Jupiter GSO 12 3x cheapie barlow SPC900

[kinetic]

Hi all,

A quick attempt at Jupiter with my new GSO 12
on my homemade GEM with a cheapie 3x Barlow
and SPC900 webcam with Baader IR filter.

Seeing wasn't great and cloud cut the session short.

I can't believe how easy this 12 inch is to focus
when compared to my f7 homemade Newt.

Steve

[Craig.a.c]

Not bad. I can't wait to get my 12" GSO. The amount of cloud detail blows me away.

[AlexN]

not too bad at all considering poor seeing... :)

Jupiter can be imaged without a UV/IR block. and with the extra light it you could probably shoot with less gamma, and thus getting more contrast.

What other camera settings did you use? also, what capture program?

[kinetic]

Hi Alex,

thanks, I can't wait to try this scope on a good night with a good barlow.
I know with all this extra light I can go up to a 5x whereas with my
old 8" homemade Newt I couldn't.

That extra light gives me more room to move on the SPC900 sliders too.

My method is never scientific...I just use what works best for me.
So far success has been with all sliders set at mid point incl gamma
and white balance set to either outdoor or fluorescent with a slight
blue tweak .
I switch the LX/Non LX mode to Non LX after focusing on the moons.
I then adjust gain and shutter speed until I am at about levels 220.
I use a reg version of K3CCDtools Ver 3.0
Registax V4 for processing, mostly set to auto/ default settings.
Wavelets: best results (depending on f-ratio) either Dyadic 1st 40ish
and 2nd 5ish...or Linear 3rd, 4th, 5th on 25,35, 50ish respectively.

BTW, I found for years that focus was a problem on my f7 Newt on
Jupiter with the webcam if I didn't use the Baader IR.

HTH,

Steve

[AlexN]

If it aint broke, dont fix it I say...

I've been using a 5x powermate with my 8"... its hard to get the focus and exposure right, but the massive scale is an awesome payoff :D

[iceman]

Excellent work Steve, great start.

Definitely use the UV/IR filter with a OSC camera like the ToUcam.

[AlexN]

Really?? Maybe I should give that a go then too :)

[matt]

Yes.

It stops 'bleeding' between the channels...

[AlexN]

Oh ok... By that you mean the colors will each be captured sharper resulting in a sharper image?

[Matty P]

Excellent result Steve considering the conditions. You have capture some good detail in the bands and good colour.

I'm looking forward to more. :)

[kinetic]

Alex,

there just simply is a lot of IR coming from Jupiter.
So when your camera faithfully reproduces this on the live preview
as an image then your job is to focus it. Pretty tough call.

I imaged Jupiter for years with a webcam, always struggling to find the sweet spot of focus....until someone told me to use an IR filter! :)

I also found it worked well on Mars too....after not using one for
several apparitions previously! :doh:
you can see the slow painful evolution of my Mars results here:
http://mywebsite.bigpond.com/astrosteve/webcam.html#results

Steve

[AlexN]

Yeah i've had that same problem... its hard to distinguish features on the live preview, in order to see if they are sharp or not...

I'll get a hold of a UV filter up at astrofest and see how I go.. :)