Saturn one year on

[middy]

It is almost one year since I posted by first image on IIS. It was an image of Saturn taken afocally through a 40mm refractor. Last night I thought to myself "Let's have another go with the 8" Dob to see how much I have improved".

The answer is "I haven't improved much when it comes to planets" Obviously I still have a way to go. One of the big problems was I didn't have enough exposure. I tried a range of exposures and reviewed them on the back of the camera. 1/20 sec seemed to be OK with Saturn being not too bright and not too faint. However, when I downloaded them later on the computer Saturn was just a faint blurry smudge. On some images it was a struggle to pick it out. I don't know why they were clearly visible on the camera and not on the computer.

So, in 1 year I have gone from a small fuzzy blob to a larger fuzzy blob.

[Dennis]

Hi Andrew

If the "large fuzzy blob" image is a single capture, you are well on your way to producing some very nice images of Saturn!

What you have in that single frame is not too dissimilar to a single frame in an AVI sequence. If you were to stack, say 100 or 200 of your images in Registax, you would be pleasantly surprised at what pops out the other end.

I suspect maintaining sharp focus would be a critical component as well as keeping the image in the frame to allow Registax to align and stack the series.

Cheers

Dennis

[middy]

Originally Posted by Dennis

Hi Andrew

If the "large fuzzy blob" image is a single capture, you are well on your way to producing some very nice images of Saturn!

Thanks Dennis. What if the large fuzzy blob was already a stack of 15 images?

This is what a single frame looked like. As I said the single frames looked OK on the back of the camera but they were very dark when viewed on the computer. Next time I will try increasing the exposure a smidgin.

[Dennis]

In that case Andrew, you are a legend for producing an image that shows the Cassini Division with a non-driven dob and afocal techniques.

Cheers

Dennis

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

With the skills you have gained, I reckon if you got hold of a camcorder, and using the same techniques, you'd be capturing some incredible pics.
I agree with Dennis, your a legend to have gotten this far.

[ving (David)]

congrats on gettng a bit of teh CD

[middy]

Thanks guys, but I wouldn't go as far as legend. Supreme ruler of the Universe maybe

Seriously though, I just enjoy the challenge of trying to get as good an image as I can with what I have. One day I hope to build an EQ platform and hopefully my images will move up to the next level.

[Dennis]

Hey Andrew, what would you and Matt think about getting together one night after work at Warrill View to view and/or image the comet? It looks like we might have some ½ decent weather on the way.

Warrill View is approx 19km further on from the Rosewood/Amberley turn off and there is a lookout, called Cunningham's Lookout, with a good W horizon, the light dome of Brissie only polluting the E.

Let me know and maybe we can hook up one night this week, after work?

Cheers

Dennis

[middy]

I am definately interested Dennis. Matt is actually on leave until next week so I will try and email him. Caught my first glimpse of the comet last night from my place with Andrew (astro_south). It disappeared before I could get the camera set up on the scope though.