This evening's very hopeful image of Venus just before it set (GSO 8 inch at about f30 with red filter and DMK). Seeing was atrocious so low down, but the thing is so bright (compared to Saturn!!) that very short exposures were possible. Had difficulty focusing and there are no features to use in deciding on an appropriate deconvolution kernel to correct for atmospheric blur. Image scale and phase are about right though, so hopefully it is fairly close to reality. Want to get a sequence showing the changing phase over the next few months. Thanks for looking.
Venus doesn't get a lot of coverage so thanks for sharing this. Your project to demonstrate the changing phases sounds great. Look forward to seeing the results.
Hi Matt and Trevor
Thanks very much for your encouraging comments. Will post again when I have some more images.
Any tips on techniques for low elevation angle imaging?
regards Ray
I think the scope is at about f30. Used stacked 2x and 3x Barlows with an extension - gives a nominal 7.5x focal length or about f30 (scope is nominally f4). Measurement of the image scale also gives a similar result.
However, the image that comes up when you click on the post looks much larger then the one I uploaded - lots more black real estate- no idea why. On the original image, the planet is about 1/10 of the width of the 640x480 image.
Hi Frank
This is intriguing. If I view the image while logged in as a registered user it basically fills the window with black space and puts in the iceinspace logo. If I click on the thumbnail while just browsing (without logging in), I get the original image. I need to put a white border maybe? I guess its not really important, but this effect can be a bit confusing if anyone is trying to estimate image scale, as I assume you did.
Ray
