Sorry looking Mars attempt

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

I was all set last night for a Mars session. Spent time carefully colimating the scope, touched up the polar alignment and even tried some flocking opposite the focuser. Unfortunately Mars' low altitude beat me again.

Here's what I have to show for my efforts. I've also included a snap shot of my Mars horizon from home. I think the position of the roof has something to do with the potato I captured. Unfortunately a pool prevents me moving the scope further away from the house.

[iceman (Mike)]

It's not all that bad, Peter. At least you get Mars 10deg higher than we do!

They both show horrible colour channel misalignment, but really you were just beaten by the seeing.

Great to get out amongst it though, keep practising!

[edwardsdj (Doug)]

Not too shabby at all Very impressive colour!

I've only been able to capture anything on Mars in black and white using a red filter.

It is very poor for me too in the direction that I have to look at it. I think rooftops in that direction impede the seeing for me too

I'm keen to try from a dark site (if my laptop battery can hold out long enough) in an effort to get better seeing to the North-West.

How many frames did you capture? How many did you stack? Is it possible for you to post a single raw frame?

Looking forward to seeing more.

Have fun,
Doug

[duncan]

Hi Doug,
Believe them when they say not to shabby mate. Here is my disgusting attempt from the other night. I pushed my little point and shoot to it's limit.
I suppose at least it's orange,LOL
Cheers

[Ingo]

Not bad, you captured detail. Practice makes perfect!

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Here is some of the data:

1. Single raw Neximage frame after PPMcentre
2.3.4 Single frame split into RGB using RGB split
5.6.7 Stacked RGB frames (I stacked about 100 out of 700 total frames for each and then used wavelets in Registax).

[edwardsdj (Doug)]

Thanks heaps for posting those raw frames. I was just wondering what the conditions were like.

[duncan]

Hi all,
The first time i tried i had an image that looked like Venus. It was only after i turned the camera a fraction that i got a nice round image.
Just something to pass on , especially for those shooting Afocal.
Cheers,
Duncan

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Now that's an interesting point - this was taken with Neximage/5x powermate and I was having trouble with not enough outward focus so had the powermate only partially locked into the focuser - perhaps it wasn't in straight?

[duncan]

Peter i'd say we've probably nailed it. Well we'll both have to try again,LOL
Cheers
Ps I just got to wait for the rain to clear. AGAIN