Observation by Dominic Ford (site admin): Saturn with a handheld DSLR

Uploaded by

Dominic Ford

Observer

Dominic Ford (site admin)

Observed

2017 Jun 13 - 22:00

Uploaded

2017 Jun 14 - 20:15

Objects

Saturn

Equipment

Canon 750D
300mm lens

Exposure

1/500 sec, ISO 6400

Location

Lund, Sweden

Target name

Saturn

Title

Saturn with a handheld DSLR

About this image

Last night I was wondering whether it would be possible for me to observe Saturn, given that I'm at latitude 57N, and I don't have a telescope with me in Lund.

So I tried putting my longest lens (300mm) on my Canon 750D to see what would happen. I do have a tripod, but I thought that would be cheating, so I went for a very fast exposure (1/500 sec, ISO 6400), hand held.

Definitely a positive detection of a ring.

I hope the attached isn't the best observation the Saturn Section receives this apparition, but perhaps it will be the most northerly. I'm now in Uppsala at latitude 59.8N, but I'm not sure I'll find anywhere with a flat enough horizon to repeat the experiment with Saturn at altitude 8 degrees.

Files associated with this observation

IMG_0624b.JPG (57.7 kB)

Like this image

Jeremy Shears, David Swan, David Dunn, Chris Dole, Steve Knight, Peter Carson, Alan Thomas

Comments

David Swan, 2017 Jun 15 - 14:54 UTC

This is impressive - considering the altitude of the object, and the focal length and angular resolution afforded by your camera lens. I live in northern England, so I'm pretty unhappy about Saturn's southerly declination at the moment (and for the next decade!) too.

Steve Knight, 2017 Jun 16 - 20:13 UTC

Impressive Domini!c! I did a similar experiment last night with a 500mm lens. I cheated though. Used a tripod and as I am in Portugal elevation was 30 degrees. You have set the bar too high for me!

Steve Knight, 2017 Jun 16 - 20:13 UTC

Impressive Domini!c! I did a similar experiment last night with a 500mm lens. I cheated though. Used a tripod and as I am in Portugal elevation was 30 degrees. You have set the bar too high for me!

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