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Ptolemaeus, Alphonsus and Arzache - 16/9/14

FarSide

By FarSide
in Imaging - Lunar

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FarSide

FarSide

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Ptolemaeus, Alphonsus and Arzachel -

The cooling down time for the C11 was immense last night but it was certainly worth the wait!

This region of the lunar surface is one of the most recognizable and oddly i had never imaged it. Ptolemaeus, Alphonsus and Arzachel from top to bottom and also lets not forget the equally interesting Albategnius to the right. Also note the very little imaged Gylden Valley to the north-east of Ptolemaeus - a target for another time.

Full quality image: http://www.astrobin.com/121122

post-8388-0-99695100-1410881472_thumb.pn

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Mr Bergman

Mr Bergman

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Hi Steve. I used the ASI120MM at F/10 with a 685nm IR filter. This was all taken with a C11 SCT. 

 I have now seen a couple of your images, and they are all very crisp and smooth. Impressive! Out of curiosity, and because I don´t own an IR filter - how much improvement may I expect if I buy an IR filter? And, what are your processing details. Best regards, Erik

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FarSide

FarSide

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Hi. Well the 'crisp and smooth' quality comes with three things that aren't necessarily to do with the filter or processing. Firstly having the lunar surface with good seeing is always a must, then having a fully cooled down telescope - mine often takes an hour and a half to cool down and when it is the difference visually and photographically is astonishing. Getting your telescope fully cooled down to ambient is very important. I see you have a 190mn so it should't take anywhere near the time it takes my closed SCT to cool down. And lastly collimation: The lunar surface is particularly sensitive to miss collimation and i collimate on a regular basis; i collimate at least twice (or at least check). These three things done in combination well will give you the best results possible.

In terms of IR filters and processing there really isn't any secret. I ether use a standard Astronomik Typ2 Red or a 685nm filter. There is a great difference between the two and though i use a 685nm currently the 742nm will serve you well also. The IR filter gives you a great deal more contrast and depth compared to the standard red. That said i have had really really good results with a standard red filter so i'm not knocking it. 

Processing is really simple: i throw it into Auttoskakkart to stack, then into Registax for wavelets then onto PSE for a little more sharpening, cropping and file conversion. Job done!

Cheers,

Mike. 

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Mr Bergman

Mr Bergman

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Posted

Hi. Well the 'crisp and smooth' quality comes with three things that aren't necessarily to do with the filter or processing. Firstly having the lunar surface with good seeing is always a must, then having a fully cooled down telescope - mine often takes an hour and a half to cool down and when it is the difference visually and photographically is astonishing. Getting your telescope fully cooled down to ambient is very important. I see you have a 190mn so it should't take anywhere near the time it takes my closed SCT to cool down. And lastly collimation: The lunar surface is particularly sensitive to miss collimation and i collimate on a regular basis; i collimate at least twice (or at least check). These three things done in combination well will give you the best results possible.

In terms of IR filters and processing there really isn't any secret. I ether use a standard Astronomik Typ2 Red or a 685nm filter. There is a great difference between the two and though i use a 685nm currently the 742nm will serve you well also. The IR filter gives you a great deal more contrast and depth compared to the standard red. That said i have had really really good results with a standard red filter so i'm not knocking it. 

Processing is really simple: i throw it into Auttoskakkart to stack, then into Registax for wavelets then onto PSE for a little more sharpening, cropping and file conversion. Job done!

Cheers,

Mike. 

Ok! Thanks! I have a different approach with regards to processing; I use Autostakkert! as you do, but afterwards I run my image through Astraimage with deconvolutions, Lucy Richardson followed by maximum entropy. Works really great. I guess I have to work on my collimation though, and make sure the scope is cooled sufficiently. And maybe try a filter... 

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