Aristarchus: ToUcam vs SkyNyx 2.1M

[Zac Pujic]

I imaged the Aristarchus Plateau again, this time with my SkyNyx 2.1M under poor seeing. It produced a better image than my ToUcam did under good conditions.

SkyNyx 2.1M image is here

http://astroimg.org/latestlunar.html

The ToUcam version is here

http://astroimg.org/LunarPics/Aristarchus.jpg[/URL]

31 cm Newtonian at f/28 for the ToUcam image (haven't calculated the f/ratio for the SkyNyx version yet). Wratten 25A filter. Frames stacked using MAP function in Registax 4beta.

Zac Pujic
Brisbane, Australia
[url]http://astroimg.org (http://astroimg.org/LunarPics/Aristarchus.jpg)

[netwolf]

Wow, thats a big diffrence in image sharpness/detail. How was the seeing out of 10 on the two nights?
Have not heard of the skynyx who makes these cameras?

Great work.

Regards
Netwolf

[Zac Pujic]

Lumenera make SkyNyx cameras. The SkyNyx line of cameras have only recently been released, although Lumenera make others including the LUO75 which has been used in the last couple of years by prominent planetary imagers. They're available through Adirondack Video in the US (astrovid.com). They're a bit pricey but worth the money. Unfortunately you have to get a fast computer too.

Seeing on the ToUcam night was good-very good (but not fantastic). Maybe 8/10.

Seeing on the SkyNyx night was poor. Around 4/10.

I'm amazed at how much detail the SkyNyx shows despite the seeing being poor. I'm glad I didn't give up. Also, the SkyNyx can record 12-bit data while the ToUcam is only 8-bit. It means image processing is less likely to produce artefacts.

Zac

[Dennis]

Hello, Zac

Those are very nice images - both. The detail in each is mouth watering. Thanks for posting the comparison between the two cameras; it was very interesting to see the difference.

Cheers

Dennis

[iceman]

Nice work Zac, look forward to more comparisons. The resolution on the skynyx seems to be a long way ahead of the ToUcam.

How much were these resampled?

I'd like to see one at original scale if you can post it?

How many FPS were you capturing at?

[Robert_T]

Hi Zac, both are pretty special images, though the Skynx seems to have brought out more detail, but it does look a little more pushed than the Toucam one as well?

I was "this" close to getting the SKynx. By the way Telescopes and Astronomy in SA will also get these in for you and the price I was quoted was comparable (perhaps even cheaper if you get stung by customs duty) than getting them in from the states. Ah well, it's the DMK for me for now ;)

cheers,