
Solar System Scale - 21-04-2012
- michaeloconnell
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Solar System Scale - 21-04-2012 was created by michaeloconnell
Image of the Sun from earlier today.
Taken with Coronado SM90 filter, TEC140, 0.5x focal reducer and DMK41 camera.
Earth, Moon and their orbiting distance shown to scale relative to the Sun.
www.astroshot.com/Solar/2012/2012-04-21.jpg
Taken with Coronado SM90 filter, TEC140, 0.5x focal reducer and DMK41 camera.
Earth, Moon and their orbiting distance shown to scale relative to the Sun.
www.astroshot.com/Solar/2012/2012-04-21.jpg
10 years 9 months ago
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- mjc
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Replied by mjc on topic Re: Solar System Scale - 21-04-2012
Michael
That is a really good image - the pale background does something positive to the overall effect. Not sure what or why but it appeals - maybe it reduces the overall contrast and reduces distraction from the detail - don't know but it works for me.
Your use of Earth and moon orbit as a scale reference is really good - far more informative than the Earth alone as a reference to scale.
I appreciate you posting that.
Mark C.
That is a really good image - the pale background does something positive to the overall effect. Not sure what or why but it appeals - maybe it reduces the overall contrast and reduces distraction from the detail - don't know but it works for me.
Your use of Earth and moon orbit as a scale reference is really good - far more informative than the Earth alone as a reference to scale.
I appreciate you posting that.
Mark C.
10 years 9 months ago
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- dmolloy
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Replied by dmolloy on topic Re: Solar System Scale - 21-04-2012
wow, great image, great colour and contrast. i would be curious to know how close you would have to be to see that much detail? ...5 miles? with factor 1000 sun block? Great picture. 
Declan

Declan
10 years 9 months ago
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- dave_lillis
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Replied by dave_lillis on topic Re: Solar System Scale - 21-04-2012
Great shot, and like the guys above say, the background colour is gentle on the eye, the earth-moon distance scale is a great touch.
I'm getting myself one of these sm90's, don't know where or when, but it is next on my list, awesome piece of kit.!!!
I'm getting myself one of these sm90's, don't know where or when, but it is next on my list, awesome piece of kit.!!!
Dave L. on facebook , See my images in flickr
Chairman. Shannonside Astronomy Club (Limerick)
Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me,
but what a way to go.
+ 12"LX200, MK67, Meade2045, 4"refractor
Chairman. Shannonside Astronomy Club (Limerick)
Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me,
but what a way to go.

+ 12"LX200, MK67, Meade2045, 4"refractor
10 years 9 months ago
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- michaeloconnell
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Replied by michaeloconnell on topic Re: Solar System Scale - 21-04-2012
Glad you enjoyed it folks.
The addition of the Moon came about as I was going through the processing of the image with Dave Mc.
We were discussing changes to the scale, such as adding Jupiter etc, when Dave suggested adding the Moon.
We were both quite surprised at how far the Moon is from Earth in the image - I re-did the calcs a couple of times just to be sure!
Having a bright background is something I have used in the my past few images and I think works well.
Much easier for the eye to detect the delicate features of the proms.
The addition of the Moon came about as I was going through the processing of the image with Dave Mc.
We were discussing changes to the scale, such as adding Jupiter etc, when Dave suggested adding the Moon.
We were both quite surprised at how far the Moon is from Earth in the image - I re-did the calcs a couple of times just to be sure!
Having a bright background is something I have used in the my past few images and I think works well.
Much easier for the eye to detect the delicate features of the proms.
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- michaeloconnell
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Replied by michaeloconnell on topic Re: Solar System Scale - 21-04-2012
Question for folks here:
Does light of a particular wavelength and bandwidth have a particular Pantone colour?
Does light of a particular wavelength and bandwidth have a particular Pantone colour?
10 years 9 months ago
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Replied by mjc on topic Re: Solar System Scale - 21-04-2012
Michael
You might have to expand (elucidate) on that question - I for one, am not sure what it is that you are asking.
Mark C.
You might have to expand (elucidate) on that question - I for one, am not sure what it is that you are asking.
Mark C.
10 years 9 months ago
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- michaeloconnell
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Replied by michaeloconnell on topic Re: Solar System Scale - 21-04-2012
H-alpha light is at wavelength of 6563nm.
This is in the red part of the spectrum.
www.astronomyknowhow.com/pics-res/hydrogen-spectra.jpg
I use a monochrome camera to record h-alpha detail.
When I process the image, I add colour to the image.
What I'm wondering is whether there is an exact colour I can add to the image to match the exact colour of the Sun at 6563nm.
This is in the red part of the spectrum.
www.astronomyknowhow.com/pics-res/hydrogen-spectra.jpg
I use a monochrome camera to record h-alpha detail.
When I process the image, I add colour to the image.
What I'm wondering is whether there is an exact colour I can add to the image to match the exact colour of the Sun at 6563nm.
10 years 9 months ago
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- dave_lillis
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Replied by dave_lillis on topic Re: Solar System Scale - 21-04-2012
only thing is, would it look better?!?, h-alpha is almost a blood red, where as you have a nice sunset orange colour in there, it would be interesting to compare.
Dave L. on facebook , See my images in flickr
Chairman. Shannonside Astronomy Club (Limerick)
Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me,
but what a way to go.
+ 12"LX200, MK67, Meade2045, 4"refractor
Chairman. Shannonside Astronomy Club (Limerick)
Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me,
but what a way to go.

+ 12"LX200, MK67, Meade2045, 4"refractor
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- michaeloconnell
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Replied by michaeloconnell on topic Re: Solar System Scale - 21-04-2012
only thing is, would it look better?!?, h-alpha is almost a blood red, where as you have a nice sunset orange colour in there, it would be interesting to compare.
Good point. I don't think it would look any better.
I'm just curious about the science of light & colour and how to represent that on an 8 bit monitor - if that is possible.
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Replied by mjc on topic Re: Solar System Scale - 21-04-2012
I did a bit of a trawl and the best info that I found is
www.midnightkite.com/color.html
There's a link to a FORTRAN source to convert wavelength to RGB.
(gcc compiles FORTRAN).
But that's probably a lot of trouble.
This may be a stupid suggestion (and its cheating avoiding all science and engineering) - but could you examine the RGB of the Sun's H-alpha flares from an existing true-colour solar-eclipse picture?
[or from the spectral lines in above link]
You would have to be sure colour wasn't manipulated though.
Mark C.
www.midnightkite.com/color.html
There's a link to a FORTRAN source to convert wavelength to RGB.
(gcc compiles FORTRAN).
But that's probably a lot of trouble.
This may be a stupid suggestion (and its cheating avoiding all science and engineering) - but could you examine the RGB of the Sun's H-alpha flares from an existing true-colour solar-eclipse picture?
[or from the spectral lines in above link]
You would have to be sure colour wasn't manipulated though.
Mark C.
Last edit: 10 years 9 months ago by mjc. Reason: Added text in square brackets
10 years 9 months ago
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