Mini Uranus Motion pic

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

While some of our more accomplished members are getting happy snaps of 13+ mag moons ( onya Dennis, all hail to thee ) I've decided to settle for something more within my reach. I wish I could claim credit for the idea, but our good mate Andrew "The Mid" middy put this itch in my mind. I've got a hankerin' to catch an animation of both Neptune and Uranus over the next few months to track their switch from retrograde back to pro-grade motion.

Fortunately I have no idea of the size and the commitment to this task or I would already be banging my head against a wall. I'm hoping to get at least 2 preferably 3 images per week. for the next 3 months. I've already posted a three image animate gif of Neptune elsewhere (I now have a few more images to add to it and will post when I work out how to get it under 150 K and still look good), but here is the start of Uranus gif. Again it is only 3 image, and I still have work to do on the alignment, but it's a happy start.

Oh and btw have you noticed where the moon is tonight and where it will be tomorrow night and the next few nights after that . I don't think Neptune and Uranus could be in worse position for this time of the lunar calendar.

Whoops forgot the details:
Canon 300D prime focus on Orion 80ED, first 2 images composed of 7X120sec ISO800, the third is on 7X60 sec ISO800 (damn moonshine), dark and flat calibrated, aligned, stacked and initial processing in ImagesPlus, final curves touchup, frame alignment, conversion to jpeg and resizing in PS. Animation in Advanced Gif Animator (unregistered).

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Good luck with it Paul.
So far so good!

[Dennis]

Hi Paul

Wow - what an exciting project and looking good so far. I've just come in from imaging the moons of Uranus and there was a horrible light gradient across the frame, from the Moon, so I can sympathise!

I must say thanks to both you and Andrew (Middy) for the inspiration that got me started off down this track.

Cheers

Dennis

[iceman (Mike)]

Excellent work paul, nice registration there!

[h0ughy (David)]

Well done, that mount setup must be very good!

[middy]

That sounds like an great project. I look forward to seeing the final result of that one. Good luck getting 3 months of Uranus under 150k.

This looks like an excellent start. You can even see the moons going round on the first two frames!!

[Lester]

Hi Paul,

looks great already and perhaps a asteroid at the bottom right corner.

[Robert_T]

Paul, this is impressive stuff, and it's also impressing on me just how great this digital imaging must be for picking up asteroids, supernova and other variable star phenomena. Great stuff

[ving (David)]

gee ya really have to treat these outter planets like DSOs dontcha!

MTFBWY...A

[venus (Lydia)]

Hi Paul, very interesting giff. Just wondering about the dates on the pics
06.08.04
06.08.06
06.08.07 }?

[Striker (Tony)]

What are we looking at Paul...I saw the date change...very impresive...lol

Joking...nice job

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Venus, dates are in this format

yy/mm/dd

I use this format for archiving puposes. It makes it much easier to find particular images rather than us the standard dd/mm/yy format

[venus (Lydia)]

Thanks for clearing that up Paul.........time it's all zulu to me

[Lee]

Paul, great work.... I love this sort of stuff - can't wait to see the finished product. Fingers crossed and you might catch a supernova or something.... make you famous!

[ving (David)]

i feel the need for popcorn!

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Thanks for the positive comment folks. I'm quite excited over the prospect of tracking both planets for the next few months. My techniques will improve as I learn more so I'm expecting big improvements in the next couple of weeks.

If only someone would do something about that full moon sitting on top of Neptune tonight and Uranus tomorrow night (or the night after)

[RB (Andrew)]

Good work Paul and good luck.

[sheeny (Al)]

Good one Paul! Sounds like a worthwhile project.

In the first image of your animation, Uranus looks like a little fuzzy Saturn... is that some sort of abberation or did you go deep enough to pick up rings???


Al.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I've been wondering about that Al, but I haven't checked my original exposures yet. I doubt if it would be rings, though that would be so cool

[davidpretorius]

i am impressed paul, awesome!!!!