Jupiter Feb 23 (Canberra)

matt · #1 23-02-2007, 06:20 AM

The big fella is getting a little higher in the sky earlier every night and the images are starting to show the benefit.

Captured this around 4.30am.

It's one of about 16 AVIs I captured. Some earlier ones will have the GRS in a better position.

GRS is just disappearing across the left side of the globe.

The STrD-1 has just appeared at the right limb.

There's plenty of other interesting stuff to see, and there's a really striking orange/gold seem running through what I think is the Southern Equatorial Zone.

Some nice white spots in the Southern Polar region.

Thanks for looking.

iceman (Mike) · #2 23-02-2007, 06:34 AM

That's a beauty Matt, your best yet I believe!

Great detail, smoothness and striking colour.

Well done! Look forward to more once you get through all the avi's.

matt · #3 23-02-2007, 06:42 AM

Cheers, Mike.

I think the smoothness is partly due to shooting at 5fps with the ToUcam

matt · #4 23-02-2007, 06:56 AM

And here's an image from the first AVI of the night with the GRS in a better pozzie

Note the red spots in the SEB and the huge amount of white space surrounding the GRS compared to last season when the GRS and SEB were a lot more intertwined.

It's as if the GRS has carved out its own space in the belt!

Dennis · #5 23-02-2007, 07:14 AM

Hey Matt

Those are real crackers! A very impressive amount of detail is visible. What Barlow or PowerMate did you use?

Cheers

Dennis

matt · #6 23-02-2007, 07:15 AM

Hi Dennis.

Images were captured using a 3x Televue barlow

Dennis · #7 23-02-2007, 07:18 AM

Thanks Matt - the image scale of those Jupiter images are awesome. I'm thinking of getting something in the x3 range, as the x2.5 PowerMate is "too small" and the x5 way to big.

Cheers

Dennis

matt · #8 23-02-2007, 07:22 AM

Yep.

3x seems the sweet spot, and it will get better as the disc increases in angular size as we approach opposition

I'm dying to crack out the 4x Powermate but the altitude and seeing aren't quite there yet.

That's where the 3x proves its worth. A little less image scale, a little less impacted by the seeing.

But the 4x is going to be a blast when the planet's almost directly overhead and (hopefully) the seeing is good.

iceman (Mike) · #9 23-02-2007, 07:30 AM

The second one is a beauty too, however shift the red channel left 1 pixel and the blue channel right 1 pixel - it'll be even better!

matt · #10 23-02-2007, 07:44 AM

Oops!

Forgot to adjust that.

Will do!

matt · #11 23-02-2007, 08:18 AM

OK.

Done!!!

I loaded the 24kb jpeg into Registax3 for RGB adjustment.

But it seems to be that while the image is a bit sharper it's also now a bit grainier

I noticed the grain (and artifacts) were introduced the moment I clicked the Lt button while using the RGBshift function in Registax.

Is this because I loaded a low res jpeg into Regi to do the red and blue channels adjustment?

Is there a better way to carry out the adjustment, post Registax processing?

Also, after making those adjustments, the image now has a green fringe at the right side???

Think I might go back and start from the beginning with this AVI, but this time do it right!!!!!!!!!!!

bird (Anthony Wesley) · #12 23-02-2007, 08:53 AM

nice work Matt. I could tell last night was going to be clear, but I had other social stuff happening :-(

cheers, Bird

matt · #13 23-02-2007, 09:01 AM

Cheers, Anthony.

Social stuff is good

Nice to have a little balance in life.

I wouldn't have been imaging if I didn't have today off from work.

The AFL have come in and taken over ACT Cricket's Manuka offices for the weekend Swans V Western Bulldogs game.

Long weekend for me. Plenty of imaging

John K · #14 23-02-2007, 11:40 AM

Excellent Matt. Lots of detail there!

Ric · #15 23-02-2007, 12:41 PM

Hi Matt, those are wonderful images. The colours and detail is awesome.

Where are you getting these clear skies from, I was blotted out last night. They must be all hanging around my place and leaving everyone else alone

Cheers

matt · #16 23-02-2007, 01:55 PM

Thanks, and much appreciated John, and Ric

Ric - I set up, even though it was cloudy here too.

I just thought I'd get right in the Weather Gods' face... and it worked!!!

Went to be at 11pm. Still a bit cloudy.

Alarm went off at 3-30am... got up and it was clear

spearo (Frank) · #17 24-02-2007, 06:57 PM

Hi Matt,

Very beautiful image. Looking forward to clear skies here to have a go myself, hopefully with some expert guidance?

worldwind-touringly yours
frank

matt · #18 24-02-2007, 07:06 PM

Cheers Frank.

Go for it. If your DSO images are any guide, you'd have the planetary imaging under control in no time.

Would be more than happy to share my meagre planetary imaging "tricks" with you the next time we have a get-together.

Just got to keep an eye on the seeing

Glad you're home. Hope eveything's going OK?

acropolite (Phil) · #19 24-02-2007, 07:16 PM

Nice images Matt, colours and detail are excellent.

Rigel003 (Graeme) · #20 24-02-2007, 11:29 PM

These are really terrific, Matt. Well done!