ones with juicy meteors, then some Photoshop. Thanks for digging it.