Jupiter through DSLR

[Mark_Heli (Mark)]

I took my telescope out last night with the goal of taking my first "real" image of Jupiter.

I have previously taken single exposure pictures of Jupiter, but I was keen to try the "webcam" type approach (with a DSLR instead of a webcam).

I am as chuffed as a pig in mud with the results. There is some nice detail and you can see Io in the bottom right hand side of the image.

This is definately a technique that I will try again.

DateTime: 28/11/2011 9:15PM
Location: Sydney
Telescope: Meade LX90
Camera: Canon EOS 550d
Mode: Movie Crop Mode
Movie duration: 2 mins
Exposures used: ~ 5000
Processed in Registax

[cohiba (Robert)]

Great Stuff Mark

[Mark_Heli (Mark)]

Took another shot of Jupiter tonight with the same settings.

I am keen to get the Great Red spot, but it is not visible in either image - I am guessing that the rotation of Jupiter wasn't in the right place to see it from earth.

Does anyone know where to get information on when the great red spot is visible. Given that the rotation period is ~9.9 hours, it should visible quite often.

[BorisM (Boris)]

Well done Mark.
There's a program called "Jupiter2". Free to download and has the information you require.
Regards,
Boris

[midnight (Darrin)]

Fantastic Mark.

Keep up the good work.

Darrin...

[darbyvet (Carl Darby)]

There is also an Iphone app called gas giants that not only shows what the planet looks like at any time, but also has a list of telescopes and eyepieces so you can see what Jupiter or Saturn look like through the eyepiece/telescope you select.
It also shows you the moons.

[von Tom (Tom)]

Those are excellent images Mark with great detail, exposure and colour balance. You actually did manage to catch the Great Red Spot in the first image, making its way off the limb at the top left. What camera Picture Style settings are you using on the Canon? I find that using Landscape with high contrast and saturation settings brings out details very nicely.

Cheers,

Tom

[Mark_Heli (Mark)]

Hi All,

Thanks for the feedback.

I have just downloaded "Gas Giants" for the iPhone as recommended by Carl - it is a great app which is exactly what I was after.

Tom - I checked on the app and you are right - the great red spot was there all the time in the top left!! For the image settings, I just used the standard movie crop mode but I will try adjusting the picture settings next time.

Cheers,
Mark

[von Tom (Tom)]

Can't wait to see some more Mark. Also, are you using PAL or NTSC in your video setting? PAL will give you 50fps max and NTSC will give you 60fps max in movie crop mode.

How do you find the focussing with your setup?

Tom

[Mark_Heli (Mark)]

Originally Posted by von Tom

Can't wait to see some more Mark. Also, are you using PAL or NTSC in your video setting? PAL will give you 50fps max and NTSC will give you 60fps max in movie crop mode.

That's good to know. I am currently using the camera default which PAL.

Originally Posted by von Tom

How do you find the focussing with your setup?

I use the EOS live view mode while I adjust the focuser. It is easy, but I am sure I don't always get it 100% perfect. I was actually thinking about downloading some software to calculate the FWHM. Any recommendations for good software would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Mark

[darbyvet (Carl Darby)]

I believe backyardEOS software calculates FWHM.It is a great program for DSLR imagers.

[von Tom (Tom)]

Mark the focus looks spot on in your images above. I have always used live view for focus for my setup. For Jupiter I temporarily increase the ISO to get a brighter image and focus on the moons, and if the seeing is good, a clear feature on the disc. The Picture Style settings can aid in your focus - you can use a sharp, high contrast setting which will more clearly show in/out of focus in live view.

[Mark_Heli (Mark)]

Seeing was pretty average tonight (there was lots of high cloud), but I thought I would give Jupiter a try again to see if I could capture a front-on view of the Great Red Spot.

Attached is the best shot of the night - the GRS is visible. Ganymede is also visible to the right and Io to the left.

I have been using "Gas Giants" as recommended by Carl to plan the best viewing times. It's a very useful app...

Cheers,
Mark

[renormalised (Carl)]

Now, all you need is a powermate to bump up that image scale and you'll have some even more good piccies

[skfboiler]

How did you attach the camera to the scope, prime focus or eyepiece projection?

[Mark_Heli (Mark)]

Hi Mike,

Prime Focus. I connect the camera to the telscope using a "Canon EOS T-Ring" and a "SCT Prime Focus Adapter". The T-Ring connects to the camera (in place of a lens) and the SCT adapter connects to the telescope. They are both available from Bintel

http://www.bintel.com.au/Astrophotog...8/catmenu.aspx

It's all very sturdy and works well. The planet size is also magnified when using the EOS movie crop mode.

To magnify the planet even more, I would probably need the Powermate as suggesed by Carl.

Cheers,
Mark

PS: Welcome to iceinspace

[Mark_Heli (Mark)]

Last night, I got my best shot of Jupiter thanks to all the help in this post.

The GRS is centred and the colours are nice and vibrant.

There are three moons visible - Io, Ganymede, Europa (left to right)

DateTime: 24/12/2011 9:15PM
Location: Sydney
Telescope: Meade LX90
Camera: Canon EOS 550d
Mode: Movie Crop Mode
Picture Style: Landscape
Movie duration: 2 mins
Exposures used: ~ 5000
Processed in Registax

Thanks to everyone for their help...

Cheers,
Mark

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Excellent shot Mark, couple of barges also showing in the lower hemisphere. Good colour too.
So when are you getting the Powermate ...??

[Bassnut (Fred)]

I didn't think this kind of result was possible with DSLR movie mode, top work!