Dmk 21 First Luna Recording

[Dennis G]

After weeks of overcast winter weather the clouds cleared late afternoon August 7 and with the moon directly overhead three days before the first quarter, the DMK imager and the new platform drive and control were put to the test.
Although the remote focus makes it easy to control the focuser, getting it spot on, still remained a very difficult guess. Atmosphere wasn’t good, which didn’t help and of the 15 avi recordings made before cloud closed in, none were dead sharp. Disappointing as it was, I’ve never captured detail with the Toucam as seen in these recordings. Having overcome the initial line problems, which eventually corrected itself with use and is now thought to have been a poor cable contact, and with a better understanding of the camera settings and capture controls, which are a dream compared to the Toucam software, it is now apparent that focus, as the Iceman emphasizes in his planetary article, needs to be better than a guess.
This brings the 2x Barlow used for the recordings into question. Is it the weak link? Comparing these first recordings with those taken with the Toucam, the DMK appears to have a higher magnification, more 3D depth in the pictures, or is it because the mono recording produces more detail? These are questions I’d appreciate members comments.
The new platform drive and control worked as planned and I must have been very close to the SCP, because drift was reduced close to zero. A lot of luck rather than skill!
Thanks to all who assisted with my numerous questions.

[wmzaphod]

That pic looks pretty good Dennis - not bad at all :)

It is a complicated process eh! :rolleyes:

[Jen]

:thumbsup: nice pic :thumbsup:

[iceman]

Well done, Dennis! A great first light.

Did you use 30 or 60fps?

Did you use the histogram? The bright areas are a little overexposed, just be careful of that next time. Also, sometimes capturing a crater/area right on the terminator can be more difficult due to the very high contrast areas.

Maybe try capturing an area a little further in from the terminator, where there's a little less contrast but still some nice lighting to illuminate the crater and fill the histogram without overexposing or underexposing.

The magnification of the DMK and ToUcam should be the same, if you're using the same barlow and the camera is placed the same distance from the focuser, as they both use the same size CCD and the same pixel size.

Great first light, keep trying!

[Kal]

Nice first image Dennis, look forward to alot more from your DMK!

[Dennis G]

Thanks for your comments KMZAPHOD. Complicated may be, but most enjoyable when conditions are right. Something seldom seen here on the Sth Coast. A new high forming today we could be lucky! Its obvious you have an interest with cameras.
A question : What would a U/V filter improve on moon shots? This is just a U/V filter doesn't include I/R.

[Dennis G]

I think I used 30 fps and the histogram is something I thought was only used when three RGB filters were used to make a coloured picture. I do try to level out the picture contrast with LEVELS - do you mean levels or histogram that you refer to in your Planetary article? I'd like to know how I could adjust the over bright parts. I discovered this problem with the daylight test runs and wondered how I could over come the difference in contrast. The trunks of the white Melaleuca trees where washed out trying to get the rest of the picture detail. Also I'd like your comments Mr Iceman regarding two filters. Some time ago in my ignorance I purchased a cheap green filter that was advertised as a MOON filter and realising green moon pictures were not aceptable discarded it. I owned a 50 mm U/V filter and cut it down and ground it to fit the 1 1/4 inch holder that accommodated the green filter. While testing the DMK in daylight under poor atmospherics I managed to get two or three clear sharper pictures when using either the green or the U/V filter. Is there an explanation for this? And what I couldn't understand was the green filter didn't make the pictures green. This left me wondering if when you make three RGB pictures do they appear in colour?
Now I've discovered GO Advance I'm attaching one more pic taken at the same session. Owing to the short period of clear sky, I started recording before it was totally dark and the first few recordings weren't stong in contrast. The attached being one of the earlier.

[Lester]

Very nice images Dennis.

[Matty P]

Great first images Dennis.

Keep it up and I'm looking forward to more.

:)

[Dennis G]

The Histogram meant little to me Mr Iceman, but as a beginner I accept all the advice given and as the only Histogram as per your planetary articles found, is in Registax, I experimented with an AVI recording with the same over exposed hi-lights as that submitted previous. By increasing the number in the box Io: which moves the red line to the right, I was able to make the O/a of the picture darker thus reducing the hi-lights. Clicking on do all and saving to Photoshop and using the centre slider in levels to lighten the O/a,the end results are as per attached. This then raises the question: Is this how you would have done it? If so, then I’ve learnt something, which will assist in finishing future avi recordings and may also assist other members of IIS.