2019 Solar System Bests

2019 was one of the more challenging years as all the major planets are quite low altitude for norther hemisphere observers.  The reason that altitude plays a roll is because of the amount of air you must look or image through is greatly increased as you move closer to the horizon.

Regardless I was able to get most of the major planets!



Full resolution
https://i.imgur.com/274fRuV.png

Full resolution with labels
https://i.imgur.com/9gWe609.png


Come see all my previous editions from the past 11 years here - https://maphilli14.webs.com/annual-solar-system-bests

A pair of highlights are in the top left and center which include; Transit of Mercury across the Sun and a Super Blood Wolf Lunar Eclipse!

Mercury transit was shot from Disney, hand held DSLR and hand held solar filter on the 200mm lens!

 

Additionally, I was gifted Reddit Gold for my Venus post! - https://www.reddit.com/r/astrophotography/comments/ees6mj/venus_in_false_color/



I was able to get both the icy gas giants but not great quality.  I was able to target a comet, 38P/Stephan Oterma on 2019.01.26, simply by happenstance and it made a stellar occultation as well!   

For those extra curious sorts, here's additional details on why altitude matters so much.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_mass_(astronomy)











In essence,overhead you have a single airmass and as you move towards the horizon it gets increasingly thick amounts of air.

There's a good chart on this page here that also gets into the math (http://www.ftexploring.com/solar-energy/air-mass-and-insolation2.htm).  Essentially at around 30° alt you are looking through 2 air masses and down on the horizon the approximation is made that it's up to a total of 38 air masses.  This coincidentally is why the sun and moon rise/sets are so big and rich due to scattering and increased amounts of atmosphere!

Thanks for reading and look forward to my other post about a full Jovian season which will also highlight these effects!

- Mike