The young crescent moon occulted Mercury today...as seen from the mountains of southern New Mexico.

First photo is a telephoto shot of the moon only a minute after it uncovered our innermost planet. This was taken in bright twilight as a wind and dust storm was easing up.

Second photo is a wider angle shot ten minutes later that includes Venus in the bottom third of the frame. The evening twilight sky colors are pallid because of the dust storm clouds billowing a mile below me on the floor of the Tularosa basin.

#Mercury #Moon #Crescent #Occult #Occultation #Astronomy #Twilight #Evening #Photography #Astrophotography

The young crescent moon occulted Mercury today...as seen from the mountains of southern New Mexico.

First photo is a telephoto shot of the moon only a minute after it uncovered our innermost planet. This was taken in bright twilight as a wind and dust storm was easing up.

Second photo is a wider angle shot ten minutes later that includes Venus in the bottom third of the frame. The evening twilight sky colors are pallid because of the dust storm clouds billowing a mile below me on the floor of the Tularosa basin.

#Mercury #Moon #Crescent #Occult #Occultation #Astronomy #Twilight #Evening #Photography #Astrophotography

Evening photography challenge for 23 October.

Look southwest, just above the horizon about 45 minutes after sunset. The crescent moon will be next to Mercury and Mars.

Binoculars will probably be helpful, and you can't have any obstructions along the southwest horizon.

The finder chart shows (red wire rectangle) the amount of sky coverage of a 135mm lens for a camera with an APS-C sensor (or a 200mm lens and a camera with a full frame sensor).

BTW, if you wait another 20 - 30 minutes, comet A6 Lemmon will be visible farther to the right and a bit higher up. Bonus!

#Astronomy #Astrophotography #Moon #Crescent #Mars #Comet

Evening photography challenge for 23 October.

Look southwest, just above the horizon about 45 minutes after sunset. The crescent moon will be next to Mercury and Mars.

Binoculars will probably be helpful, and you can't have any obstructions along the southwest horizon.

The finder chart shows (red wire rectangle) the amount of sky coverage of a 135mm lens for a camera with an APS-C sensor (or a 200mm lens and a camera with a full frame sensor).

BTW, if you wait another 20 - 30 minutes, comet A6 Lemmon will be visible farther to the right and a bit higher up. Bonus!

#Astronomy #Astrophotography #Moon #Crescent #Mars #Comet