275 replies to this topic

[HCR32]

I look at all these fantastic results of Jupiter and Saturn with largish instruments here (12” and 14” ) but what good results have you gotten with you little 8”er. Feel free to post your best results. I just feel that there is no goto for smaller aperture results it’s always flooded by bigger instruments and that’s intimidating for some to celebrate what they have achieved amongst the gods of planetary imaging.

[Justin Fuller]

Here are two of mine from when I had a C8 SCT. Mars (2014 opposition) was taken with a 3x Barlow and the old '04 version of the Celestron Neximage. Saturn was taken with a 3x and ZWO asi120MM. I have a decent Jupiter taken with the ZWO somewhere in my computer.

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 

Edited by Justin Fuller, 13 July 2020 - 12:23 AM.

[KiwiRay]

I've always enjoyed participating in the small bore (6" and less) topics, and had wondered if there would be interest in starting similar "medium bore" topics, perhaps for 7-10" aperture scopes. I do think people appreciate good images taken with smaller scopes regardless of where they're posted, but having threads to present and discuss images captured within different size-groups of instruments may provide a supportive and less intimidating place than the main Solar System page, especially for those starting out.  I also like how the small-bore threads create a lasting historical record of images taken over several years, whereas other topics often disappear down the list within a few days, however good the images within them are.  Interested what other "medium bore" imagers think.

 

Ray

[Tom Glenn]

Well, there is a series of threads with results of "small bore" imaging, although that is defined as 6" or less for the purposes of those threads.  See links below. 

 

Jupiter link

Saturn link

Mars link

Moon link

Venus link

Mercury link

 

An 8" scope is intermediate, so it is larger than those "small bore" challenges, but still at the low end of a typical planetary imaging rig.  You can use the search function, either on this forum, or on Google, to find examples from 8" scopes.  One thing to keep in mind, however, is that the results that are typically posted on many websites, including this one, are over selected for truly exceptional images.  The "average" image taken with a 14" scope is actually pretty poor quality.  It takes the intersection of skill, experience, and location, to produce the best results.  

[HCR32]

My shot of Saturn through my 8” but on a non guided alt az mount so frames used was below 100 in total. Camera was an ASI120MC-S

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[rik ter horst]

Here are some images made with my 8 inch F/15 Schmidt-Cassegrain, the Mars-image of 2003 made with a Philips toucam, recently reprocessed ;-)

 

2003 (Philips Toucam)

 

2012 (DBK21)

 

2014 (ASI120MC)

[Justin Fuller]

Found my Jupiter from my 8SE, 3x Barlow and ZWO asi120mm. Haven't really tried AP, planetary or otherwise, since 2016.

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[RedLionNJ]

As I think somebody else implied above, probably 95% of good images taken with a 12" or 14" could be equaled, if not bettered, by an 8" with excellent seeing. Seeing really is that big a factor.

 

Take your C8 or Meade 8" to somewhere like Barbados or Curacao and you'd be surprised.  The sweet spot for aperture is probably somewhere around the 9" mark (so Celestron had the right idea with the 9.25"). Anything larger will rarely, if ever, be able to take full advantage of its size beyond what typical seeing will allow.

[roelb]

2018/06/24

Evolution 8" + 2x Barlow (F22) + ASI224MC (no filter-no ADC)

Seeing: 2/5 - ALT: 23°

 

 

2018/06/26  UT 21:59  CM1 = 26.3°  CM2 = 329.4  CM3 = 206.9°  ALT: 23°  DIA: 41.6"  M: -2.3

Evo 8" @ 18.5 IR-cut > ADC > Barlow 1.5 > ASI224MC

 

[roelb]

Evo 8" @ 17.5 IR-cut > ADC > Barlow 1.5 > ASI224MC

resolution: 0.22 arcs/pix  -  texp: 7 ms - 110 fps - Gain 350 - Histogram: 70-80 %  -  180 s/capture

FireCapture 2.6 > AutoStakkert! 3 (25% frames stacked) > Registax 6

2019-06-25 UT 21:32 --> 2019-06-27 UT 00:11

Seeing: 2.5/5

Transparancy: variable due to veil clouds

ALT: 14° -> 18° -> 16°

DIA 45.6"  M: -2.6

Highly compressed GIF:

 

[roelb]

Mars at closest approach on July 30 2018 at 13° ALT.

Seeing: 2.5/5

30% from 56.000 frames (single capture)

 

[roelb]

19/08/25

Average seeing.

Evo 8 @ F/17.5 > IR-block > ADC > 1.5 x barlow > ASI224MC

altitude: 18° at transit

 

 

 

2018/08/21

[HCR32]

19/08/25
Average seeing.
Evo 8 @ F/17.5 > IR-block > ADC > 1.5 x barlow > ASI224MC
altitude: 18° at transit

2019-08-25-2036_1-r-L-Sat_lapl6_ap59_R_85%.jpg


2018/08/21
2018-08-21-2159_3-r-L-Sat_lapl4_ap17_REG_DYADIC_annotated.jpg

Second shot of Saturn is a beauty!

[kevinbreen]

[I'll chime in here. I sold my 8SE to my drug dealer (ok, my pharmacist) recently but I had a great time with it. They're great scopes, portable and enjoyable to use. I upgraded to a C11, which doesn't put me at god grade, but I like to think I could turn water into wine someday, as opposed to the other way around most days.
Here are my humble 8SE pics

 

attachment=1539636:IMG_9537.JPG]

 

 

 

 

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 
• 

[BKBrown]

I've always enjoyed participating in the small bore (6" and less) topics, and had wondered if there would be interest in starting similar "medium bore" topics, perhaps for 7-10" aperture scopes. I do think people appreciate good images taken with smaller scopes regardless of where they're posted, but having threads to present and discuss images captured within different size-groups of instruments may provide a supportive and less intimidating place than the main Solar System page, especially for those starting out.  I also like how the small-bore threads create a lasting historical record of images taken over several years, whereas other topics often disappear down the list within a few days, however good the images within them are.  Interested what other "medium bore" imagers think.

 

Ray

Over the years we have had members asking any number of times about "the next size up" over in the small bore threads. An intermediate challenge series for mid-size scopes might scratch the itch for those folks 

 

Clear Skies,

Brian 

Edited by BKBrown, 14 July 2020 - 03:31 PM.

[HCR32]

Last nights results using ASI120mc-s at native focal length with my 8” Mak. 

 

Brightened it up. 

Edited by HCR32, 30 July 2020 - 09:18 AM.

[Jim in PA]

[I'll chime in here. I sold my 8SE to my drug dealer (ok, my pharmacist) recently but I had a great time with it. They're great scopes, portable and enjoyable to use. I upgraded to a C11, which doesn't put me at god grade, but I like to think I could turn water into wine someday, as opposed to the other way around most days.
Here are my humble 8SE pics

 

attachment=1539636:IMG_9537.JPG]

 

BEF35C6F-C0CE-40EB-9701-2EA4CB731581-5745-00000156E19BFCD0.jpeg

 

DFA056E6-F91C-41E0-81FC-D10B468A51D2-5745-00000156DCFE9734.png

 

 

Must've been when you got the idea to build an invisible observatory!
 

Edited by Jim in PA, 30 July 2020 - 06:21 AM.

[Jim in PA]

19/08/25

Average seeing.

Evo 8 @ F/17.5 > IR-block > ADC > 1.5 x barlow > ASI224MC

altitude: 18° at transit

 

2019-08-25-2036_1-r-L-Sat_lapl6_ap59_R_85%.jpg

 

 

2018/08/21

2018-08-21-2159_3-r-L-Sat_lapl4_ap17_REG_DYADIC_annotated.jpg

Your IR image of Saturn is excellent!  Showing my noobness here, but have to ask:  what is the advantage of using an ADC while imaging with an IR pass filter? 

 

+1 on a "mid-bore challenge" thread for those of us with 7-9" scopes.  I just don't have anything worth posting yet!

[JimNaySeeUm]

Took these last week with my CPC 800, 2x barlow, ADC and a ZSO 224, IR cut filter

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 
• 

Edited by JimNaySeeUm, 30 July 2020 - 08:04 AM.

[HCR32]

ASI120mc-s 8” Mak 

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[Foc]

August 13 2020 Canberra Australia     C8 in not so good seeing.  Used C8 on EVO  Alt Az with  ZWO 462mc and 2x GSO barlow

 

Seeing indexes According to Meteoblue 3-4/10,  I would guess at the time of my captures from about 4 (Saturn)-5 (Jupiter) /10    High Jet Stream  

 

Given there was high cloud and a heavy cloud mass was expected in a short time, I think if I had a C14 I would not have bothered even trying in these conditions but the C8 (like a C6) is a nice portable scope and not to much effort to put up or tear down!

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 

[Ethan Chappel]

I reckon this one is in my top 20:

 

[MHD]

Here are some images made with my 8 inch F/15 Schmidt-Cassegrain, the Mars-image of 2003 made with a Philips toucam, recently reprocessed ;-)

 

conv_m030903f_g3_b3_ap16 B Mars 2003!!.jpg 2003 (Philips Toucam)

 

22_03_2012_211228waveletPS1.jpg 2012 (DBK21)

 

conv_Jup_050314_190552_g4_b3_ap37PS.jpg 2014 (ASI120MC)

Having just started out at planetary imaging, this level of detail would be my ideal out come. If I can get close to these in the next 12 months, I will be very happy ! 

[DORF]

Jupiter april 2018.Greece.Stoupa.
Saturn april 2018.Greece.Stoupa.
Mars august 2020.Moscow.
Celestron c8 Edge Hd.

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 
• 

Edited by DORF, 15 August 2020 - 08:39 AM.

[ryanha]

I know this is not a contest, but @DORF, wow those look about as good as they could get!

 

Can you give a few details about your process & setup?   e.g. Color or Mono?  What camera & Barlow? Are these derotated with Winjupos or just single run shots, etc?

 

Do you use autostakkert/Registax or are you also doing sharpening in Photoshop (or other tools?)

 

Seriously these look like the gold standard to aim for.

 

--Ryan