Jupiter 3rd August 2009 – Mewlon180, x4 PowerMate, DMK31

Dennis · #1 03-08-2009, 09:00 AM

Hello,

After 4 consecutive unsuccessful nights trying to image Jupiter, I was blessed with a short spell of quite good seeing, maybe 7/10, between 00:30am and 1:00am, early this (Monday) morning.

Mewlon 180 F12, Televue x4 PowerMate, DMK31AF04 CCD camera. This gave an effective focal ratio of F48 with an effective focal length of 8640mm although I really struggled with photon throughput with an aperture of “only” 180mm. I didn’t quite get away with using the x4 PowerMate, and with hindsight, should have plugged in the x3 Barlow; but boy, was it nice seeing Jupiter so large on the screen!

Thanks for looking!

Dennis

matt · #2 03-08-2009, 09:25 AM

Nice one, Dennis. A fair amount of detail present and well processed

I can't believe I missed this.

I had every intention of setting up and going for it....only to have fallen asleep on the couch, too tired to do anything

Glad you were out there.

iceman (Mike) · #3 03-08-2009, 09:57 AM

That's a beauty, Dennis. Nice and large and heaps of detail present.

I was going to go out last night, but couldn't be bothered. I hope the seeing was crap at my place

Lester · #4 03-08-2009, 10:01 AM

Nice one Dennis, with lots of detail.

Dennis · #5 03-08-2009, 10:16 AM

Thanks guys!

The seeing was 5/10 for the early part of the session, barely tolerating a x2.5 PowerMate or x3 Barlow and I almost packed up just before midnight. I then got distracted and had to go indoors and when I returned to the ‘scope, the seeing had improved slightly so I though I should persevere.

Around 00:30am some real moments of 7/10 began to appear, so I plugged in the x4 and managed to squeeze off 5 AVI’s before the seeing deteriorated again. Around 1:00am I did the meridian flip (a new astro dance!) and by the time I had Jupiter centred again, it had all gone to mush; even the x2 Vixen Barlow was too much. So, it really was a small window of opportunity where it came good.

Cheers

Dennis

Quark (Trevor) · #6 03-08-2009, 12:18 PM

Well done Dennis,

Nice image scale and plenty of detail. Glad to see you finally get some good seeing up your way.

I was also out from midnight until 3:30 am and am currently wading through 24 avi's. Although I had absolutely no cloud it looks like you had better seeing.

Top effort.
Regards
Trevor

Dennis · #7 03-08-2009, 06:32 PM

Thanks Trevor, I look forward to seeing the results and animations. They take a numbingly looooong time to process and assemble eh!

Here is the aligned/stacked/processed image from an AVI recorded at 00:14am that made me rush upstairs and grab the x4 TeleVue PowerMate! I placed Jupiter on a “diagonal” in the 1024x768 frame so that I could fit in the moons Io and Europa. A DMK41 might well have given me Ganymede too!

Cheers

Dennis

coldspace · #8 03-08-2009, 07:33 PM

Very nice mate, lots of detail and awesome seeing little disk moons.
Well done.

Regards Matt

Quark (Trevor) · #9 03-08-2009, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis

Thanks Trevor, I look forward to seeing the results and animations. They take a numbingly looooong time to process and assemble eh!

Here is the aligned/stacked/processed image from an AVI recorded at 00:14am that made me rush upstairs and grab the x4 TeleVue PowerMate! I placed Jupiter on a “diagonal” in the 1024x768 frame so that I could fit in the moons Io and Europa. A DMK41 might well have given me Ganymede too!

Cheers

Dennis

Looking at this I can understand why you trotted out the 4x Powermate, it certainly looks like it would take more magnification.

Cheers Trevor

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #10 03-08-2009, 08:55 PM

Wasn't it a beaut night! Even my little LPI was putting out some not too shabby pics of Jup.
So glad you were out amongst it too.
You've done a splendid job on Jove yet again.

davidpretorius · #11 03-08-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis

but boy, was it nice seeing Jupiter so large on the screen!

ummmm

yes, you know you should drop the focal length...but for the life of you, you simply cant do it......

maybe the seeing will improve...maybe the seeing will improve...maybe the seeing will improve...maybe the seeing will improve...maybe the seeing will improve...maybe the seeing will improve...

Lovely image Dennis

Matt Wastell (Matt) · #12 04-08-2009, 08:12 PM

Hi Dennis

Wow! great images and the detail is super.
I recall a Moon and Jupiter image you did many years ago? You still have it!!!!
Thanks for sharing

bird (Anthony Wesley) · #13 04-08-2009, 08:19 PM

Thanks Dennis - lovely image!

Bird

hotspur (Chris) · #14 04-08-2009, 08:29 PM

Thats really fine work Dennis,lovely to see so much detail.

The seeing has been rather bad up here at present-lots of smoke due

to forrestory/grass burn offs,i havent had much of a chance to do

much good viewing,I hope the smoke clears before astrofest.

regards C

AlexN · #15 06-08-2009, 07:53 PM

Fantastic Dennis! For a 180mm aperture you've got monumental image scale on this one!! I remember imaging with my 200mm, anything around the 6000~7000mm focal length mark (F35~F38 or there abouts) was REALLY pushing it when it came to getting enough photon throughput..

Well done indeed.. and congratulations on getting some good seeing! however brief it may have been, I'm sure it was enjoyable!

Dennis · #16 06-08-2009, 08:58 PM

Thanks Matt, Trevor, Jeanette, David, Matt, Anthony, Chris and Alex, I appreciate you stopping by and having a look!

I was absolutely thrilled with the results when during the session, I punched a short test AVI through Registax to assess the viability of leaving the x4 PowerMate in. It had been a long time between drinks!

Cheers

Dennis

desler · #17 06-08-2009, 11:06 PM

Really sensation work there Dennis!

3 weeks, every night off work, clouds and wind.........
Even though I'm only capturing with a toucam through a 8 inch Newt, the frustration levels are extreme!

It's nice to jump on Ice and see that at least someone is getting decent seeing and conditions. Keep posting!

Darren