Paul's Solar System Images

Sub sections:

Inner Planets
Outer Planets
Solar /Lunar Images
Eclipses
Transits
Comet images

Inner Planets

Mercury
Venus
Mars


Mercury
Taken with the 14" Dobsonian on March 22nd 2004
The phase of Mercury Mercury taken with the 10" F5 Newtonian and a 2X barlow with the Philips ToUCam webcam on the day it was in conjunction with Venus, 270605 at 16:14 UT. This is the best and clearest view of it's phase I have obtained so far.


Venus
A Crescent Venus This view of a Crescent Venus was taken using the 10" Newtonian with I believe a 26mm Eyepiece on unknown slide film and unknown exposure. The enlargement clearly shows the phase Venus was at and the image was taken during daytime which helped to reduce the glare from the bright planet. Although I don't know the exact date/time I suspect it was taken either before or not long after the Solar Eclipse of August 1999.
Venus on Jan 21st 2001 This view of the planet Venus was taken on January 21st 2001 using the 10" Newtonian Reflector and the 10mm eyepiece. Film was 100 ISO slide film and approx. 1/30 sec exposure. Venus was near half phase which shows nicely in the image.
The following views were taken in the months leading up to the Transit of Venus across the Sun during June 8th 2004 and show how the phase of Venus gradually diminished as it crept closer to the solar glare.
Venus phase shrinks during Spring 2004 Using both the 14" Dobsonian and the 10" Newtonian Reflectors and the webcam Venus was followed over several months before the Transit to show how the phase changed and the size ofthe disk grew larger as Venus got closer to the Earth - I think it was a success!
Final good view of Venusian crescent before transit Best view of Venusian crescent before the Transit took place, this was taken on the 2nd June 2004 in daylight.
Venus against the backdrop of the Solar disk A wonderful sight - Venus seen against the backdrop of the Solar disk at 05:43UT using the 10" and a webcam. Amazing as it may seem but this is technically a view of the night side of Venus and so is not generally seen except during a transit of the planet.
The scattering effect of the Venusian atmosphere And another amazing sight - the scattering of sunlight by the Vernusian atmosphere showing a faint arc of light following the curvature of the planets disk as Venus crept of the Solar disk.
Venus in the morning sky during September 2004 Venus imaged on September 5th 2004 in the morning sky, 3 months after the transit.
Venus on July 9th 2005 Venus taken at 19:30 BST on July 9th 2005 with the 10" F5 Newtonian and webcam.


Mars
Mars as seen through the 10 Telescope
Mars drawn during its 2001 opposition using the 10" F5 Newtonian Reflector. Details are on the larger image.

Mars - the 2003 encounter

The following images of Mars were taken with the Philips ToUcam Webcam and either the 10" Newtonian Equatorial or the 14" Newtonian Dobsonian 'scopes.


26th July 2003 10" Equatorial Newtonian plus 2X barlow lens July 26th 2003 26th August 2003 14" Dobsonian Newtonian prime focus August 26th 2003
31st August 2003 14" Dobsonian Newtonian prime focus August 31st 2003 4th September 2003 at 00:34 BST 10" Equatorial Newtonian plus 2X barlow lens September 4th at 00:34 BST
4th September 23:45 BST 14" Dobsonian Newtonian plus 2X barlow September 4th at 23:31 BST Mars on October 1st 2003 at 23:19BST 10" Equatorial Newtonian plus 2X barlow lens on October 1st 2003 at 23:19BST
Mars on Feb 27th 2004 These 2 are the only images of Mars I took during 2004 as the disk size had shrunk so much. This view was taken with the 10" Newtonian on February 27th 2004 at 19:01GMT but still shows some detail. (Note it is so small there is no close up image so don't click on it!).
Mars on March 22nd 2004 and this view with the 14" Dobsonian taken on March 22nd 2004
Mars - the 2005 encounter

Mars on August 15th 2005 Mars taken with the 10" Newtonian + 2, X2 barlows and the webcam August 2005 Mars taken on August 15th 2005 at 01:47 BST.
Mars on August 29th 2005 Mars taken with the 10" Newtonian + 2, X2 barlows and the webcam August 2005  Mars taken on August 29th 2005 at 01:31 BST
Mars and the 'Eye of Mars' Solis Lacus Mars taken on October 5th 2005 at 00:58 BST using same equipment as above. This view shows the 'Eye of Mars' Solis Lacus and the tiny South Polar Cap at bottom.
Mars and Olympus Mons Mars taken on November 6th 2005 at 21:40 GMT using the same telescope but with a X4 barlow. Solis Lacus is now in the lower right but the brighter spot near the top of the disk is Olympus Mons - the largest Volcanoe on the red Planet - a first for me to image it!
Most detailed view of Mars The most detailed view of Mars taken by myself again using the 10" Newtonian Reflector and a X4 barlow with a ToUCam webcam. Features of note: North Polar Hood at top, Just below it lies Niliacus Lacus, Centre lies Mare Erythraeum with several features, Sinus Meridiani is at right, Solis Lacus is just creeping round on the left and the South Polar cap is at the bottom.



Top of page

Webmaster ã Paul L Money 2006