Jupiter, Saturn + first Mars

[brettd (Brett)]

My first post out of the "beginners forum" ... let me know if I need to put my training wheels back on!

Here are last nights images:

Edge 8
ZWO Asi462mc
1.5x barlow (2x without the extension)

This is the first time I have tried without the diagonal, (new equatorial mount gives more room behind the scope than the evo mount did)

This was with just the barlow and an svbony uv/ir cut between the scope and camera.

I shut down a few background programs, and ran a power lead .. no FPS issues this time round.

Seeing did seem to get worse as the night went on.
I did a local curves adjustment on callisto to make it more visible.

As always any advice on how to improve welcome!

[Quopaz (Nick)]

Pretty good, I like the Mars!

[Tulloch (Andrew)]

Excellent work, focal ratio is right on the money (I calculate it to be f/16), when you get some better seeing (last night was terrible) your images will improve.

How long did you image each planet for? Jupiter can take 3 minutes, Saturn and Mars 5 minutes.

Andrew

[Saturnine (Jeff)]

Quite a respectable effort on the planets. Don't know what the seeing was like down south but it was terrible up here last night.

[brettd (Brett)]

Thanks.

Jupiter and mars were 3 mins each, and saturn 5 mins.

Ditching the diagonal has brought the camera closer (same distance between barlow and camera) and that has changed effective FL from 3950 to 3190 = F 15.7 by my calculation. I didn't expect that much of a difference!
Interesting to see how much things will change once I get my ADC in there (should be arriving next weekend)

Really struggling with the colours ... even the smallest saturation boost adds heaps of noise.

[Quopaz (Nick)]

Originally Posted by Saturnine

Quite a respectable effort on the planets. Don't know what the seeing was like down south but it was terrible up here last night.

Seeing was very good here in SA early last night, when the red spot was there. Almost as good as it gets for this time of year. But it went bad by the time Callisto's shadow got there. Too much moisture in the air I think.