Astrophotography

Astrophotography: The Planets

Imaging our nearest celestial neighbors can be challenging. Although they seem close, we are talking about hundreds of million miles and much more.All of the planets except Earth (for obvious reasons), Mercury (too close to the sun)and Neptune (so small and far)have been imaged by Metacom Observatory. Mercury and Neptune have been observed here but not imaged. Pluto is too small and far to even be seen with our telescope except in special conditions... Venus 2004 B&W > Venus color Venus, The Second Planet from the Sun is forever cloudy, hiding surface detail. B&W Image. In Color,26,000,000 miles away Mars, the red planet, average distance,48,000,000 miles. Mars 2006. Will come close again in 2008. Galilean Moons Jupiter Jupiter overexposed to show three of the four moons discovered by Galileo! We astronomers stand on the shoulders of giants. Jupiter, the King of the planets,390,000,000 miles and an asteroid belt away. Saturn Saturn Saturn,793,000,000 miles away...but so close... Saturn, Ringed Wonder