Saturn - 24/1/05

[1ponders] (Paul) · #1 24-01-2006, 09:16 AM

Hopefully a taste of what's to come. Quite a nice night last night though the transparency was only about 6/10, seeing about 6-7/10

This is the first of 5 avies. Just a quick registax process and crop in PS to see what potential is there. Might get time to process the rest this weekend at Lostock

iceman (Mike) · #2 24-01-2006, 09:57 AM

Wow! A planetary image from ponders!

Great job Paul, lokos really nice. Did you use the ToUcam?

Looks like you're suffering from the browns, like Dennis used to. Try increasing the saturation to 100% during capture.

Look forward to more!

davidpretorius · #3 24-01-2006, 10:01 AM

ppsssst mike, is he allowed to post planetary pics??? i thought there was a forum rule about moderators posting images?????

Nice work, great to see that the conditions are getting better.

Have fun at camp!

Thiink · #4 24-01-2006, 10:30 AM

Are you jumping on the planetry train Paul? Would be good to see you processing some planets.

Which of your babies was this taken with? Details man!

ps. see you at Lostock on Saturday.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #5 24-01-2006, 11:24 AM

Thanks guys.

Mike I tried to up the saturation but that only made it worse for some reason. I haven't had much of a chane to get out an do planetary work for quite a while. Either the weather has been terrible or the seeing where I am has be lousy. Here's hoping for bigger and better things.

Details:
8" meade SCT with 2X barlow and ToUcam. Focused using hartmann mask on Procyon (used mirror lock to prevent flop) then swung back to Saturn.
Settings: 10fps, 1/25 exp, 100% brightness, 40-50% gain, about 50-60% saturation, 0 gamma. 1300 frames using classic setting and 90% in registax. 100 frames for reference frame. Low to moderate waveletting on 2,3 4 and 5 sliders

Nahh Simon just taking up where I left off last year. I haven't done any real planetary imaging since about march last year

RB (Andrew) · #6 24-01-2006, 11:32 AM

Nice one Paul.
Looking forward to many more.

Quick question, is the focus just as good for the planet when a Hartmann is used before hand to focus on a star? Since the planet is not a point source but the star is?
If so then I need to build myself a hartmann because I was under the impression it only was for stars (DSO work).

Your's is nicely focused Paul.

fringe_dweller · #7 24-01-2006, 11:57 AM

Very Nice Paul! :-)

Robby · #8 24-01-2006, 02:57 PM

Nice natural colour Paul.. I had a look at Saturn last night, but the seeing was crap here, so didn't image it....
Cheers

ving (David) · #9 24-01-2006, 03:02 PM

andrew is right, stars are at a different focal point to planets. you image would have been better still if you had focused on saturn instead of pokemon... i mean procyon

fine image paul

Robert_T · #10 24-01-2006, 04:54 PM

Hey Paul, nice Saturn, lot's of subtle detail ... though there must be some breach in copyright with you doing planetary imaging

Striker (Tony) · #11 24-01-2006, 04:57 PM

Great stuff Paul....

It seems like months pass between our images up here atm....hope that changes soon.

Well done a very nice Saturn Image.

rumples riot · #12 24-01-2006, 04:59 PM

Nice Saturn Paul, glad to see one of the non imagers joining in. Keep em coming.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #13 24-01-2006, 05:00 PM

Don't know about the difference in focus between star and planet. I've never been able to get a better shot using the planet to focus on than using a star. To my mind they are both virtually at infinity so the focal point should be the same. As a guide I use the casini division. If it peeks in nice and sharp every now and then I know I'm close. If it's hard to see I usually don't bother imaging.

rumples riot · #14 24-01-2006, 05:29 PM

Paul, with practice you don't need to use a mask. Beside focus will differ a little between star and planet. I usually stand back two to three feet just to see if the image is sharp. I have found that this works quite well.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #15 24-01-2006, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rumples riot

I usually stand back two to three feet just to see if the image is sharp. I have found that this works quite well.

I'd try that Paul if I could see the damn image from that far back

I gotta get new glasses

rumples riot · #16 24-01-2006, 05:35 PM

Oh sorry, did not know you were blind. Perhaps if you use binoculars.

Perhaps when you get glasses.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #17 24-01-2006, 05:38 PM

Very nice Paul.
Thanks for letting us know the processing details cause it really helps us beginners.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #18 24-01-2006, 05:45 PM

Nah not blind just astigmatism=getting old