Just the ole kit 70-300. I fall back to that a lot. One of my tripod legs had a loose cam, so with a breeze, the leg was retracting. It was a fiasco! I’ll tighten the leg cams and try again tomorrow, I reckon.
That lens does not have image stabilization, so it will be almost impossible to get clear shots in low light. You sould use the 70-200 with image stabilization on if you are shooting handheld.
A beautiful series! My favorite is the 2nd one, with the perfect Moon-eye of the Universe looking out beyond Saturn and Jupiter. It’s raining here tonight. Been raining most of the day. No sky views up this way tonight.
It should be to the south. You can look it up for what time to look and where to look for where you are.
You are presuming I know which way south is 😉 Which I actually do so 😀
I looked up Saturn and Venus for Montreal, I think you are somewhere out that direction if I remember correctly. They rise at 9:38 pm and by midnight they will be about 17º to 18º above the horizon to the SouthEast. Is that helpful at all?
Thank you, Tim.
It is helpful indeed. Now to see if I’m willing to go out there to capture them in this friggen cold spell we are having.
Going out in the cold sucks. Maybe it will warm up a little by Monday. It’s cold down here, also.
It’s been in the teens… A short walk around the man-made lake next to work and my thighs were numb!
It was 12ºF when I left this morning. We need thermal long Johns to walk around in the cold.
Brrr! Who would think you guys get to cold!
We at at 5,000 feet in the valley. Cold and dry.
I see that!
This is the collusion of the two, Jupiter and Saturn, the largest planets in our solar system, creating The Star of Bethlehem, which hasn’t happened for 800 years. Pretty epic. I saw it driving home.
A powerful Alignment Tim.. in a powerful configuration of our times.. Let us hope we create a beautiful new positive time line to go with it..
Beautiful photographs.. 🙂
Thanks, aveRAGE. Have you seen the planets converging? There was a full solar eclipse on Monday that could be seen in the south end of South America, Antarctica and South Africa. I’m not sure if any of it was visible in Australia.
Thanks, Marina. That plane was perfect. It’s like the pilot saw me down there and said “Watch this move!” I couldn’t have asked for a better move of the plane’s part.
It didn’t seem easy to get the planet in the frame (if that’s the right word). It helps to have plenty of cloudless nights – we were very lucky to have a clear view.
Saturn, Jupiter, Sliver Moon, cottonwood
Contrails and clouds. Saturn, the Bringer of old age. Jupiter, the Bringer of jollity.
Off Center & Not Even 
Great photos, Tim. The moon in the second photo is amazing!
Thanks, Mia. I really like the third photo with all the contrails.
It’s terrific too. The plane looks like it’s heading up and out to space!
It took a turn and headed straight up. It was really weird.
I was happy when it made that turn. It made for a much more interesting photo.
Awesome. I dig the contrail swirl. I tried to get more than blurry dots tonight, but no. I’ll try again tomorrow night, I guess.
Thanks, Bruce. Which lens are you using?
Just the ole kit 70-300. I fall back to that a lot. One of my tripod legs had a loose cam, so with a breeze, the leg was retracting. It was a fiasco! I’ll tighten the leg cams and try again tomorrow, I reckon.
That lens does not have image stabilization, so it will be almost impossible to get clear shots in low light. You sould use the 70-200 with image stabilization on if you are shooting handheld.
I will give it a try tomorrow with the 70-200. My darkness skills are quite remedial.
It should help.
A beautiful series! My favorite is the 2nd one, with the perfect Moon-eye of the Universe looking out beyond Saturn and Jupiter. It’s raining here tonight. Been raining most of the day. No sky views up this way tonight.
Thanks, Lavinia. We need rain, but I hope it stay clear, and hoping your skies clear by Monday.
The contrails one is definitely lovely!
As are the others, of course.
Thanks, Dale. Can you see them from where you are? I dodn’t know what time they would be where you could see them.
See Saturn et al? I don’t know where to look!
It should be to the south. You can look it up for what time to look and where to look for where you are.
You are presuming I know which way south is 😉 Which I actually do so 😀
I looked up Saturn and Venus for Montreal, I think you are somewhere out that direction if I remember correctly. They rise at 9:38 pm and by midnight they will be about 17º to 18º above the horizon to the SouthEast. Is that helpful at all?
Thank you, Tim.
It is helpful indeed. Now to see if I’m willing to go out there to capture them in this friggen cold spell we are having.
Going out in the cold sucks. Maybe it will warm up a little by Monday. It’s cold down here, also.
It’s been in the teens… A short walk around the man-made lake next to work and my thighs were numb!
It was 12ºF when I left this morning. We need thermal long Johns to walk around in the cold.
Brrr! Who would think you guys get to cold!
We at at 5,000 feet in the valley. Cold and dry.
I see that!
This is the collusion of the two, Jupiter and Saturn, the largest planets in our solar system, creating The Star of Bethlehem, which hasn’t happened for 800 years. Pretty epic. I saw it driving home.
Thanks, Cindy.
Once again, great shots Timothy 🙂
Thanks, picpholio.
A powerful Alignment Tim.. in a powerful configuration of our times.. Let us hope we create a beautiful new positive time line to go with it..
Beautiful photographs.. 🙂
Thanks, Sue. We can hope for the best.
🙂
Oh wow!! That last pic is amazing!
Thanks, aveRAGE. Have you seen the planets converging? There was a full solar eclipse on Monday that could be seen in the south end of South America, Antarctica and South Africa. I’m not sure if any of it was visible in Australia.
Super extra gasp&wow!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Marina. That plane was perfect. It’s like the pilot saw me down there and said “Watch this move!” I couldn’t have asked for a better move of the plane’s part.
A secret collaboration!!! 😉
More like just “plane” luck!
A ha ha… yes!!
We like all, but our fav is the last. Hoping our skies are clear for the convergence!
Thanks, Maj & Sher. Hoping for clear skies for everyone.
Another gorgeous post.
Thanks, Shey. Does it clear up enough in your world to see the planets?
Well, yes and no. Venus the one we see here. But I have seen Saturn and Jupiter at our local observatory. yes we have one. Lovely to see these though.
You have an obligatory observatory nearby? That’s super cool.
Aw, Dundee has this quite beloved wee observatory called the mills observatory, very much of its day but a local institution.
That’s very nice to have a local observatory.
It is nice. I used love getting to go there as a kid.
Clouds and snow have made the skies un-photographical here.
A sad state of affairs. Thanks, Teri.
That it is.
What a treat. I once saw a pea-sized Saturn floating serene through a telescope. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
It’s cool to see the rings and all. I’ve thought about a telescope, but I don’t know if I have the patients to use one. Thanks, Susan.
It didn’t seem easy to get the planet in the frame (if that’s the right word). It helps to have plenty of cloudless nights – we were very lucky to have a clear view.
Wow, Tim, these are incredible!
Thanks, Tiffany.
Those turned out beautifully, Tim. Hugs on the wing.
Thanks, Teagan.
I feel like telling fortunes now!
The night skies with the trees are ready for interpretation.
You are welcome to interpret and foretell.
Ahh, I might do that sometime! Thank you!
Wish my night shots looked liked yours …. super shots Tim! That second moon is a stunner
Thanks, Julie.