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Uranus, Mars, Jupiter in 4/5 Seeing C14, 10/6/24

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#1 sfugardi

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Posted 06 October 2024 - 01:15 PM

Last night imaging Saturn/Neptune was a bust, as the seeing was not good enough, but I left my observatory open then woke up at 4am. For Uranus, I used the RG610 filter with the 290MM and 462MC comparing 5min runs at 40fps at identical gains. The 290MM image was much brighter and more resolved than the 462MC. I ran 2 more 5min runs with the 290 and combined all three. I did the same thing on Jupiter & Mars, and the preliminary images look better with the 290MM. I ran 5-90sec RGB runs 133fps 60% histograms for Jupiter and 4-2min RGB runs 166fps 60% for Mars combining the best 20%. As long as there are no moon transits and the seeing is not short lived, I will be going back to mono imaging. I'll post the 290-462 comparisons later.

 

Hope you like these,

Regards,

Steve

 

PS: At the end, my corrector plate was a bit fogged over and I have no idea when it happened but it makes sense with a low Mars frame rate...

Attached Thumbnails

  • 2024-10-06-0846_6-RG610-Uranus_15MIN_web.jpg
  • 2024-10-06-1009_4-Mars-RGB_web.jpg
  • 2024-10-06-0923_2-Jupiter-RGB_web.jpg

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#2 Winteria

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Posted 06 October 2024 - 01:18 PM

Great set Steve!


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#3 SNH

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Posted 06 October 2024 - 01:26 PM

I observed Jupiter, Uranus, and Mars this morning in a friend's 36-inch. Your image of Jupiter only shows a little bit more than I saw. I'm glad for your Mars image because it helps me to better grasp what I was seeing...

 

 

Scott H.


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#4 sfugardi

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Posted 06 October 2024 - 01:47 PM

Winteria, thank you!

Scott, You are your friend are lucky to see these planets through a 36" scope! I looked through a 32" at Stellafane once and the Veil was stunning, I cannot imagine a 36" planetary view...

 

Regards,

Steve



#5 Refractor6

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Posted 06 October 2024 - 01:51 PM

 What a dandy trio of images!.......like-button.jpg waytogo.gif


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#6 Mitchell Duke

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Posted 06 October 2024 - 01:55 PM

Welcome back to mono imaging! Great shots! Looks like seeing was pretty good.
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#7 sfugardi

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Posted 06 October 2024 - 03:12 PM

Guys, thanks!

Mitchell, For my 12.5" Portaball it makes sense to use the 462MC since it does not have a filter wheel. But with my C14, I blame laziness. Last night's image comparison definitely favors mono...

 

Regards,

Steve

 

PS: Thanks for the likes!

Attached Thumbnails

  • 2024-10-06-0829_5-U-RG610-Uranus_462MC VS 290MM.jpg
  • 2024-10-06-1036_5-Mars 462MC vs 290MM.jpg
  • 2024-10-06-Jupiter-462MC vs 290MM.jpg

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#8 Astrohunter8se

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Posted 06 October 2024 - 03:25 PM

I'm a mono imager as well. your comparison is a good proof that the extra work is worth it!


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#9 Kokatha man

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Posted 06 October 2024 - 06:03 PM

Nice work Steve..! waytogo.gif waytogo.gif


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#10 Ittaku

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Posted 06 October 2024 - 08:59 PM

Superb, though my experience with one shot colours differs from yours except in excellent seeing.


Edited by Ittaku, 06 October 2024 - 09:00 PM.

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#11 sfugardi

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Posted 07 October 2024 - 04:59 PM

Thanks guys!
Mo, I’ve been getting better results with all heat tapes off, but I am now wondering if there is a minimum heat requirement or a minimum fan recirculation voltage needed to just barely avoid the Jupiter fog and still give steady conditions. More experiments to follow…
Con, Since I never get excellent seeing here in the US Northeast, it may just work better for my location. It is also interesting that it is easier to focus with mono since there are no distracting lines. I found myself tweaking the focus throughout the Jupiter runs. Incrementing the focus count up as the planet climbs and the temperature drops. I didn’t notice this to the same degree with the color camera.

Regards,
Steve

PS: Thanks for the likes!
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#12 Astrohunter8se

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Posted 08 October 2024 - 09:26 AM

May I ask how you balance your color chanels so well?


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#13 JMP

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Posted 08 October 2024 - 11:03 AM

Great shots, Steve. Oval BA looks nearly as large as the GRS Kiwiray captured!


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#14 sfugardi

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Posted 08 October 2024 - 04:33 PM

Astrohunter, thank you. I really don’t do much with balancing during the data processing. I’ve had the best luck using a 60% auto histogram when capturing, then stack each run to 70% in AS4. After combining channels in WJ, I add 20% saturation boost in photoshop, then run a linear contrast stretch and fade it back 50%, then hit auto-tone and fade it back 50%. After final sharpening I stretch just under the point at which the pixels saturate. That’s it, keep it simple.

 

Regards, 

Steve

 

PS: Thanks for the likes!


Edited by sfugardi, 08 October 2024 - 06:13 PM.

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#15 Kiwi Paul

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Posted 08 October 2024 - 05:18 PM

Excellent and very informative work.
Cheers Paul
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#16 Space Cowboy

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Posted 12 October 2024 - 08:23 AM

Super images!


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#17 marvyyk

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Posted 12 October 2024 - 08:36 AM

Great images! waytogo.gif 
And a cool comparison! 


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