FINALLY! Saturn 18-2-07

[swannies1983]

After being a bit disappointed with my webcam imaging of late, I finally got some good seeing conditions. Now, I have been using my newly acquired Tal 200K on my EQ6 but I have been a bit disappointed with my viewing experience with the scope. The contrast just wasn't there with the Tal compared to my 8" Dob. After speaking to a few people, it seems the central obstruction of the Tal (~34% mirror area) is preventing me getting a better contrast.

Therefore, I took the rings and dovetail off the Tal and put them on my Dob OTA and attached it to the EQ6. After adjusting the eypiece, I was finally impressed with the viewing conditions of Saturn. I quickly snapped out the Toucam and started imaging away! Below is an image of Saturn which I consider my best so far. I only have a 2x barlow which gives a FL of 2400mm with the Newt. I was a bit annoyed that I didn't have anything higher as the seeing conditions were the best I had experienced for a while :sadeyes: .

Scope: 8" Dob
2x barlow
f/12
shutter 1/25sec
gain 25%
brightness ~50%
stacked about 300/800
slight wavelet adjustment and some polishing up in Photoshop

Feel free to make some commets about processing. I didn't want to go overboard at this stage. I will try splitting the file into red, green and blue.

[davidpretorius]

well done, you have done very nicely.

re processing, i would definately not push it any harder than you have.

as your image scale grows ie extra focal length, maybe a 5x powermate, then things like the cassini division can be distorted by over processing.

it tends to over widen.

but hey, at the moment, while you are learning, try everything, it is the only way to improve.....over process, underprocess, split the colours etc

the main thing is that you are ready for taking advantage of a great seeing night