Approaching Mars - March/April 2018

[Sebbie]

Hi everyone

Here's my first Mars attempts this year.. trying to clear processing backlog taken around the Easter holiday break :)

Collage made up of WinJUPOS derotated three minute drizzle stacks, around 15 minute total recording time each. With microfocuser and barlow in the imaging train I'm unable to go past 77° in altitude so all captures finalised before meridian transit (Mars is currently peaking at 78°). North on top for individual composites. Animation is from 7 Apr and covers 12 minutes - not enough to detect much spin.

I also had a go at compiling visual comparison of Jupiter and Mars disk sizes - collage is from Easter morning local time and geometry mirrors southern sky orientation. Thanks for checking these out,

Cheers,
Seb

[Troy]

Good images and well presented. :thumbsup:

[Bushy69]

Great images Sebastian, really impressive.

[Sebbie]

Thanks Troy and Justin.

I finally learned why colour adjustment always gives me grief in post processing.. just ordered UV/IR cut filter, a necessary accessory for this camera.. No wonder I could never reproduce warm hues out of ZWO debayering.. DFK never had that problem as the cut was built in.. :screwy: Hope the package gets here soon.

http://www.planetary-astronomy-and-imaging.com/en/ir-cut-filter-asi224mc/

[blinky]

Nice images Seb. I especially like the size comparison with jupiter.