First Saturn Images 6 APR 13

[gavcol (G)]

G'day All

After concentrating on Jupiter over the past few months I decided to have a go at imaging Saturn while I had a couple of spare minutes between DSO imaging.

Captures were taken on the 6 APR13 but only had the time to Registax the image this weekend.

I found it a very difficult target to image and look forward to the challenge over the coming months. Seeing was quite average.

Set up:

• SW 150mm (6") Achro Refractor
• Orion V Block Filter
• Philips SPC900NC Webcam

Image was made up of 4 small video captures with a total of 2300 frames. There has been no photoshop or image processing done. Image is straight from Registax 5.1 after compressing in Microsoft Picture Editor.

Will keep working on it!

Thanks for looking

Gav

[gavcol (G)]

Hi All

After looking at other people's excellent Saturn images taken lately I am not sure i should of put these up .

I was a little disappointed with the image all up. Really struggled to get any detail! Am I expecting too much from a 6" achromat and a Philips webcam?

Should I be able to get more detail, like in those on the forum with 10" and 12" scopes, just a little smaller? Or have I reached my capacity here?

Cheers

Gav

[lazjen (Chris)]

I can't answer your question Gavin, but I hope others who can chip in as I'm interested in the answers too.

No matter how it looks now, at least you've got something.

[Saturn%5 (Graeme)]

Hi Gavin
Well for a first go not a bad effort, I am not an expert on this matter but maybe try a 2x barlow and more frames, I know some people who get up to 10k frames and produce great images with the newer cams that are around.

You are never going to produce images like some do on these forums with a small scope, but in saying that you still will be able to get better with what you have it is trial and error, Just keep working at it mate you know the old saying buy a bigger scope just joking there, but you will learn as you go have seen stunning images with that webcam on small scopes.

cheers

Graeme.

[gavcol (G)]

Hi Graeme

Thanks for the advice and encouragement.

I certainly will keep trying. I would love to get a DMK camera or something of that nature though!

I forgot to mention in the original post that a Meade 2X Shorty Barlow was used for the image.

Imaging was between a cloudy period and seeing was a bit of a struggle. I found getting the settings right in sharp cap a pain.

Does anybody have any advice for capture settings in wxastrocapture, sharpcap or vlounge for imaging Saturn?

Cheers

Gav

[allan gould]

Gav
I use Sharpcap for capture and you really have to match the settings to your camera by trial and error. However there are two things that have to be right. One is seeing conditions. If the stars are really twinkling then forget it for if you look through the scope it will be boiling and not worth your time, but I suppose good for practice. I use higher gain 50-70% and then balance the exposure to get a reasonable image but not too overexposed. Remember the lower the exposure the faster the frame rate. The faster the frame rate then the larger the number of frames and the likely hood that you will have sufficient good frames to make a good image. You use a 2x Barlow and so do I but I use a 10" SCT at 2500mm FL yours you should use at least a 5x Barlow but then the image is dimmer and your frame rate goes down. No free lunch. Your main problem as well is a good camera and for about $300 an ASI120mm is really great. You could get a ASI120MC the colour version but the resolution goes down. Again no free lunch.
Read sSalways planetary imaging guide on IIS as its a good intro.
Hope this helps
Allan

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

Originally Posted by allan gould

Gav
I use Sharpcap for capture and you really have to match the settings to your camera by trial and error. However there are two things that have to be right. One is seeing conditions. If the stars are really twinkling then forget it for if you look through the scope it will be boiling and not worth your time, but I suppose good for practice. I use higher gain 50-70% and then balance the exposure to get a reasonable image but not too overexposed. Remember the lower the exposure the faster the frame rate. The faster the frame rate then the larger the number of frames and the likely hood that you will have sufficient good frames to make a good image. You use a 2x Barlow and so do I but I use a 10" SCT at 2500mm FL yours you should use at least a 5x Barlow but then the image is dimmer and your frame rate goes down. No free lunch. Your main problem as well is a good camera and for about $300 an ASI120mm is really great. You could get a ASI120MC the colour version but the resolution goes down. Again no free lunch.
Read sSalways planetary imaging guide on IIS as its a good intro.
Hope this helps
Allan

Some pretty good advice in here.

I have a 2x Barlow (with my telescopes aperture being 130mm). I also have a extension tube as well. What would be the max power I could get to capture Saturn at a decent size?

[allan gould]

Probably 3x to 5x Barlow, but I'd recommend the former and capturing Saturn or Jupiter with its moons. Mabe even making a time sequence with Sharpcap and reconstituting it back into an avi to see the moons in motion.
Allan

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

Originally Posted by allan gould

Probably 3x to 5x Barlow, but I'd recommend the former and capturing Saturn or Jupiter with its moons. Mabe even making a time sequence with Sharpcap and reconstituting it back into an avi to see the moons in motion.
Allan

Is there a way to find out how powerful the 2x Barlow and extension tube together would be? This is so I can compare it to the 2x Barlow.

[gavcol (G)]

Originally Posted by allan gould

Gav
I use Sharpcap for capture and you really have to match the settings to your camera by trial and error. However there are two things that have to be right. One is seeing conditions. If the stars are really twinkling then forget it for if you look through the scope it will be boiling and not worth your time, but I suppose good for practice. I use higher gain 50-70% and then balance the exposure to get a reasonable image but not too overexposed. Remember the lower the exposure the faster the frame rate. The faster the frame rate then the larger the number of frames and the likely hood that you will have sufficient good frames to make a good image. You use a 2x Barlow and so do I but I use a 10" SCT at 2500mm FL yours you should use at least a 5x Barlow but then the image is dimmer and your frame rate goes down. No free lunch. Your main problem as well is a good camera and for about $300 an ASI120mm is really great. You could get a ASI120MC the colour version but the resolution goes down. Again no free lunch.
Read sSalways planetary imaging guide on IIS as its a good intro.
Hope this helps
Allan

G'day Alan

Thanks mate some great advice and its just what I am after!

Will look at the planetary imaging guide.

So, I need :

1. A better camera (ASI120mm) or better.
2. A better OTA (preferably a 10" SCT), and therefore
3. A better mount (EQ6 or better)!

Will go and see the bank manager tomorrow and I will tell my wife you sent me . Well in relation to the wife maybe this icon is more appropriate .

Will keep giving it a go with the current equipment first and see how much I can refine my image before moving on and buying some new gear. I give myself a week or two .

But in all seriousness thanks again for some sound advice, hopefully I can make some modest investments soon and I will keep working on Saturn and increase my frames as well.

Thanks

Gav