3towers Observatory Planets

Moon Halo and Venus. 8mm f/3.5 lens, 10-second exposure with Nikon D100 digital camera, ISO 1000.

The Planets January 28, 1984

Most Lunar and planetary images taken at the 3towers Observatory use either a Nikon D100 digital single lens reflex camera for widefield imaging or a web cam attached to a telescope for prime focus imaging or imaging at prime focus combined with a Barlow lens. The seeing conditions at the 3towers Observatory are usually mediocre at best so that its lunar and planetary imaging does not compare with the incredible results now being obtained by many amateur astronomers worldwide. Nevertheless, the significant improvement in planetary and lunar results available from modern web cams, digital cameras, and software techniques allows almost anyone with modest equipment and seeing conditions to obtain results that rival or exceed those of the best planetary images obtained on film in the recent past.

3towers Observatory Planetary Webcam Imaging

Lunar Occultation of Mars on the morning of Tuesday February 18, 2020

Wide angle view of the Moon and Mars on September 8, 2003.
15 January 2005. Scorpius rising. Notice Mars just East of Antares and bright Delta Scorpii in the predawn sky. Ten second exposure with 16 mm f/2.8 lens on a Nikon D100 digital camera with ISO 800.
25 June 2005. Mercury, Venus, and Saturn in the Western sky after sunset. Nikon D100 image, ISO 800. 50 mm f/2.8 lens.
25 June 2005. Mercury, Venus, and Saturn in the Western sky after sunset. Nikon D100 image, ISO 800. 135 mm f/2.8 lens.
26 June 2005. Mercury, Venus, and Saturn in the Western sky after sunset. Nikon D100 image, ISO 800. 135 mm f/2.8 lens.
27 June 2005. Mercury, Venus, and Saturn in the Western sky after sunset. Nikon D100 image, ISO 800. 135 mm f/2.8 lens. Note how much Mercury has shifted with respect to Venus and Saturn.
16 January 2006, 6:00 am MST. Jupiter at top center is between Zubenelgenubi just to its West and Zubeneschamali somewhat more to the East. Below and slightly to the East of Jupiter Scorpius is partially visible above the house. The two bright stars to the East of Scorpius are Han (top) and Sabik (bottom). The two stars above Han and Sabik are Yed Posterior (bottom) and Yed Prior (top). The near Last Quarter Moon was setting in the West illuminating the foreground. Ten second exposure with Nikon D100 at ISO 800, 16 mm f/4 lens.	The bright stars are labeled Another view of Jupiter between Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali
Moon, Venus, Saturn, and Regulus October 7, 2007. One-half second exposure with Nikon D100 digital camera at ISO 800, 50 mm f/4 lens.
The Moon and the Pleiades on April 8, 2008. One-second exposure with 135 mm f/4 lens on a Nikon D100 camera, ISO 800.
The Moon, Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter on December 31, 2008. Two-second exposure with 8 mm f/4 lens on a Nikon D100 camera, ISO 800.
Venus and Mercury low in the western sky after sunset on March 15, 2010. Six-second exposure with 16 mm f/4 lens on Nikon D100 camera, ISO 800
Venus near Antares on the morning of January 17, 2011. Fifteen-second exposure with 16 mm f/4 lens on Nikon D100 camera, ISO 800.
Conjunction of Venus and Mercury January 10, 2015. They are 0.6 degree apart.
Conjunction of the Moon, Venus, and Jupiter on the evening of June 19, 2015
Close conjunction of Venus and Jupiter on the evening of July 1, 2015. They are 0.5 degree apart.
Close conjunction of Venus and Jupiter on the evening of July 1, 2015. They are 0.5 degree apart.
Morning sky prior to sunrise on November 18, 2015. From top to bottom are Leo the Lion with Regulus, Jupiter, Mars, and Venus.
Transit of Mercury on the morning of May 9, 2016.
Transit of Mercury on the morning of Monday November 11, 2019.
Close passage of Venus to Neptune on January 26 and 27, 2020
Close passage of Venus to the Pleiades on Friday April 3, 2020
Great 2020 Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn: The Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn on the evening of Wednesday December, 16, 2020
Great 2020 Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on the evening of Saturday December 19, 2020, two days prior to closest approach
Great 2020 Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on the evening of Monday December 21, 2020 at closest approach
Great Conjuction of Jupiter and Venus on the morning of Saturday May 30, 2022
Great Conjuction of Jupiter and Venus on the morning of Saturday May 30, 2022
Lineup of all naked eye planets in the morning sky. Thursday June 23, 2022
Uranus was within 1.5 degrees of Venus on the evening of Wednesday March 29, 2023
Venus was close to M44 on the evening of Monday June 12, 2023

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