Moon & Mercury... Just!!!!

[JohnP]

Hadn't planned this at all.. just out in garden around 8'ish when caught a glimpse of new moon (thinnest I have ever seen). Rushed around grabbed EOS & tripod - then had to search for glasses & torch - eventually managed a couple of hurried shots (I have a crap Westerly view from my garden).  Spent about 1hr scanning shots & eventually spied Mercury in one frame hiden between branches of a bush... Image below is 100% crop of this .. Mercury just visible top left.  Shame I couldn't get Venus as well but too many bushes/ trees. May try again tonight.

Cheers,  John

[Rocket Pooch]

[PhilB]

Nice, it's a photo I was trying to take! But, if you took this on the 15th as I intended to do, I think you'll find that Mercury is just to the left of the moon (very hard to see) and  the planet in the top left is Venus.

[Tony G]

Phil,

Just checking on Stellarium for the evening of the 15th and I think this is the Moon and Mercury, as Venus is further to the left, and would be a lot brighter.

Tony G

[PhilB]

I've rechecked it, Tony and think you may be right. So, what is it in the fugg just over one moon diameter immediately to the left of the crescent moon?

[mickw]

Hot pixel 

Brightest ? object in that area is tyc1218-1714-1 mag 9 against Mercurys mag 1.42

Satellite COBE also in the area just before 8 at mag 6.7

[PhilB]

Thanks Mick. Hot pixel might well be it - or perhaps the sun reflected from one of COBEs solar panels?

[mickw]

The only thing it wouldn't be is a plane 

[JohnP]

Well it's definitely Mercury top left... Venus was way brighter.. I have other images as well from same night so can check for dot to left of moon... I think probably hot pixel though because 27Ari would also be in frame further to left & that is mag 6.2 & I cant see that...

[mickw]

The plot thickens...................................

[Mike]

Get the exact time and date it was taken and superimpose it over a same scale planetarium image.

[Rocket Pooch]

Its my bum, I was up in a plane doing a moony with tin foil on it.

[PhilB]

Its my bum...

Astonishing, Chris. How did you know that John was taking a picture at that moment and how did you calculate the incidence/reflection angles?

[Rocket Pooch]

It took years of planning including ensuring no aircraft where in the area to ensure I did not get bum ped into.

[PhilB]

Ahh, it's not just a knack then