Twinkling Stars: Virgo, the Moon and Lulin Comet

This video was taken on 15th February 2009. We see here many twinkling stars at the Virgo constellation, the Moon waning gibbous 20 days old and Lulin Comet (C/2007 N3). Unfortunately the video quality don't let us discern clearly Lulin comet, but it was there; I could spot it with binoculars.

The seeing conditions were bad: Moon near the target, much light pollution and the comet altitud was 33 degrees. Its magnitude was 6. In the video we can discern magnitude 6 starts, like HIP67271 near to Spika (alfa Virgo) and very near to Lulin, at just 1 degree to its left.

Equipment: Casio Exilim EX-Z80 recording at 8Mpx.

Each video frame is a 4 seconds exposure shot.

Music by myself, in order to avoid copyright problems.

Hint: Add "&fmt=18" (without quotes) at the end of the URL in Youtube to see this video at the best quality.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Casio Exilim
• EX-Z80
• 8Mpx
• twinkling stars
• Virgo
• Spika
• Lulin Comet
• Astronomy
• Astrophotography
• Moon
• HIP67271
• February
• 2009
• Music

[qubesquared]

Really like this. Impressed also with the use of the Astro programe to then show the comet's position.

[CumputerPhysiscsLab]

It took me time to align and zoom correctly the map with the video. Afterwards I could confirm that every star showed in the video was mapped exactly in its position in the corresponding map.

[cjacqueslf]

Nice idea. Congrats.