My first image of Neptune, 10" dob + DMK

iceman (Mike) · #1 18-09-2006, 07:28 AM

Hi all.

Here's my first ever image of Neptune, captured on Friday night 15/09/2006, in good seeing and good transparency.

The left hand image is at captured resolution, using the 3x barlow with my 10" dob, EQ platform and DMK21AF04. The right hand image is resampled 150% in registax.

I captured Luminance at 1/8s (7.5fps), and stacked 200 frames, and the RGB channels were captured at 1/4s (4fps) and 180 frames of each were stacked. I captured for 1 minute on each channel.

The RGB channels were aligned and combined in AstraImage, with Luminance layered in Photoshop. Levels were adjusted for brightness.

I'm quite pleased with my first ever image of the (now) farthest planet

Ideally I need to use 1/2s exposures or longer (more like 1s) to be able to use the 5x powermate, but my tracking platform is not accurate enough for long exposures. Maybe in the future.

Thanks for looking.

Dennis · #2 18-09-2006, 07:33 AM

Hi Mike

That is an excellent image of Neptune, with very natural looking colour too. I admire your dedication in imaging these faint objects, with a less than ideal set up. You are one determined dude!

Cheers

Dennis

[1ponders] (Paul) · #3 18-09-2006, 09:01 AM

So that's how it's supposed to look

Nice shootin' Mike.

ving (David) · #4 18-09-2006, 09:29 AM

looks like there might be more to it... maybe different settings will bring out more? i know surface detail is scarce on this planet tho.
very nice shot tho mike. very nivce indeed

iceman (Mike) · #5 18-09-2006, 09:52 AM

Thanks guys.

Dave I don't think there's any surface detail, any mottling seen is most likely processing artifacts. I tried to reduce them as much as possible by going very very light on wavelets and not doing any other processing.

ving (David) · #6 18-09-2006, 10:06 AM

oh ok... i knew there wasnt much detail but didnt realise there wasnt any at all

John K · #7 18-09-2006, 11:21 AM

sweet image Mike.

Ric · #8 18-09-2006, 11:38 AM

Great image Mike,
fantastic colour

Lester · #9 18-09-2006, 11:52 AM

Very nice Mike,

Am I correct in saying the colour for Neptune is identical to Uranus?

Striker (Tony) · #10 18-09-2006, 12:02 PM

Where is it Mike...all I can see is a blue blob in your image....lol

Fantastic work...great too see something different.

Love the color.

iceman (Mike) · #11 18-09-2006, 01:32 PM

Thanks guys.

Lester I feel that Neptune is a little bluer, while Uranus is more of a greeny colour. I could be wrong, but that's how it's come out in my captures.