Jupiter and all 4 moons in hi-res

[iceman]

Hi all

This is one of the most ambitious imaging projects I'm likely to do for a while. Attached is 1 image showing Jupiter with her 4 galilean moons, Callisto, Europa, Ganymede and Io - all at the same scale in hi-res.

I've got approx 6 runs like this and will animate them when I get time to process the rest of the moons.

Due to the FL of capture (10,386mm), none of the moons were in frame (640x480 capture window) when Jupiter was the target, but if I centered on the closest moons on each side, then the edge of Jupiter could still be seen. This allowed me to create the accurate composite showing the moons in their true position at the time.

Each moon had its own run through registax. The channels were aligned and combined in AstraImage, and the composite was made in Photoshop.

There's detail present on both Ganymede and Callisto. I purposely kept processing of the moons to a minimum. After stacking, there's only very mild wavelets and no other processing except for levels and curves in photoshop.

Be sure to expand the image when your browser resizes it.

Thanks.

[Ingo]

VERY NICE! That'll be on APOD within the next few days :thumbsup:

Detail on ganymede.

[erick]

Nice, Mike. Animation will give a "killer" result! That's some project!

[matt]

Excellent work, Mike!

I'm guessing you've already sent that image to the astro mags?

If not, get crackin'!!!!!!:lol:

[John K]

Good work Mike, has a bit of Voyager look and feel to it.

[RB]

:eyepop:

What more can I say !

[middy]

I'm speechless! That is fantastic. :clap:

[Rob_K]

Ditto! Amazing stuff!

[h0ughy]

Ho hum what an ordinary shot:whistle: , see something like that through the eyepiece:P ..........ohh ok, It is a bl00dy fantastic image:eyepop: :eyepop: :eyepop: . Lots of green eyes looking at this one;)

[mojo]

That, sir, is simply spectacular!

[[1ponders]]

:bowdown:

[ballaratdragons]

:eyepop:

Very well done Mike!

I tried a similar thing about a year ago, but I couldn't even get a half decent pic of Joop to use :lol:

The animation will be interesting :thumbsup:

[Dennis]

Hello, Mike

What an amazing Jovian tapestry! Your restraint with the post capture processing has greatly enhanced this wonderful Jovian family portrait, making the intimate gathering look very natural and pleasing to the eye, representing one of the great spectacles of nature.

Congratulations on producing this amazing image.

Cheers

Dennis

[ving]

very ordinary mike :P

hehe!
:thumbsup:

thats a first probably.

[xstream]

Me thinks that's damn amazing!

Congratulations Mike, great stuff.

[beren]

For whats it worth Ill add my congrats to a fantastic and interesting image, well done :thumbsup:

[Kal]

Beautiful work, I look forward to the completed animation!

[DeanoNZL]

It looks like the Hubble has de-orbited early and landed safely in your backyard! Super shot that...:D

Adrian

[Orion]

Unbelievable Mike!

[cyberplocos]

That´s great!

regards,
Fabio

[sheeny]

Very impressive, Mike!:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Now we're all hanging out to see the full size animation!!! I guess that'll have to be in the downloads area...

I second all the praise listed above! (I prefer to get these threads near the start... it's so hard, when everyone else says what you're thinking!)

Al.

[nightsky]

G'Day Mike,
I don't know enough words in the English language to describe my feeling when I looked at that Image,I suppose you could say I'm wordless, I salute you :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Cheers
Arthur

[strongmanmike]

Bold Prediction (and I've picked'em before!) - In this image we are looking at the 2007 David Malin Inovation Award winner (and/or Planetary and/or Over-all) :thumbsup:

Anyone want to make a wager, nothing big..let's say a Tak FSQ106? :D

Top effort Mike (Australia's Damian Peach..?)

[iceman]

Thankyou all for your very kind words. I'm happy to have been able to produce an image that evoked those feelings in people.

Jupiter is amazing and interesting and so dynamic. The moons really add a depth to an image that might otherwise look flat.

I've still got some data to go through to finish the animation, but hopefully it will be worth the wait. Unfortunately it'll only be 6 or so frames long - Io was getting too far away from Jupiter to be able to capture and keep in the same frame as Ganymede.

Plus, I needed to get some sleep so I could get up to image Mars and the Moon later that morning :)

Thanks again for your comments, it really means a lot.

[rumples riot]

Well first; nice image Mike, lovely detail on the moons.

As to the above, I think that is a bit rich. People like Bird and Maurice are being insulted by these comments. No offence to Mike, but Damians images are far and above what most of the top imagers are doing around the world. If you care to look at Bird's site, his latest set of Jupiter images are quite amazing.

Added to this, just because you don't see it here; does not mean that there are not great imager's doing fine work elsewhere in Australia. You just need to look around. Winning the award is only brought about by your own submission, some of us are not in it for that.

I am not try to start anything here, just think a little perspective is in order.

Paul Haese

[Kal]

Have you ever directly compared Damian Peach images side with Mike Salways images? I have, and in my honest opinon there is not that much of a gap between the two. You also have to consider that some of these planetary imagers travel to ideal locations just to image the planets, a luxury most people don't have.

I consider myself fortunate to have some wonderful imagers here on IIS forums, and I personally DO rate tehm up there with the best.

[iceman]

I don't think anyone doubts there are other fantastic planetary imagers in Australia.

I rate Anthony as Australia's best. The work he's done in leading Australia and the world in mirror cooling and image processing is second to none.

Not to mention Maurice, Zac and others. I am humbled to be considered in the same company as these guys.

As for the awards/competitions, I enter these for fun. It matters not to me whether I win or lose. It's exciting for me to be able to share my images and compare them with Australia's best. It helps me strive to improve my images, improve my presentation etc.

I'm pleased to be able to capture high quality images from my backyard with modest, off-the-shelf equipment.

[matt]

Well said, Mike.:thumbsup:

I tend to feel a little sorry for people in any walk of life when people place massive accolades and expectations on their talented shoulders.

They themselves (mostly) don't ask for or seek the praise and attention which is lavished upon them, nor do they deserve the detractors who then appear from all directions to counter or question whether they deserve it.

I'm just happy one of us is achieving such terrific things in this great passion of ours and I'm grateful you share those images and your techniques so freely with us:)

[Ric]

Wow, now that's a pretty special image Mike.

Very very nice indeed

[Dennis]

Mike’s dedication to high resolution Lunar & Planetary imaging and the results he produced in 2006 with a budget 10 inch dob, the lowly ToUcam and a tracking platform have been nothing short of revolutionary. I just had not considered such a low cost system, cobbled together on a tight budget, could produce such stunning results. Obviously his dedication and talent contributed a lot to the results, but for me, they completely blew away the myth that only high end equipment could produce the quality of images that has graced the pages of IIS in my 2 years here.

He then had the temerity to move up to another budget system – a 12” GSO dob and an EQ6, although in 2007 the DMK and filter wheel replaced the ToUcam. With this new set up, he has continued to produce inspirational work in its own right – not compared to others, but as stand alone master pieces that have inspired many who have dropped by these pages.

For me, therein lies Mike’s most significant contribution:

Relentlessly pursuing the holy grail of hi-res imaging with budget equipment, believing it could be done and publishing world class images as proof of this vision.
Using equipment well within the reach of most budding astronomers.
Sharing his techniques.
Enjoying and sharing his passion for astronomy with others.
Doing it all in a likeable, approachable and humble manner.
Showing what a regular family man, with 3 children and a full time job, could do in his “spare” time.
Providing the IIS forum for the amateur astronomy community in Australia.

Back in early 2006 the gang of Mike, Bird, DaveP, Zac, Matt, PaulH, Asi, RobertT and others were all pushing the envelope of hi-res planetary imaging; the stories they told, images they posted and the techniques they revealed, all got me hooked – damn them! Whilst I haven’t caught up with them, nor is it my goal to do so, I am still motivated by their prodigious, quality output, yet remain happy and content to produce what I can, when I am able to do so, and be satisfied with the results.

Cheers

Dennis

[rogerg]

Gez.. nice image Mike! (duh)

... all that detail on the moons and Jupiter its self.. :eyepop:

[rumples riot]

Yes I have.

So I don't have an honest opinion? There is a gap.

Mike's image are good there is no doubt, and Damian has been travelling to "exotic locations" because Jupiter for the last three years has had such a southern declination, that to image it he is forced to travel half way across the world. If you look at his Saturns, venus's and Mars images, most of them were taken from the UK. They are at such a high standard, that it hardly pays credence to your biased statement.

I think I am well qualified to make this statement based upon my own knowledge and level of skill involved in planetary imaging. I feel I am entitled pull people up when they make statements that cannot be justified. I am afterall defending the likes of Anthony, Maurice, Zac and "supposed others", but get jumped on because I have shown a modicum of sensibility in my analysis. I would do the same if people were making such statements about my own images.

It seems that one is not allowed a differing opinion.

[matt]

Anyway.....

This thread has lost its way somewhat.

Let's all focus on Mike's great image and what he has achieved in this one top effort:thumbsup:

[Kal]

We can have different opinions, the difference is you seem to be offended now because your opinion isn't shared by anyone else.

[strongmanmike]

Ah Pauli don't be such a wouser :P it's all in good spirit aaand... it is a great image!

Maurice and Anthony have produced some cracker planetary images too, no question.

All the best

Mike

[Astroman]

I like the composition of this one Mike, its a great undertaking doing an animation, lots of processing and time involved. The processing on Jupiter looks a little overdone, more so that your other images you have posted on here and CN, IMO. Still the final product of the animation would certainly look interesting.

[bluescope]

After a couple of sessions with my webcam trying to capture Jupiter and Saturn I now know how difficult it is to get such detailed images Mike .... hats off to you and others.

:thumbsup:

[spacezebra]

Excellent images - totally impressed & Ditto to those comments already posted.

Cheers Petra

[acropolite]

Beautiful image Mike, nicely captured, IMHO definitely a winner in the "best.. non travelling, married with kids, from suburban site using humble equipment" category. :thumbsup:

[matt]

:lol::lol: Now, who could take umbrage with that nomination?;):P