Here's the first processed image from a session last night in variable seeing, but with a couple of very steady moments. This image is from one of those good moments. I'm not sure the rest will be as good, but at least I got one. Unfortunately the GRS has already finished transiting a few hours before (always the way).
The seeing started deteriorating at around 12:15am local time when the temperature dropped 2deg in 10 minutes. I could've turned my active cooling back on, but Jupiter would've gone behind a tree in 30 minutes anyway so I called it a night.
Good detail throughout the image, Mike.. I like it!
I've been meaning to ask how your images seem to hold good detail from the center right out to the edges... mine get noticeably poor towards the outer edges of the planet.. or is this just the effect of my 3.6m focal length vs your 7.5+m?
Do you think that a DBK21 Can get the same results????
In short... No. Mono CCDs provide better images due to full resolution of the camera being dedicated to capturing luminance and RGB when used with filters, where as a color CCD uses a large portion of its resolution to capture luminance, and only small portions for capturing RGB data...
Thanks for all your comments. Seeing has been pretty rotten for about a month so it's nice to be out amongst it again. Unfortunately it didn't last long, last night the seeing was back to below average.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexN
Good detail throughout the image, Mike.. I like it!
I've been meaning to ask how your images seem to hold good detail from the center right out to the edges... mine get noticeably poor towards the outer edges of the planet.. or is this just the effect of my 3.6m focal length vs your 7.5+m?
Most likely it's just the seeing. and the fact that you didn't have tracking so there would've been some blurring. In poor seeing, my shots have very little detail at the limbs as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexN
Yeah Lesters image is a stunner, but all things being equal, the DMK wins.
Comparing apples with apples, sure - the DMK is better than the DBK. But the question was, can the DBK produce results like that - and the answer is a most definite YES. However we also mustn't forget that Lester is using a cooled 14" meade and has several years experience doing this stuff.
Newbies at planetary imaging would find RGB imaging quite confusing unless you've done something like it before. The extra cost for filters and wheel etc is significant, too.
The cost of the DBK is so cheap these days it's almost what we were paying for ToUcam's 3 years ago. Even though the ToUcam's have also come down in price, the DBK would represent a fantastic starting camera (one-shot colour) for someone getting into planetary imaging and wants to learn the ropes. Or for someone who simply doesn't want the hassle, extra cost and extra time required for a monochrome camera.
But I didn't want the extra 'hassle' and 'extra time required' to process the data....not when the data didn't justify it because the seeing was so ordinary....
Anyhoo....cheers....and nice image I've already said as much on the DMK forum.
I'm getting a bit toey for some good skies, myself. It's been rubbish here in Bris for days...and there's a huge jetstream in place for days to come.
Been a tad disappointing, has the last 12 months. I'd still like to grab an absolute cracka Jove while he's still quite large.
I'm hoping to have a new scope by next apparition.
I hope y'all get good seeing too soon. I've been checking your site almost daily hoping to see some shots of the GRS. I'm really wondering if the Little Red Spot is still organized or if it's been broken up. I have my fingers crossed!