My "not an oval blob" Saturn :)

[iceman]

Hey all

I'm hoping to get my ToUcam Pro 840 this month, but in the meantime, i'm still pushing ahead with my 4yr old intel create&share webcam with a CMOS chip, a max resolution of 352x288 pixels and very little in the way of adjustable controls during capture.

My first imaging attempt of Saturn using this webcam wasn't the best (http://www.iceinspace.com/images/images/planets/webcam_saturn.jpg) ;) - it seems it was overexposed in a big way.

This time, I tried a few different things and achieved some better results..

I used a homemade cardboard hartman mask, with 3 holes cut in it, each approx 50mm diameter.
Using this, I could actually see a Saturn shape now, not an oval blob, and I could see 3 saturns! At least the hartman mask is doing its job! :) So I adjusted the focus to get 1 Saturn, but the camera was still overexposing the image and I could barely see the gap between the rings and the disc of the planet.

I ended up covering up another hole or 2 in the hartman mask to get the image dull enough so that it wasn't so bloated and white.

I took several videos, each around 10 to 20 seconds in length before it drifted out of the FOV (i'm using a 10" dob no tracking). I stacked each of the videos in registax, using about 50-100 frames each time.

The image scale is small, because I wasn't using a barlow. I tried using a 2x barlow, but I couldn't even find the planet on the preview screen, being such a small resolution camera and having no tracking, it was very frustrating and i'm sure it will continue to be very frustrating even when I have the ToUCam :(

Anyway, onto the results..

Below, the images on the left are the 3 original (stacked) images, saved after stacking. The 2 images on the right are after some heavy playing around with the wavelets in registax. I'm still trying to learn how to use the wavelets, so I know i've gone too far with them, just seeing what I can do with them.

http://www.iceinspace.com/images/images/planets/20041103-saturnwebcam1.jpg

I tried playing around with PixInSight LE but it was too confusing for me and I gave up. I need to read the documentation 3 times from front to back I think :)

So, my questions:

1. Will the ToUcam handle the 10" aperture better? I mean, by using a hartman mask and then covering even some of those holes, i've effectively gone from a 10" to a 2" reflector. Is it just the bad CMOS sensor in the old webcam that overexposes the image too much? Will better software control with the ToUcam (over the gain etc) help to not overexpose the image when using the full aperture?

2. Any ideas on how I can find Saturn on the cameras FOV when using a 2x barlow? My finderscope is perfectly aligned and I set it up to allow Saturn to drift into the FOV but I still never saw it once. This is going to continue to frustrate me with the ToUcam, but with the ToUcam being 640x480 (double the resolution) it might help a little..

3. Processing.. anyone.. Help! I know I haven't given you much to work with though :)


Thanks for any help and advice.

[gbeal]

Hi Ice,
wow, a definite improvement.
OK, to the cut and thrust.
Yes the ToUcam will make a humungous difference.
The 10" will be all you need aperture wise, and I used my ToUcam very easily with an MN66 and MN76. I even had very good success with an 80mm refractor.
In the brief time that I used a dob based scope (10" f5), it used the very well aligned finder technique. You will tire of this though, and eventually succumb to either a GEM, or maybe an old fork, mounted low. (always thought I would try one but never did).
Processing is a whole new lesson, the wavelts are a weird concept, but just try the sliders a little at a time.
Get a good image, and let me know, possibly off group. I have a slave who does my waveltting for me (my 19 year old son), and I could get him to try it.
Gary

[rumples riot]

I thought slavery was banned;)

I concur about the toucam, the shots you take will be much sharper if you use the mask. Get all three planets to form one and that is sharp. As for being over exposed, I have seen shots of saturn taken on a 16" with a toucam. Even though I have never used one of these I would imagine that this is the same as the LPI which can adjust its brightness either automatically or manually.

Never fear you will get much better shots.

Paul

[gbeal]

Paul,
slavery is still legal on this side of the Tasman, why do you think so many Ozzies come over.
The ToUcam I focus directly, and if Jupiter I normally use a moon or the Great Pale Spot, Saturn I like the Cassini. Never used a mask, but may try one.
Either way the ToUcam will make it better.
Gary

[iceman]

Thanks for the feedback and advice Gary.

I do want an EQ mount but as I've said before, it's just not in the budget right now.. An EQ platform is definitely something i've been thinking about.. but I don't know if I have the time to make my own.. seems like a lot of tinkering :)

Still though, the effort would definitely be worth it.. Not having to nudge the dob every 10 seconds would be like heaven.

I think I've seen them for like $300-$400 US dollars.. which is like AU$600.. not cheap. I'm sure it would be cheaper to make.

Starkler made his own push-to system with the dob.. I wonder if he's thinking of making an EQ platform..

I might definitely take you up on the wavelets processing next time around.. thanks!