· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar General Astronomy >> Beginners Forum Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all) REC Carpal Tunnel Reged: 10/20/10 Loc: NC Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week [Re: lamplight]       #5568917 - 12/13/12 10:07 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have a 18-55, so will use the 20mm. Should I use it wide open or say f/8? I seem to get best results at ISO 800 and set the white balance to tungsten to avoid getting reddish sky glow. Most times are limited to 30 seconds to avoid star trails. bob Post Extras:       lamplight Pooh-Bah Reged: 09/18/12 Loc: west central MA, U.S. Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week [Re: REC]       #5569036 - 12/13/12 11:13 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   not sure.. i asked same here though so letsa hopew with all the tips we get something: geminids with a dslr? Post Extras:       stargazer424 sage Reged: 10/03/05 Loc: Central NJ Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week [Re: lamplight]       #5569189 - 12/13/12 12:43 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Meteor showers are very tricky to photograph. At least for me they are. I have taken hundreds of shots and I always seem to miss it. Either I wasn't exposing at that exact second or I was pointing in a different direction. Here is the ONLY shot I have ever gotten of a shooting star and its cut off on the bottom of the frame. I use the Bulb setting and a cable release. I used an old manual lens on a DSLR so the info on the f-stop and FL are not available. ISO = 400; Exposure = 3 seconds. Geminids 12/14/2009 Here is an Iridium Flare from another attempt at meteor shower photography during the Perseids (08-12-07) Settings: f/3.5 20 sec. ISO 800 18mm Post Extras:       REC Carpal Tunnel Reged: 10/20/10 Loc: NC Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week [Re: stargazer424]       #5569212 - 12/13/12 12:57 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Well, just stick Castor in the middle of the frame and keep shooting. If you don't mind some star trails, go for a few minute exposure if not on a tracking mount. Looks like your view of the eastern sky is ok. Should be up over your trees by 9pm.....good luck and let's see some posts of any you get tomorrow:) Good Luck! Bob Post Extras:       stargazer424 sage Reged: 10/03/05 Loc: Central NJ Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week [Re: REC]       #5569467 - 12/13/12 03:30 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   If it is too cloudy (or cold) where you live, you can watch live here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-msfc EDIT: This is not a live feed YET. I believe it WILL be later tonight. Read here for more... http://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/geminids2012.html Edited by stargazer424 (12/13/12 04:39 PM) Post Extras:       JoLo sage Reged: 02/09/10 Loc: Highland, IL Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week [Re: REC]       #5569472 - 12/13/12 03:32 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   You don't want your camera stopped down to f/8, but you don't want to have it wide open either. My f/1.8 20mm works best down a stop or two, i usually shoot it at f/2.2 at ISO 400. With my 450D, ISO 800 gets a bit too noisy and i pick up more sky glow, although i can usually process that out pretty well. I scouted sites in my yard last night, i have my flagpole strung up with lights to make it look like a Christmas tree. I am trying to get next year's Xmas card with a big fat Geminid streaking across the frame just above the "tree". I will be shooting continuous 20 sec exposures, f/2.2, ISO 400 on a fixed tripod, with 2 sec delay between shots. This works well for an isolated meteor shot, or I can still do star trails if I don't get lucky..... Gonna shoot a series of shots at various exposures to capture the tree lit up, then turn off the lights and start the 20 second exposures. Probably start about 11 and finish at 2...with any luck, i will pick up one or two in the spot I have chosen. I never shoot meteors right on the point of origin, but get about 30 to 45 degrees off it, usually to the north (I seem to have better luck that way). Becuase of the configuration of my tree, i will have to shoot toward the southeast this time, but Castor and Pollux are in the frame, off to the side. It's mostly luck, with a little skill. I usually get at least one meteor in about 200 frames, but there are nights i have not gotten any, there are nights i have gotten ten. Good luck! Post Extras:       lamplight Pooh-Bah Reged: 09/18/12 Loc: west central MA, U.S. Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week [Re: stargazer424]       #5569477 - 12/13/12 03:36 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Too cool. So I was thinking if I can use a large fstop then I can get away with a longer exposure without over exposure... Ill experiment.. Actually I never did star trails INTENTIONALLY, that's a good idea.. Ill just bulb as long as I can and restart. I do have a wireless ,Motion activated webcam, I might crank the sensitivity up on that just for tonight.. Not nearly as good resolution but might get something one way. Looking forward to pics tomorrow Post Extras:       stargazer424 sage Reged: 10/03/05 Loc: Central NJ Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week [Re: lamplight]       #5570598 - 12/14/12 10:25 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I took a little over 100 shots last night before my camera battery died. Looking through I have found 3 shots with dim Geminids. Here is one slightly processed...still working on them to see if I can nudge a little more out of them: Settings f3.5 ISO-800 Exposure 20 seconds Focal Length 18mm Post Extras:       JoLo sage Reged: 02/09/10 Loc: Highland, IL Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week [Re: stargazer424]       #5570691 - 12/14/12 11:30 AM Attachment (4 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Well, I took 288 20 second exposures last night, managed one Geminid out of the bunch...probably average for me. Did a quick processing job to see if i could get it on the local STL news, so I will be able to do a much better job when I can spend some time with it. Base Photo - 8 seconds, f/14, ISO 200 Sky Photos - 20 seconds, f/2.2, ISO 400 Not quite the Christmas card I was hoping for, but am happy with it. Joe Post Extras:       stargazer424 sage Reged: 10/03/05 Loc: Central NJ Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week [Re: JoLo]       #5570711 - 12/14/12 11:41 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That's a better shot than mine...at least the meteor is immediately findable...mine you have to search...probably b/c you stopped to f/2.2. My camera's lowest setting is 3.5 Post Extras:       REC Carpal Tunnel Reged: 10/20/10 Loc: NC Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week [Re: JoLo]       #5570808 - 12/14/12 12:53 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Nice shot! I shot about 50 and all I got was an airplane! Post Extras:       NeilMac Pooh-Bah Reged: 09/25/10 Loc: MedHat, AB, Canada Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week [Re: REC]       #5570868 - 12/14/12 01:30 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Nice one JoLo ! Post Extras:       JoLo sage Reged: 02/09/10 Loc: Highland, IL Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week [Re: NeilMac]       #5570935 - 12/14/12 02:28 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks all. Getting a meteor is 5% skill and 95% luck...guess I had Lady Luck on my side this time. In the time i was out there I saw probably 30-40 meteors..wasn't out there the whole time, too cold. Set up my camera and went back in to eat pizza and watch TV. I did see 2 or 3 real fireballs, but nowhere near my FOV. Thanks again. Joe Post Extras:       lamplight Pooh-Bah Reged: 09/18/12 Loc: west central MA, U.S. Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week [Re: JoLo]       #5571402 - 12/14/12 07:34 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   awesome shots./. i was telling my wife about your holiday card shot thats awesome...i gave up after a while i was freezing but going through the pics now i DID get one.. composition sucks but i got it!!! Post Extras:       lamplight Pooh-Bah Reged: 09/18/12 Loc: west central MA, U.S. Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week [Re: lamplight]       #5571413 - 12/14/12 07:39 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   oh, and i did see a couple smokers! not huge but notable.. with a bit of firey tip on one... i would just like someones cooperation to help me get a nicely composed meteor shot! thank you cosmos ! Post Extras:       REC Carpal Tunnel Reged: 10/20/10 Loc: NC Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week [Re: lamplight]       #5572373 - 12/15/12 11:06 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Oh yeah, faint one behind the trees. Actually a cool photo with the high clouds and the tree line. Almost looks like an Aura. Post Extras:       JoLo sage Reged: 02/09/10 Loc: Highland, IL Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week [Re: REC]       #5575862 - 12/17/12 03:03 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yep, very cool shot there. I like taking wide fields with constellations/moon and some high, thin clouds. The LP reflects on the clouds and can make some interesting shots. I went through my 250 shots and actually found two more meteors. The first night i just converted the raw images and went through them quickly. As I processed and inspected the photos, two more cropped up but both dimmer than the first one. Three out of 250, not bad. Joe Post Extras:       kenrenard scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 12/13/12 Loc: Dunmore, PA Re: Question on observing the Geminids this week [Re: JoLo]       #5576266 - 12/17/12 07:20 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That is a pretty neat shot. My 6 year old was happy to see them after asking me several times "when was it going to start" we lasted about 45 minutes in chairs with sleeping bags and counted 12. She was pretty happy and liked the experience. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all) Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 11 registered and 22 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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