Log in

View Full Version here: : Mars with the MN190


Retrograde
21-10-2020, 11:57 AM
Hi all,

This is likely my best planetary image to date. Thanks to Andrew, Marc and others who've been providing tips on the forum on how to optimize planetary captures. :hi:

The seeing was quite good last night but a large band of cloud came over so I called it quits around 10pm so Mars was still a way from its highest elevation. Better seeing made it much easier to obtain good focus and I used a smaller ROI and moved it around in Sharpcap when the disk started to move out of frame.

This is a stack of the best 4500-odd frames out of 20,000 captured using the 190mm Mak-Newt, 4 x Powermate and an ASI-120-MC.

Really pleased with the performance of the MN190 and that I have something decent to show from this year's opposition. :)

*Edit* repro after using Winjupos to derotate 6 stacks added (2nd image)

h0ughy
21-10-2020, 12:24 PM
Really great detail there nice results

Saturnine
21-10-2020, 12:28 PM
Ooohh, that is nice, well captured.

multiweb
21-10-2020, 12:46 PM
Got to be in it to win it! Top shot Pete :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
Had a look up around 22:00 and it was still cloudy here so went to bed :(

glend
21-10-2020, 12:51 PM
Great shot Pete. Got to love the MN190.

rustigsmed
22-10-2020, 10:39 AM
nice shot Pete - MN190 doing a great job!

Retrograde
22-10-2020, 12:18 PM
Thanks David!



Thank-you Jeff I'm very pleased with it. :)



Thanks mate!
After I packed everything up I looked outside and it was mostly clear again :lol:
Still I was glad to have grabbed some images.

Retrograde
22-10-2020, 12:22 PM
Thanks Glen!
Yep I love the MN190 - hopefully you don't miss it too much and you can be assured it went to an appreciative new owner. ;)



Thank-you Russell. Yep very pleased with its abilities for only 190mm aperture. Most of the issues so far have been with the operator :rofl:

Quopaz
24-10-2020, 02:24 AM
Nice pic, well done. I've noticed it improves a fair bit from 10pm to 1am, but then Syrtis Major rotates toward the edge too.

Retrograde
28-10-2020, 11:39 AM
Thanks Nick!
Hopefully the phase will change enough for you to get it before Mars gets too small.

I've had a play with Winjupos (don't really know what I'm doing) and derotated 6 stacked images from the evening. There's a bit less noise I feel but not sure about any extra detail.
I've also played with the colour balance a little in post. (Have added the image to the top of the thread too.)

Saturnine
28-10-2020, 01:19 PM
The re-processed de-rotated image looks pretty smooth but as you said no obvious gain in detail.
The only critique I would venture is the orientation of the disc, lying on its side. I think it is easier to make sense of the martian features when the polar cap is at the top of the image. In other words the polar axis is vertical .

Retrograde
29-10-2020, 12:04 PM
Looking again I believe that the small spot off to the right of the end of Syrtis Major, Nodus Alcyonius, came up a bit better than in the original.

As for the orientation - noted :)