DVD Guide to Planetary Imaging. By Damian Peach

[vindictive666 (John)]

morning all

i came across this today
Damian Peach is selling a DVD about Guide to Planetary Imaging.

you can check it out here

http://www.damianpeach.com/dvd.htm

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Hmmmm....very tempting

[h0ughy (David)]

LOL mike has probably ordered it already to see if there is any trick he has missed

[iceman (Mike)]

Yes it looks pretty good.

There's been a bit of discussion on CN about it, and it covers such aspects as seeing, cooling, collimation, etc.. that is, everything in the capturing of the image.
Apparently there isn't a lot in the processing side (after registax) which is what most of the people were hoping to get some "secrets" about..

But Damian would tell you, that if you capture exceptional data in the first place, very little processing is required to get an exceptional image.

[rumples riot]

Damian is not likely to hand over many secrets as it were.

His DVD as I understand it is a treatise on the basic rules that you need to follow. I find it odd that people would think he would give a step by step account. The evidence shows that he does not join forums and is selective as to whom he converses with over the internet, which in turn means he is not going to give you a how to tutorial.

Probably worth it for the new planetary imager, but not for a seasoned campaigner.

Each to their own though.

[davidpretorius]

yes, they were pretty cutting on CN.

Not sure if I will order it or not?

It would be good though for XMAS from the girls

[netwolf]

Mine is on order still have not received it but they say it an take 2-3 weeks,.

[Phil]

I ordered this month and month ago still waiting for it to turn up.
Phil

[citivolus (Ric)]

I ordered it as the price wasn't too bad, and I figured that worst case I wouldn't come out of it knowing less that I do now.

[spacezebra (Petra)]

This is great - but the question that I want to ask is "when is your DVD coming out Mike?"

Cheers Petra

[netwolf]

I received my DVD about 2 weeks ago, after ordering it late September. Part of the problem was the Postal strikes in the UK.

I only recently had the time to watch it. Most of the information was stuff I had learned already on this forum, from reading Mike (Iceman's) articles and the helpful tips from other members. There were a few points that were covered that I was perhaps unaware of with regard to the use of Registax. But overall this is really good for a beginner, i think it is a very good start for someone geting into it. I would equally also recommend Mike's articles.

I was a bit disappointed initially that it did not go more into post registax processing. But i also realized something perhaps others have missed with this dvd. Nothing beats good seeing conditions and good intial processing. I have spent many nights concentrating on the capturing of data and not concerned myself with Seeing, Thermal equilibrium, collimation etc. And this DVD has highlighted to me that Damien is doing well because he is getting these things right and geting good Data. So perhaps not as disappointed in the end, a lesson learned. People have been a bit critical of this DVD but I would dare to ask them to first produce raw data that is as good as Damien's. And I believe that anyone can do it, if they take the care to do it.

In chasing the results we can often overlook the smaller things that are more important.

This is one of my favorite sites, i found it long back but then lost the link. As luck would have it i found it again recently. It is my favorite because this amateur astronomer unlike many many others actually posts the raw frame in his gallery. This helped me a lot in realizing what to look for in the raw frame and what not to worry about.
http://www.ocupado.de/en/indexmain.html

I am waiting for Mike and Bird's dvd's. But i think that they have shared quiet a bit of there secret on this forum and thats why i am happy to be here.

Regards
Fahim

[davidpretorius]

yup, seeing is simply king!

attention to detail, collimation, cooling mirror etc helps provide consistancy!

Bird is a classic case...........gotta get him to barbados for his birthday i reckon!

[rumples riot]

As Damian, Bird, Mike and myself always say, Good data needs little processing. Mirror cooling, collimation and good seeing make for good data. The processing then is easy.

I recommend that you have a read through my cooling a C14 SCT for some ideas Fahim on cooling an SCT. In a mediterranean climate mirror cooling is necessary. Guys that have newtonians need to check out Anthony treatise on mirror cooling.

Yes Barbados is gonna happen in 4 years, when Jupiter is on its way back to a Northern declination.

[Outbackmanyep]

Rule # 1 : NEVER tell all your trade secrets!
Rule # 2: refer to rule 1

I wouldn't mind grabbing that DVD myself! Its a start!

PS....do you have to manually cool a mirror if you're 1100m above sea level????

[rumples riot]

More than ever on the cooling.

[IanL]

One other thing also I think why fellow astronomers get some good data is that when sometimes we get in from work and like to sit and relax you will usually find these folk out with the scopes.

Many a night i have felt like sitting down after work and the thought of lugging all the kit out sort of puts me off the idea. But if i just get up and go with it I usually find its been worth while. I know Damian likes Barbados but I rekon far north of Australia is about as good.

Ian

[citivolus (Ric)]

I've been wondering about that - where in Australia has the best average seeing conditions? I can't find jet stream trend maps, only current conditions. Does anyone have a link for that kind of info?

Eric