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View Full Version here: : Dobs Unite! Jupiter + GRS - 6th April 2005


iceman
07-04-2005, 08:40 AM
Hey guys.

Finally got some decent seeing last night so I took the opportunity to do some more dob-based imaging of Jupiter. Seeing was very nice, about 4/5. Through the eypiece Jupiter looked great. The GRS was visible as a nice orangey/red eye transitting across the southern belt.

Anyway as usual I experimented with different settings, from 1/50s to 1/100s, 2x barlow, 2x barlow pulled out with the ToUcam pulled out of the barlow, prime focus.

I figured that to reduce motion blur because of the lack of tracking, 1/100s shutter would be better. But of course that requires more gain, which equals more noise.. I tried keeping gain as low as possible, but in some avi's it resulted in scalloping around the edges due to lack of exposure.

I imaged all but one of the avi's at 5fps since the seeing was very good. Gamma was 0, saturation around 93%. All avi's had the IR-blocking filter in place.

Each image is the result of about 4 or 5 passes through the field-of-view, capturing about 10-12 seconds worth of data each pass.

I've made a composite of all of the processed avi groups for comparison of the results.

The AVI for image 11 was taken on February 24th (my best avi to-date), and reprocessed this morning with a softer more natural look.

I think the best of the bunch is image 5.. your thoughts and feedback?

quicksimon
07-04-2005, 09:05 AM
Great shots there Mike. The colours of the cloud bands and grs are spot on. Yeah numer 5 is probably the pick of the bunch as like you said it is the more natural looking. Well done
Simon

ving
07-04-2005, 09:34 AM
hey they are great mike. been ages since we have seen anything from you :)
no. 11 and 5 are my faves :)

gbeal
07-04-2005, 09:49 AM
Ice,
they are all good, I am just a little concerned that you will start a wave of self abuse freaks who shun the idea of any form of tracking for planetary imaging.
So with results like this, why don't you try the Raw/Non-Raw/Optimised experiment?
Gary

iceman
08-04-2005, 06:10 AM
Thanks guys :)

Gary i'm writing an "astrophotography with a dob" guide, for all those self-abuse freaks to get off on :)

I'll be trying the raw/non-raw/optimised expirement in my next session.