Saturn

[rumples riot]

Well, did the mad thing and got up early this morning at 3 am. Looked out side to see Saturn nearing my Neighbours tree even after it had the limbs cut off. I also noted some high cloud around and thought I would go back to bed.

Then I could not get to sleep so I quickly got everything together and went out to the scope which had been sitting since 10pm. I had already precooled the scope with the cooler.

I did have some trouble with this imaging session. First, the clouds got thicker to the point where I could not see anything on the screen, then I only got three minutes before it hit the tree. The second thing is that the scope was just ever so slightly out of collimation. I have the screws just snug at the moment and I accidently taped the scope and this caused the fine collimation I had the other night to shift slightly. I fixed this later but had no time then to do anything about it. I knew the second I tap the scope collimation would shift. So as a result of the above the image is slightly out of focus and looks a little blurry. Not an ideal way to open my account for the Saturn season but I felt I had to produce something given that I got my A out of bed at that time.

Lessons for next time. Check collimation well in advance, i.e before going to bed and make sure that I am up early enough. I should have stayed up instead of going to bed. Hopefully tonight will be better and I can sleep in tomorrow as I will be on holidays.

Anyway here is the aweful image. You can just see CD, totally over processed.

[iceman]

It's not awful, Paul. At least you know where to fix things for next time! The colours on the globe are great, and the thumbnail version looks unreal!

Looking forward to your next one!

Let the season begin!

[Robert_T]

don't feel bad Paul, the colours for one thing are great and still the promise of a lot of detail there to come:)

[rumples riot]

Just disappointed in myself, more than anything guys. With the skills that I have now, I have come to expect more than this. Although I take heart from the fact that I managed to do the focus and imaging in 5 minutes. Chance favours the prepared mind. Next time if seeing is good and I check my collimation first, I know I will get a better image. I know many here would be happy with these results, and 18 months ago I would have been stoked.

Next time!!! Thanks for the kind words guys. Appreciated.

[Dennis]

Hi Paul

Well, I'd say it was worth it, to get up out of bed and grab that image. For your first Saturn that must be classified as a success. Good solid data.

Cheers

Dennis

[davidpretorius]

i know how you feel, once you set your own level, you do not want to go back a step in results.

still a great result, but not a great rumples result.

i have had this computer churning since 6am!!! still have 5 saturn videos to do and two jupiters

[ving]

you can only get what the seeing and other conditions will give you.
I like it :)

[bird]

Don't feel too bad Paul, there are nights where I've spent hours getting everything done, including collimation, drift alignment, align the finderscope, etc etc and then when I come back out at 4am ... it's total overcast :-)

Bird

[LT_Ng]

You are right Paul. Good collimation is very important to high resolution planetary imaging.

LT

[asimov]

Not a bad image. Good colour. I respect a person who puts his/her less than perfect photographs on site.:thumbsup:

[atalas]

Still looks great Paul !