Jupiter last night

[bones]

Here's two processed from the same avi run from last night (24/11/10).
Conditions seemed pretty good - From memory "Skippy sky" indicated seeing was about 7/10, transparency about 8/10, jetstream 10-20kts.

The first was a stack of 1075 frames from the 3581 frames.
The second was a stack of 2135 frames from the 3581 frames.
The third is the same as the first but I cranked up the wavelets more. I know it introduces more noise but I just wanted to see if it brought out more details.

Scope CPC11.
Camera DMK21AU at 30f/s through the L filter only.
(2x Barlow high on wish list.)

Very much a newbie at all this - comments welcome.

[asimov (John)]

You captured the SEB outbreak - good one mate.

[michaellxv (Michael)]

Looks like you have a nice view of the SEB outbreak.

The first one looks a bit sharper than the second. The third looks a bit over done.

Well done, keep up the good work.

[bones]

Thanks for your encouragement John & Michael.

I have a few questions though.
1. The second one has more frames and isn't as clear. Is this because it would have included frames that weren't as good/clear in quality getting the additional frames in the stack? If so I imagine that its a matter of finding a balance in the processing to get enough frames to get the detail and not too many frames to wash the detail out with poorer frames?
2. Using a 2x barlow would increase the size 2x. Assuming equal focussing, conditions, etc, would sizing the AVI capture image up with a barlow bring a lot more clarity in the features in the processing?
3. A spent a fair bit of time trying to focus before capture so I thought I had that alright. In the process however I'm finding it tricky bringing in the features with the wavelets without overcooking the image. Any ideas on what functions apart from the "wavelets" that I could be using in registax to help me with this?

Tony

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

I'm a bit of a novice yself on Registax so I'm awaiting the answer as much as you are!!
The number for frames you used in the end is quite high, I wonder if you could have raised the fail rate and got more detail that way.
I'm sure you could use a barlow to increase the size if you're doing 1000s of frames.

[michaellxv (Michael)]

Originally Posted by bones

Thanks for your encouragement John & Michael.

I have a few questions though.
1. The second one has more frames and isn't as clear. Is this because it would have included frames that weren't as good/clear in quality getting the additional frames in the stack? If so I imagine that its a matter of finding a balance in the processing to get enough frames to get the detail and not too many frames to wash the detail out with poorer frames?
2. Using a 2x barlow would increase the size 2x. Assuming equal focussing, conditions, etc, would sizing the AVI capture image up with a barlow bring a lot more clarity in the features in the processing?
3. A spent a fair bit of time trying to focus before capture so I thought I had that alright. In the process however I'm finding it tricky bringing in the features with the wavelets without overcooking the image. Any ideas on what functions apart from the "wavelets" that I could be using in registax to help me with this?

Tony

Tony,

Not that I'm an expert, so take this with a pinch of salt.

1. If the extra frames you add are not as good then you could degrade the final result. The very best images seem to hand pick which frames to use to make sure they only get the best.

2. 2x barlow should make the image twice as big. So Jupiter should fall accross twice as many pixels with less black sky on the edges. In theory this gives you better resolution.

3. Sorry can't help you here.

[asimov (John)]

Hi Tony.

Yes, you'd be wanting to get a barlow ASAP. I've never really gotten a great image yet (even in good seeing) with the C11 at prime (F10) and it's due to what Michael said about resolution & pixels/image sensor size etc.

Even in crook seeing I only drop back to a minimum image scale of 1.5X. I always get a better result than with F10. In good seeing (7 & above) you'd want F30 as your minimum. The cheapest way to get F30 is with a 2X barlow plus an extension tube, however most would just buy a 3X barlow. I have a 3X & a 2X plus a few different length extension tubes to try to cater for all seeing conditions.

It solely depends on the seeing, as to how many you would stack. In the case where the image is actually worse with your stack of 2135, you'd be right in saying you had too many frames stacked for the seeing.

Seeing is king in this game, & everything revolves around it. Another thing is your local seeing; heat rising from the earth in your general area. This will effect your overall seeing greatly at times. The other important thing is convection/tube currents inside your SCT if the mirror is nowhere near ambient temp.

I could rave on forever, but the most important factors I have outlined above.

[Paul Haese]

good detail and nice captures.

Just bare in mind that Skippy sky when it comes to seeing is often very wrong. Andrew has just changed the algorithm but it is still not going to be accurate.

For a tutorial on how to use registax feel free to use mine. You are using mono so it should be quite useful to you.

http://paulhaese.net/planetaryprocessing.html

[bones]

Thanks for all the feedback from all. It's been encouraging and helpful in the "journey". Paul, I'll definitely have a good look at the tutorial when I get the chance. Thanks .

Also have now recived the 2x Barlow so now it's a waiting game for the cloud to clear and the conditions to improve.