First Saturn - 19/07/2014

[gitchnz]

This isn't my first image of Saturn, but it's the first one I've uploaded here. Note it's in monochrome, as I've removed the IR cut filter form my camera so colour images don't look correct. Stacked in Autostakkert from several thousand frames. Enhanced in Photoshop (contrast and sharpness).

[kenny k]

Nice effort gitchnz..im no imaging expert but edge of image look a bit soft,maybe a tad off focus.

Kenny

[Pete Presland]

thats a pretty decent image, what equipment/capture details did you using

[RAC]

Where abouts are you in NZ? There isn't many of us in this hobby down here.

[Sam]

There's a few around the country!

[Naf]

Good first effort, what sort of camera/video cam are you using, and do you have a auto focus, I think the focus is a little soft. Keep at it , over time the images WILL get better, Bye.

[gitchnz]

Thanks all

I'm in the Manawatu area. Relatively new to this hobby and haven't yet had much of a chance to mingle with others. I'm sure that will come, however.

Thanks for the comments re focus. I suspect you are right that it is a tad off. I don't have any kind of focusing mechanism beyond the stock focuser on my scope. The scope is a Skywatcher 114/900, and that image was taken through a 2.5x barlow. The camera was a Logitech QuickCam 4000 with the IR filter removed, hence why it's in black and white. Focusing is difficult as the mount is quite flimsy, and adjusting the focus knob tends to move the target out of view. At the very least, as the focus is being adjusted, the image is motion blurred thanks to the low shutter speed, hence why I struggle to focus perfectly. 

What's a halfway decent focusing mechanism worth?

[Naf]

I'm not sure of the suppliers in NZ, here in Australia you could try Bintel or astro-optics, I can highly  recommend both, and astronomy and telescopes for you is another, check them out, I'm sure you will find what you need, at a reasonable price.

[Vox45]

That is a pretty decent image, I will try myself when saturn comes back in 2015