ASI120MM and 5D Mk III Moon, Brisbane 22nd April

[Dennis]

Hello,

Here’s a quickie of the Moon tonight with the ASI120MM (Prime Focus) and the 5D Mk III (x0.8 Reducer/Corrector) on the Mewlon 180mm F12 - I’ll let you guess which is which!

I experimented with inserting the Tak x1.6 Extender with the ASI but the increased magnification did not suit the seeing conditions.

Cheers

Dennis

[Larryp (Laurie)]

That close-up is so sharp! Well done, Dennis

[h0ughy (David)]

for cr@ppy conditions they are great shots Dennis

[allan gould]

Dennis, I said a few expletives when I looked at your images. The best Ive seen.
Extraordinary detail and smoothness.
Allan

[Nikolas (Nik)]

first is the ASI second the 5dmark 2

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

Amazing shots, very sharp and clear!

[dvj (John)]

Both are exceptional but that full moon shot has amazing HDR. Well done!

[iceman (Mike)]

Super sharp! Nicely done.

[Dennis]

Thanks guys, I appreciate your comments.

Here is one of the Clavius region, down sampled from 1280x960 to 1024x768 which has helped “tighten” up the image, as it looked a little weak and jaded at full res. This was taken with the Tak x1.6 Extender although the additional magnification wasn’t really supported by the seeing conditions.

Having said all of that, I was astonished that I was able to record any AVI’s at all, with the jet stream conditions over Brisbane. Maybe the flow of air in the jet stream was quite smooth and laminar?

Cheers

Dennis

[Dennis]

Originally Posted by Nikolas

first is the ASI second the 5dmark 2

Wrong!

#2 is the 5D Mk III...

Cheers

Dennis

[pete123 (Peter)]

Incredible image - feels like it was taken in orbit!!

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by pete123

Incredible image - feels like it was taken in orbit!!

i concur

[U.K.Cowboy (Stuart)]

Lunar images of the highest order!

[Nikolas (Nik)]

Originally Posted by Dennis

Wrong!

#2 is the 5D Mk III...

Cheers

Dennis

oops

[EricB (Eric)]

Really great images Dennis

Eric

[Matt Wastell (Matt)]

Hi Dennis - I love Moon images and this one is a keeper - so much to see!

[Paul Haese]

Good quality images Dennis. Were you using Avistack for the stacking?

Just on jet stream predictions - I often find the predictors can be unreliable as a determinator if the seeing is going to be good or bad. Local conditions or even conditions just 200 feet up can really decide what the seeing is like. As you pointed out, seeing can still be quite good if all the flows are very similar to each other in direction. I have imaged Jupiter in great seeing and it was supposed to be 70m/s and that happened on several occassions.

That said processing programs and cameras now have helped to reduce the blurring effects of the seeing.

You have also reminded me of a project I have been meaning to get to for the last 5 years.

[Dennis]

Thank you Peter, David, Stuart, Nik, Eric, Matt and Paul, I appreciate your feedback and comments.

@Paul: based on Allan Gould’s recommendation I now use AutoStakkert (AS!2) which I find processes 3000 frame AVI’s on my PC in a matter of a few minutes, producing excellent results across the full frame. Typically, with good data on a 1280x960 image, AS!2 will plot between 3000 and 4000+ alignment points. I then open the final .TIF in Registax and apply Wavelets as I find Registax Wavelets unparalleled in teasing out the detail embedded in the image data.

Look forward to seeing the results of your project!

Cheers

Dennis

[Paul Haese]

Unfortunately I cannot use AS!2 with the large sensor I have. AS!2 only goes up to your sized sensor. It crops the 1940 sensor too much. I do use that program though for planetary imaging.

[Dennis]

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

Unfortunately I cannot use AS!2 with the large sensor I have. AS!2 only goes up to your sized sensor. It crops the 1940 sensor too much. I do use that program though for planetary imaging.

That’s one kind of problem I would be more than happy to have!

Cheers

Dennis