Jupiter - LX200 12" ToUcam

[RB]

Hi guys,

I took this image earlier this year of Jupiter and would like your thoughts on it.
I havn't done much with the ToUcam but I want to learn more and improve.
The details are:

Date/Time: 13th April 05, Approx 11pm
Equip used: Meade LX200 12", 2x Powermate, ToUcam
Best of 2000 AVI frames ( 1/33s shutter, 65% GAIN, 30% GAMMA)
Stacked with Registax 3, Photoshop and Neat Image.

But most of the credit goes to my wife for lending me her hairdryer to remove the dew off the corrector.:prey2:

BTW: I noticed that when I use StarryNight pro 5 to check Jupiter, the image has approx 39 minutes diffrence to the actual view in the EP.
This (I think) seems to correspond to the time difference for the light to reach earth.
Does that sound right?
Has anyone else noticed this?

Or am I doing something wrong?

Cheers

:shrug:

[asimov]

I can't see you doing anything wrong! Damn fine image mate!! Well done...LOVE IT!

[Daring Dave]

Thats a great image.....I like it... :cool:

[RB]

Thank you asimov :thumbsup:

[[1ponders]]

Nice detail Andrew. Great image. :cool2:

[atalas]

Yep Its great shot Andrew ! plenty of detail and good colour.

Louie :thumbsup:

[iceman]

Wow, that's a stunning shot. Nicely done.

As for improvements, I can help with processing if you send me the zipped up avi.

Otherwise, for capture, what frame rate did you use?

You should aim to have gain as low as possible, because gain will introduce noise. Gamma, is subjective. I leave it far left which means maximum contrast. By increasing gamma you may reduce the contrast which generally isn't desirable.

Excellent shot! What's the focal length of your 12"? 3000mm?

[h0ughy]

Gee I wished I could get a shot like that. Maybe one day! nice detail!

[RB]

Thanks guys for your comments,

Really appriciate your thoughts.

ICEMAN: I don't think I have the original avi but I'll check. Thanks for the advice.

The frame rate from memory was 30fps (?).

Focal legnth is 3000mm (not inc powermate)


Andrew

[ving]

sweet shot andrew :)

[RB]

Cheers ving :thumbsup:

[Dennis]

That is one big, bold and beautiful image of Jupiter - great job.

Cheers

Dennis

[iceman]

Next time, use much less.. If the seeing is above average or very good, use 5fps. If the seeing is bad or only ok, use 10fps. Don't use any higher, otherwise the data is compressed too much to shove it down the USB 1.1 pipe so you will lose detail.

Also when capturing Jupiter, don't capture for longer than 90 seconds or you'll get blurring of the fine features due to the rotation of Jupiter.

[RB]

Great excellent advice, thanks heaps Mike. :thumbsup:

[mick pinner]

very nice indeed, good to see one of us SCT owners posting pics, these dob guys are killing us, as soon as the weather clears l'll join you only thing is l'll have to send them to Mike for processing.

[rumples riot]

Hey Mick are you forgetting my images?

Andrew great image, however I think couple of things can improve your captures. Yes gain should be as low as possible so 5 frames per second is best for nights of good seeing and on not so good nights use 10 fps. I usually shoot at 1/33 of second and sometimes on 1/25. Gamma is always set at 0. You can just see in your image some ringing around the limb of the planet is visible. This is most often caused by under exposure.

Something to also consider is your collimation. SCT's hold collimatin very well, but I have noted that everytime that I move my scope the collimation moves just a little. So my recommendation is to check collimation each time you sue the scope. I have found that you can get great collimation over a couple of weeks just by tweeking it each time.

Still this is a fine image and I will include the link for my best shot of this season so you have something to compare it to. You are well on the right tracks and need little minor things to get even better shots.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1962

[Striker]

Nice shot Andrew,

My 1 and only Jupiter shot was no where near that good....nice work.

[Orion]

Wow, thats a great effort....(I have to get a ToUcam!)

[RB]

Great, thanks for the valuable advice rumples. That's just the sort info I'm after.

Thanks again to everyone.
To Orion: Yes if you can grab a ToUcam, do so, you won't regret it.
To Mick: Go the mighty SCT's:cool:


:thumbsup:

[RB]

Sorry rumples I forgot to mention what a great shot yours is.
WOW :cool:

[mick pinner]

l haven't forgotten your stuff for a minute Paul, it was probably your first photos that made me look at the imaging side of things, l was only relating to the fact that we are the minority although Striker and Robby are fairly regular posters.

[davidpretorius]

lovely, do you have tracking?

[RB]

It was only in alt-az mode but yes it was tracking. I havn't used the superwedge much yet.