Mars 2/3rd Dec

[Dave882 (David)]

Seems like forever since we've had a clear night with decent conditions for planetary viewing. Spent a few hours with the binoviewers and although Saturn and Jupiter are getting a bit too close to my roof now and only offered some fleeting nice views, Mars was quite impressive as it rose. Conditions were still and seeing quite good in patches, with excellent views of surface features as well as the southern polar cap. Seeing deteriorated around 2ish for my IR shot and second RGB. Probably could have taken more shots but got sidetracked trying to fix an issue with the mount and then had to re-collimate with the meridian flip .

c14 @ f11
eq8
zwo ADC
asi462mc (RGB)
asi290mm (IR685)

5min captures
5ms exposures / ~197fps in ASICAP
gain approx 140-170
as!3 / Registax6

EDIT: the 2 RGB shots were taken at 1:00am & 2:40am - its incredible to see the rotation!
Thanks for looking

[Averton (P and C)]

Great shots with fantastic detail. The IR image steals the show. You're right it is incredible to see the rotation in relatively short time periods.

[Crater101 (Warren)]

I second that. Very neat shots indeed. I've just come inside from observing the red planet myself, and the seeing wasn't the best. Compared to the view I had through the Mak-Cas, these are superb!

[Dave882 (David)]

Thanks Peter&Clare and Warren. I’m really glad I was able to get a decent one out - it’s my first attempt that hasn’t looked like a bowl of porridge.
The IR shots really cut through the seeing for sure, but the better conditions were earlier on and had some lovely views through the eyepiece.
Hopefully a few more clear nights this month!

[Retrograde (Pete)]

Great pics Dave!

[MortonH]

Great shots.

[Dave882 (David)]

Thanks Pete & Morton!

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

great captures David!! Best Mars I've seen this season!

[Dave882 (David)]

Originally Posted by rustigsmed

great captures David!! Best Mars I've seen this season!

Thanks Russell much appreciated. It’s just so nice to have some clear sky and decent conditions- didn’t realise how much I’d missed it until it hit 3am and realise I’d be out for 6hrs

[Saturnine (Jeff)]

Great results Dave, lots of lovely detail on the disc , using a C14 helps no doubt with resolution.
Seeing down here has been mush for most of the year.

[Dave882 (David)]

Originally Posted by Saturnine

Great results Dave, lots of lovely detail on the disc , using a C14 helps no doubt with resolution.
Seeing down here has been mush for most of the year.

Thanks Jeff. Yes 14inches can certainly give some nice res when the conditions permit but I agree the vast majority of the clear nights this year have been terrible seeing. On more than one occasion I’ve gone to recollimate my scope being absolutely convinced the sky couldn’t be that poor, but alas all was correct. Even last night I was out and in maybe 2hours of viewing got no more than 3-4min of excellent views. That’s with excellent jet stream predictions. But seriously, those 3-4mins are just mind blowing.

[AstroViking (Steve)]

Very cool.

I'm not a planetary imager, so a hearty well done to all of you.

(OK, in my defence, I did get my girlfriend's 90/900 scope out when Jupiter was at it's closest and was able to see the stripes. That was pretty impressive, and she thought so too.)

Cheers,
V

[Dave882 (David)]

Originally Posted by AstroViking

Very cool.

I'm not a planetary imager, so a hearty well done to all of you.

(OK, in my defence, I did get my girlfriend's 90/900 scope out when Jupiter was at it's closest and was able to see the stripes. That was pretty impressive, and she thought so too.)

Cheers,
V

Thanks Steve! Well it was a little 90mm refractor that first got me hooked! The thrill the first time seeing the rings of Saturn & the equatorial bands of Jupiter still stay with me. I think planetary observation/imaging is like surfing- constantly in the quest for the perfect wave, but so much at the mercy of nature itself!