Mars and Saturn done the wrong way

[Stonius (Markus)]

This is Mars and Saturn from last night. First photos through my new scope.

I'm aware that they're not amazing by other people's standards, but I'm quite happy, considering my gear is pretty much the wrong setup for planetary photography.

It's a 'push-to' dob, so it doesn't track. I have the wrong camera (Full Frame DSLR instead of small sensor webcam or astro camera) and I'm using the wrong method (EP projection instead of barlow).

One of the big problems is the fact that you get pretty bad chromatic aberration at the edge of frame, as well as geometric distortion where the planet becomes all egg shaped. You can really only use the bits where the planet tracks through the centre of the field, which requires a lot of patience with readjusting the Dob. So I just took a lot of videos and cut together all the bits where the planet crossed the centre of frame.

It was a bit of a PITA, but in the end it worked surprisingly well, I thought.
http://markusstone.com/hosted_files/...d%20Saturn.jpg
Pic is hosted here

-Markus

[Stonius (Markus)]

...and if anyone can tell me how to make a picture show up 'in thread', rather than clicking through, I'd appreciate it :-/

[Edit] nevermind, got it figured...

[geolindon (Lindon)]

Markus,
i read your blurb then clicked thru to the pics and exclaimed to myself "oh! you did very well!" a nice result for the PITA efforts.
I have recently been intrigued by equatorial platforms and see other Dobbers here are using them for AP.
Jerry Oltion's ideas are great. http://www.sff.net/people/J.Oltion/flexeq.htm
Thanks for the efforts and for posting,
L

[Anth10 (Anthony M)]

Top effort,top result. Great colour and contrast on both planets. A real achievement, well worth the effort here.

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Well !! surprisingly good !!! I'm quite impressed. Wasn't expecting much after your description of the process but really quite surprised. just shows what a lot of dedication to the job in hand can do.
You are going to be 'dangerous' real soon. Well done.

[Stonius (Markus)]

Thanks for the love. I guess it's just a process of incremental improvements in gear and Post processing. New scope helps a lot, really. But I did discover some processing tweaks on this one that also helped me bump it up a bit when I was experimenting with layer modes. Can't remember which one. I just flick through them till I like what I see...

Originally Posted by geolindon

Markus,
I have recently been intrigued by equatorial platforms and see other Dobbers here are using them for AP.
Jerry Oltion's ideas are great. http://www.sff.net/people/J.Oltion/flexeq.htm
L

Hey Lindon, I've sen those platforms too, and they look like just the ticket. I'm suprised no-one makes them. Or the ones I have seen have been $$$ for what is a relatively uncomplicated pice of kit. I'm thinking that'll be my next project when I get a moment. You thinking of making one too?

Markus

[geolindon (Lindon)]

G day Markus,

re making an equatorial platform?; yes, tho i have just built a new base for the 16 and the smooooth movement makes an equatorial platform less of an issue but still very useful for high mag viewing e.g Mars atm. i've been using the 4.7 n the 6.7 2x barlowed and with moist air need to sit n stare steadily to get the momentary good views.

i am confident that perhaps with a little trial and error i can do the timber work n cos i move around a bit make a series of arc segments (as per Jerry's doweled design and using his drawing technique) but need to learn something about motor drives - tho it seems they are a simple proposition also.

congrats on the many comps for your pics,
L

[Stonius (Markus)]

Yikes! I just realised we have the same scopes! :-)

[geolindon (Lindon)]

even similar eps. i really like my wide FOVs for letting the planets drift through the view. the 20mm on faint fuzzies and nebulae is its big tho - i call it my crocodile dundee ep. "thats not an ep, THIS is an ep"

you must be hapi with the Pentax XWs?

[Stonius (Markus)]

Originally Posted by geolindon

you must be hapi with the Pentax XWs?

So far, very! I haven't had the chance to really put them through their paces at my dark sky site yet, so I've mostly been restricted to planets and bright nebulae in light polluted skies, but I can really see a difference in the level of tiny planet details. And I really like the twist up eye-cups because it allows you to lock in the eye relief distance so you don't have to find the 'sweet spot' by moving your head around. If your eye is at the eyepiece, you're in the right spot automagically - no more kidney beans! Plus, it creates a barrier for stray light which is really handy when doing suburban observing. So yes, very happy!

Even under a light-polluted sky it's tantalising what I can see!! Can't wait for the first DSO hunt!! :-) Trust me to get new gear right at the beginning of winter!! :-)