Clavius, Plato, Tycho, Rima Hadley (Apollo 15), Copernicus, Gassendi and Vitello

[Dennis]

Here are some of the images I managed to acquire last night before the seeing dropped off and the clouds came in. The main craters are:


Clavius, Plato, Tycho, Rima Hadley (Apollo 15), Copernicus, Plato, Gassendi and Vitello.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much detail came through as although the seeing had some good moments, characterised by the largest small craterlet in Plato popping out of the background soup for a split second at a time, it was mostly high frequency, jaggy seeing.

By capturing 10,000 Frames and then Aligning/Stacking the best 1,000 in Autostakkert!3, I was able to rescue some quite nice detail.:)

Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5 with TeleVue 2” PowerMate x2 and ASI 290 MM.

This put me at:

4830mm FL at F23 and with the 2.9 micron Pixels of the ASI 290 MM, gave a multiplication factor of x8, versus the typically quoted x5 to x7 (F Ratio/Pixel Size).


Cheers

Dennis

[Retrograde]

A nice collection there Dennis.

My favourites are Clavius and Hadley Rille. :thumbsup:

[multiweb]

Very nice. I like your shot of Petavius. Great contrast on the floor. You can really see all the grooves. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

I had it on another angle and illumination (http://www.astropic.net/astro/2020-11-18-0857_IR-Moon.jpg). Just shows how much the moon moves.

[Eris]

Great imaging Dennis. I particularly like the central mountains within the relevant craters and the fine hairlike rilles which bare testimony to how good your shots really are. Well done.:thumbsup:

[Dennis]

Whoops - did you mean Gassendi Marc, I don't think I had Petavius in this collection?

Nice, big Petavius in your link though.:thumbsup:

Cheers

Dennis

[Dennis]

Thanks Pete, it was nice to get a couple of hours before the clouds rolled in.:)

Cheers

Dennis

[multiweb]

:doh: Case of mistaken identity. They looked like twins. I'll see myself out. :scared3:

[Dennis]

Thanks Gerard, the seeing was a little tricky but as the larger of the Plato floor craterlets kept teasing me by popping out of the soup, I decided to carry on.:)

I have had times when all the 4 small craterlets were fully resolved and stable, but then I either only had the old ToUcam 940 or the DMK cameras, so I'm still waiting for that kind of seeing with these fabulous ZWO cameras and the power of AS!3:)

Cheers

Dennis

[Dennis]

LOL! - been there done that.:lol:

By the way, what is your multiplication factor; Focal Ratio x Pixel Size for your lunar images?

I have been reading that x5 for average conditions to x7 for when the seeing is really good.

Cheers

Dennis

[Saturnine]

Dennis

They are seriously good images, I would almost sacrifice some redundant anatomy to have seeing that good. #6 Plato with the craterlets is the standout for me, lovely and crisp focus, were you using an red filter to cut through the seeing, as you are using an mono camera.

[Dennis]

Thanks Jeff, I had the bare ASI 290 MM with no filter. I do have an IR642 Filter but it is mounted in my FW - I wish I had a spare for times like this.

In terms of the seeing, I have previously enjoyed seeing those 4 small craterlets just smiling at me, fully resolved, but that was way back in the early 2000's, when all I had was a 640x480 ToUcam and Registax 3 with only a single alignment point.:)

Cheers

Dennis

[multiweb]

F/12.4 native + Barlow x3 camera pixel size 2.9um

[h0ughy]

Wow excellent results Dennis

[Dennis]

Thanks Dave - who do I report Marc to, for his repeated, wanton and blatant flouting of the IIS (International Imaging Standards) guidelines of only "x5 to x7 Pixel Pitch" for "usable F Ratio" for high resolution imaging.:lol:;):):P

Cheers

Dennis

[ChrisM]

An amazing set of images Dennis.
I especially like Clavius and Gassendi.

[Dennis]

Thanks Chris, I appreciate your comments.:)

Cheers

Dennis

[h0ughy]

I have to say your inspiration for quality imaging is brilliant. My next mission will be using the 12inch Meade SCT I have to get some features. I can only hope to get close to your examples:thumbsup:

[Dennis]

Thanks Dave, the times sure are a changing from the good old days of a ToUcam 740, 640x480 pixels and 15 frames per second with Registax 3 and a Single Alignment Point.:)

But wait, you're way too young to go that far back.;)

Cheers

Dennis

[h0ughy]

I still have one of those:lol: