Sky at Night

Hypnotic stars 7th April 2021

Captured at home on evening 6th & 7th April 2021. Camera: Olympus OM-D EM-1 mk3 Lens: 7-14mm Objective with this one was a true hypnotic spin centred around polaris (celestial North Pole star). Cloud cover killed the perfect result but overall I'd give this 7/10. This star trail was captured by using the Olympus in-camera function called Live Composite (Setting B on top dial). I chose 15s exposures and set the camera shoot for 2 periods. The first was 2.5hrs and 2nd for 5 hours, starting at 2100hrs. The maximum time setting on live composite mode is 6 hrs. Anything longer than 6 hrs requires multiple live composites (joined) or firing continuous and post processing. The final image you see is a 7.5 hrs composite made from joining both Live composites captured in camera or 7.5 hrs x 15s in a single image. BEHIND THE LENS Camera:- Olympus OM-D EM-1 mk3 Lens: Olympus 7-14mm Tripod - Mounted in garden 15s exposure time using Live Composite mode in camera. F4 ISO 200 I mounted the camera on a tripod in the garden and set up the composition using a 7mm focal length composing the camera centred on Polaris (Celestial North Star - easy to locate, just follow the last 2 stars on the blade of The Plough). Using the Live Composite mode on the Olympus camera I shot 2 Live Composites. The first was 2.5 hrs and the 2nd was for 5 hrs. Both star trail composite are generated in-camera. A cool feature to reduce post processing. I put both Live Composite images together with software (StarStax) to create a final single composite image. A shame that cloud came along through the 2nd composite - notable in bottom left of image with the light brown colour and a few notable gaps in the startrail but overall not a bad shot. I will try this one again when conditions allow! The resulting wide shot reveals 7.5 hrs of Earth spinning around the celestial North Pole - cool :-) Stay safe.

Startrail 5th April 2021

Captured at home on evening 5th & 6th April 2021. Camera: Olympus OM-D EM-1 mk3 Lens: 7-14mm This star trail was captured by using the Olympus in-camera function called Live Composite (Setting B on top dial). I chose 15s exposures and set the camera shoot for 2 periods. The first was 2.5hrs and 2nd for 5 hours, starting at 2100hrs. The maximum time setting on live composite mode is 6 hrs. Anything longer than 6 hrs requires multiple live composites (joined) or firing continuous and post processing. The final image you see is a 7.5hrs composite made from joining both Live composites captured in camera or 7.5hrs x15s in a single image. BEHIND THE LENS Camera:- Olympus OM-D EM-1 mk3 Lens: Olympus 7-14mm Tripod - Mounted in garden 15s exposure time using Live Composite mode in camera. F4 ISO 200 I mounted the camera on a tripod in the garden and set up the composition using a 7mm focal length composing the camera with horse chestnut tree in frame. The wide angle lens produces much more of the sky and star spinning effect (around the north star Polaris). There was no moonlight to provide natural light so light painted the tree for a few seconds with a torch. Using the Live Composite mode on the Olympus camera I shot 2 Live Composites. The first was 2.5 hrs and the 2nd was for 5hrs. Both star trail composite are generated in-camera. A cool feature to reduce post processing. I put both Live Composite images together with software (StarStax) to create a final single composite image. The resulting wide shot reveals 7.5 hrs of Earth spinning above the conker tree :-) Stay safe.

Easter stars

Captured at home on evening 3rd & 4th April 2021 (Easter weekend). Camera: Olympus OM-D EM-1 mk3 Lens: 12-40mm This star trail was captured by using the Olympus in-camera function called Live Composite (Setting B on top dial). I chose 15s exposures and set the camera shoot for 2 periods. The first was 2.5hrs and 2nd for 5 hours, starting at 2100hrs. The maximum time setting on live composite mode is 6 hrs. Anything longer thn 6 hrs requires multiple live composites (joined) or firing continuous and post processing. The final image you see is a 7.5hrs composite made from joining both Live composites captured in camera or 7.5hrs x15s in a single image. BEHIND THE LENS Camera:- Olympus OM-D EM-1 mk3 Lens: Olympus 12-40mm Tripod - Mounted in garden 15s exposure time using Live Composite mode in camera. F2.8 ISO 200 I mounted the camera on a tripod in the garden and set up the composition using a 12mm focal length composing the camera with horse chestnut tree in frame. There was no moonlight to provide natural light so light painted the tree for a few seconds with a torch. Using the Live Composite mode on the Olympus camera I shot 2 Live Composites. The first was 2.5 hrs and the 2nd was for 5hrs. Both star trail composite are generated in-camera. A cool feature to reduce post processing. I put both Live Composite images together with software to create a final single composite image. The resulting shot reveals 7.5 hrs of Earth spinning above the conker tree :-) Stay safe.

International Space Station flyby

The International Space Station (ISS) captured flying over UK skies 2024hrs on 29th March 2021. The flyby rose in the west and flew almost overhead to the east. Used a local field for some tree landscape and lit using torch during the multiple 4s exposures (lots!). Olympus EM1 (mk3), 8mm, mounted on tripod. Live composite mode 4s (approx 90 exposures), f3.5, ISO 200

Waxing Gibbous 95%

Captured on 26th March 2021. Olympus EM1, mk3 with 100-400mm lens + x2 TC (MC-20). Total effective focal length = 800mm x2 = 1600mm (35mm equiv). Camera/lens set up on tripod with no telescope and no tracking mount. Camera & lens Image Stabilisation (IS) switched off. f13 - minimum achievable due to lens + MC20. ISO 200 - Higher ISO reduces clarity with MC-20 (& increases noise). Low ISO is fine with bright subject/good ambient light. 1/200 - I tested 1/200 up to 1/320 and this seemed to expose best. Silent mode for shutter release eliminates vibration, together with using remote shutter cable. Silent mode had no delay (0s) but can be increased in menu if no cable release is used. Vey little wind and pretty clear skies - very good shooting conditions. Final image is approx 50% crop The MC-20 performs really well in right conditions when you work the settings. Very impressive results and remember this is a single image (no complicated stack or telescope work).

Space Station and moon

The International Space Station (ISS) captured flying over UK skies 2009hrs on 26th March 2021. The pass flew over the moon before disappearing into Earth's shadow. Used a local field for some tree landscape and lit using torch during the multiple 10s exposures (approx 20). Olympus EM1 (mk3), 8mm, mounted on tripod. Live composite mode 10s (approx 20 exposures), f3.5, ISO 320

Waxing Gibbous 90%

Captured on 25th March 2021. Olympus EM1, mk3 with 100-400mm lens + x2 TC (MC-20). Total effective focal length = 800mm x2 = 1600mm (35mm equiv). Camera/lens set up on tripod with no telescope and no tracking mount. Camera & lens Image Stabilisation (IS) switched off. f13 - minimum achievable due to lens + MC20. ISO 200 - Higher ISO reduces clarity with MC-20 (& increases noise). Low ISO is fine with bright subject/good ambient light. 1/160 - I tested 1/160 up to 1/200 and this seemed to expose best. Silent mode for shutter release eliminates vibration, together with using remote shutter cable. Silent mode had no delay (0s) but can be increased in menu if no cable release is used. Vey little wind and pretty clear skies - very good shooting conditions. Final image is approx 50% crop The MC-20 performs really well in right conditions when you work the settings. Very impressive results and remember this is a single image (no complicated stack or telescope work).

Lunar halo shining

Captured on 24th March 2021. Lovely moon halo (360) shining down on the motorway traffic. Olympus EM1 (mk3), 8mm, mounted on tripod. 10s, f3.5, ISO 250

Waxing Gibbous 83%

Captured on 24th March 2021. Olympus EM1, mk3 with 100-400mm lens + x2 TC (MC-20). Total effective focal length = 800mm x2 = 1600mm (35mm equiv). Camera/lens set up on tripod with no telescope and no tracking mount. Camera & lens Image Stabilisation (IS) switched off. f13 - minimum achievable due to lens + MC20. ISO 200 - Higher ISO reduces clarity with MC-20 (& increases noise). Low ISO is fine with bright subject/good ambient light. 1/125 - I tested 1/125 up to 1/200 and this seemed to expose best. Silent mode for shutter release eliminates vibration, together with using remote shutter cable. Silent mode had no delay (0s) but can be increased in menu if no cable release is used. Vey little wind and pretty clear skies - very good shooting conditions. Final image is approx 50% crop The MC-20 performs really well in right conditions when you work the settings. Very impressive results and remember this is a single image (no complicated stack or telescope work).

Space Station, moon and halo

The International Space Station (ISS) captured flying over UK skies 2007hrs on 24th March 2021. The pass was again close to the moon and this shot everything all seemed to come together nicely. The ISS rose in the west sky flew over the motorway traffic, over the moon, through the moon halo before disappearing into Earth's shadow. Nice! Olympus EM1 (mk3), 8mm, mounted on tripod. Live composite mode 10s (approx 20 exposures), f4, ISO 250

73% waxing gibbous moon

Captured on 23rd March 2021. Olympus EM1, mk3 with 100-400mm lens + x2 TC (MC-20). Total effective focal length = 800mm x2 = 1600mm (35mm equiv). Camera/lens set up on tripod with no telescope and no tracking mount. Camera & lens Image Stabilisation (IS) switched off. f13 - minimum achievable due to lens + MC20. ISO 200 - Higher ISO reduces clarity with MC-20 (& increases noise). Low ISO is fine with bright subject/good ambient light. 1/125 - I tested 1/125 up to 1/200 and this seemed to expose best. Silent mode for shutter release eliminates vibration, together with using remote shutter cable. Silent mode had no delay (0s) but can be increased in menu if no cable release is used. Vey little wind and pretty clear skies - very good shooting conditions. Final image is approx 50% crop The MC-20 performs really well in right conditions when you work the settings. Very impressive results and remember this is a single image (no complicated stack or telescope work).

Space Station flyover

The International Space Station (ISS) captured flying over UK skies 2005hrs on 23rd March 2021. The pass was again close to the moon and covered the entire west to east horizon. Framed around my favourite garden tree. Olympus EM1 (mk3), 8mm, mounted on tripod. Live composite mode 10s, f4, ISO 320

Space Station flyby

The International Space Station (ISS) captured flying over UK skies 2005hrs on 22nd March 2021. The pass was very close to the moon and disappeared into Earth’s shadow shortly after. Framed around my favourite garden tree. Olympus EM1 (mk3), 8mm, mounted on tripod. Live composite mode 10s, f4, ISO 320

53% waxing gibbous moon

Half moon (53% waxing gibbous) captured at home in Leicestershire on 21st March 2021. Close up detail using Olympus EM1 (mk3), 100-400mm, tripod, rc cable and high res mode. f6.3, 1/400s, ISO 400

53% waxing gibbous moon 21st March 2021

Half moon (53% waxing gibbous) captured at home in Leicestershire on 21st March 2021. Close up detail using Olympus EM1 (mk3), 100-400mm, tripod, rc cable. f6.3, 1/400s, ISO 400

17% Crescent Earthshine

17% crescent moon captured on 17th March 2021 showing fast exposure (1/160s) alongside a slower (1.3s) to capture Earthshine. Both captured with Olympus EM1, (mk3), 100-400mm lens, f6.3, ISO 500

Moonlit star trail

Captured at home on evening 26th & 27th February 2021. Full moon - 99.8%. Camera: Olympus OM-D EM-1 mk3 Lens: 7-14mm BEHIND THE LENS Camera:- Olympus OM-D EM-1 mk3 Lens: Olympus 7-14mm Tripod - Mounted in garden 15s exposure time x 7hrs (1500 exposures) F4 ISO 320 I mounted the camera on a tripod in the garden and set up the composition using a 7-14mm focal length composing the camera with horse chestnut tree in frame. The full moon (99.8%) was extremely bright and lit up the landscape. It was just to the right of my exposure upon time of setup - approx 2230hrs. There was no need for any light painting/illumination as the moon provided plenty of natural light to the scene. 7hrs worth of 15s exposures (1500 total) imported to software (Starstax) to generate final composite. The resulting shot reveals 7hrs of Earth spinning with landscape lit by the moonlight. The 0600hrs ISS flyby can just be seen on right side of tree running bottom to top corner. Stay safe.

Moonlight

Captured at home on evening 25th February 2021. Nearly full moon - waxing gibbous 98%. Camera: Olympus OM-D EM-1 mk3 Lens: 12-40mm I was setting up the camera for a star trail shoot. Look how the landscape is naturally lit from the moon. Amazing, almost looks like daytime! EM1, mk3, 12-40mm f2.8, 15s, ISO 320

Moonlit Stars

Captured at home on evening 25th & 26th February 2021. Nearly full moon - waxing gibbous 98%. Camera: Olympus OM-D EM-1 mk3 Lens: 12-40mm This star trail was captured by using the Olympus in-camera function called Live Composite (Setting B on top dial). I chose 15s exposures and set the camera shoot for 2 periods. The first was 2.5hrs and 2nd for 5 hours. The final image you see is a 7.5hrs composite made from both Live composites captured in camera. BEHIND THE LENS Camera:- Olympus OM-D EM-1 mk3 Lens: Olympus 12-40mm Tripod - Mounted in garden 15s exposure time using Live Composite mode in camera. F2.8 ISO 320 I mounted the camera on a tripod in the garden and set up the composition using a 12mm focal length composing the camera with horse chestnut tree in frame. The nearly full moon (98% waxing gibbous) was extremely bright and lit up the landscape. It was just to the right of my exposure upon time of setup - approx 2100hrs. There was no need for any light painting/illumination as the moon provided plenty of natural light to the scene. Using the Lice Composite mode on the Olympus camera I shot 2 Live Composites. The first was 2.5 hrs and the 2nd was for 5hrs. Both star trail composite are generated in-camera. A cool feature to reduce post processing. I put both Live Composite images together with software to create a final single composite image. The resulting shot reveals 7.5 hrs of Earth spinning with landscape lit by the moonlight. The bright streak at top left looks like a satellite flare. easily mistaken for a meteor but you will note how the flare increases in brightness and fades, a signature of a satellite flare. Stay safe.

Moonlit tree

Captured on 24th February 2021. Olympus OMD EM1 mk3, 12-40mm. f2.5, 1/640s, ISO 640, tripod.

Waxing Gibbous 79%

Captured on 22nd February 2021. Olympus OMD EM1 mk3, 100-400mm. f6.3, 1/640s, ISO 400, tripod, High Res mode.

Waxing Gibbous 79%

Captured on 22nd February 2021. Olympus OMD EM1 mk3, 100-400mm. f6.3, 1/640s, ISO 400, tripod.

Tree in the dark

Captured at home on 19th Feb 2021. OMD, EM1 (mk3), with 7-14mm f4, 31s, ISO 200

New Year eve star trail

Captured on evening 31st December 2020. Last star trail of the year! This is a short 3 hr star trail as cloud rolled in. Olympus OMD, EM1 (mk3) in M mode, 7-14mm, set to 15s exposures, f4. Star Trail put together post processing in software (Starstax).

2021

Happy New Year 2021 Lunar font. Olympus EM1, 100-40mm

Full moon clouds

Captured on 30th December 2020. Multiple exposure of clouds and full moon. Olympus EM1, mk3, 100-400mm.

Full Moon (99.9%)

Captured on 27th December 2020. Olympus OMD EM1 mk3, 100-400mm. f6.3, 1/2000s, ISO 320, hand held.

Full moon in trees

Captured on 29th December 2020. Full moon (99.9%) captured in a separate image and multi exposure with trees. Olympus OMD EM1,100-400mm

Moon halo

Captured on 27th December 2020. Cold conditions allowing a 360 halo to form around the nearly full moon. the halo is created by the moon’s light refracted by water droplets in the air. Olympus OMD EM1, 7-14mm, f4, 4s, ISO 500.