unending cloud, rain, wind, awful seeing, new 900nc Webcam... what the hell JUPITER

Robert_T · #1 25-03-2006, 05:46 PM

Hi All, my new Phillips SPS900NC webcam (new ToUcam version) arrived a week ago and ever since it's been cloud, showers and gales. I got this to see how it compared with the Neximage - same chip but different codecs and who knows what else. Finally tried it out - will post first impressions in another thread.

Had a break in the cloud last night and again this morning - seeing in both cases was absolutely appalling, 1-2/10 last night 2-3/10 this morning. If it hadn't been over a week since I'd last imaged and the new camera I'd never have bother imaging or posting. The Saturns from last night just aren't worth even processing. The only useful thing from the Jupiters this morning is that these conditions provided a test for the relationship between SEEING and ONIONS.

The image on the left is the best of a really bad bunch. It has faint onions. The one on the right has got 'em real bad. This despite using around 80% (yes 80%) Gain, 50% Gamma and Brightness 50% and running between 200 and 225 on the K3CCD light meter. I'm now convinced that Onions are part exposure and part seeing related.

cheers,

asimov (John) · #2 25-03-2006, 06:25 PM

Ah yes, the good ol' onions...enough to make one cry! I like the colours mate, can't wait till you get better conditions to work under!

Keep up the good work.

davidpretorius · #3 25-03-2006, 07:32 PM

love the colour of the one on the right. I think this setup has got great potential. Please regardless of seeing, try the 4x at 4am. I would love to see that enough light is on it way into the camera for the extra image scale.

hey i know the seeing was bad, but i am feeling pretty good about this!!!

Robert_T · #4 25-03-2006, 08:01 PM

DP, more than happy to break out the 4x, but it's not just the seeing that's the problem. I have only seen the sky for a few hours total (and always with fast cloud swinging by) in the last two weeks. Being around 1000 km from a Cyclone is bad enough, I pity our comrades a bit further north!

cheers,

davidpretorius · #5 25-03-2006, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert_T

DP, more than happy to break out the 4x, but it's not just the seeing that's the problem. I have only seen the sky for a few hours total (and always with fast cloud swinging by) in the last two weeks. Being around 1000 km from a Cyclone is bad enough, I pity our comrades a bit further north!

cheers,

positive thinking rob, positive thinking rob.

it makes the weather be good!!!!

matt · #6 25-03-2006, 09:57 PM

[1ponders] (Paul) · #7 26-03-2006, 12:02 AM

Where were you tonight Rob. It was fantastic up at Ron's. It's a shame I had to come home early. I hope you're outside making the most of it.

Looking forward to see what you get after a good workout with the new camera.

Robert_T · #8 26-03-2006, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

Where were you tonight Rob. It was fantastic up at Ron's. It's a shame I had to come home early. I hope you're outside making the most of it.

Looking forward to see what you get after a good workout with the new camera.

Was Ron's last night... must have been a cracker!

No chance for me anyway, quick snatches in the wee hours when the family's asleep is my main fare at the mo... and yes I did get out this morning and gave the new camera a run, seeing still less than average though better than yesterday

cheers,