[Robert_T]

Hi All, my new Phillips SPS900NC webcam (new ToUcam version) arrived a week ago and ever since it's been cloud, showers and gales. I got this to see how it compared with the Neximage - same chip but different codecs and who knows what else. Finally tried it out - will post first impressions in another thread.

Had a break in the cloud last night and again this morning - seeing in both cases was absolutely appalling, 1-2/10 last night 2-3/10 this morning. If it hadn't been over a week since I'd last imaged and the new camera I'd never have bother imaging or posting. The Saturns from last night just aren't worth even processing. The only useful thing from the Jupiters this morning is that these conditions provided a test for the relationship between SEEING and ONIONS.

The image on the left is the best of a really bad bunch. It has faint onions. The one on the right has got 'em real bad. This despite using around 80% (yes 80%) Gain, 50% Gamma and Brightness 50% and running between 200 and 225 on the K3CCD light meter. I'm now convinced that Onions are part exposure and part seeing related.

cheers,