A spectacular conjunction from 1st April 2025.
Details
- Rig: Player One Ares-M Pro + Sky-Watcher 200PDS + EQ6R-Pro
- Software: NINA/Sharpcap v4.1/Autostakkert/Registax/PixInsight/GIMP
- Filters: Altair Astro Planet-Killer 685nm IR Pass
- Constellation: Taurus
- Bright side of Moon - lucky imaging 25% of 200 frames
- Dark side of Moon - lucky imaging 25% of 200 frames
- Stars - previously captured image.
The Moon and Pleiades Conjunction - click for larger view
Notes
This conjunction presented a singular challenge of photographing three elements with dramatically different exposure requirements: the bright and dark parts of the Moon and the stars of the Pleiades. The Moon was recorded by lucky imaging in the normal way then the parts joined together using fairly elaborate masking. The location of the main stars in the cluster was provided by a single 10-second registration image which was then overlaid with a previously captured image giving a much better rendition of the cluster, the registration stars allowing the older image to be precisely positioned.
