neil phillips

Just now, JeremyS said:

Excellent Neil 👍🏻

Cheers Jeremy Its early days. But i enjoy the challenge

Seeing was somewhat better. especially earlier on. unfortunately i couldn't image as there was a long hazy cloud going through that area, and stayed there for 30 40 mins. But still even though seeing worsened slightly. it was still better overall even though it was now daylight again. Just discovered my home made shield was protruding into the  primary. So that's not good. Will have to cut it back. Worth doing all this before Jupiter is placed. Nearly dropped the scope where it was so dewed up. Again things i am learning each time i use it. I think this scope is going to rock, seeing better seeing, i could tell its kind of in the ball park i think.  Showing traces of the hood now, Cassini slightly cleaner. But still a long ways to go

12" Stella IR685

14 minutes ago, Space Cowboy said:

When intelligent input is lacking I always fall on the humour 🙂

At the end of the day you want a scope that provides a knockout punch even if there are a few wobbly moments on the way.

He he. The fights not too far off now. Lets hope we both land a ko 🤣

4 hours ago, Pete Presland said:

"Stella" hasn't done to badly, i am sure there is much more to come later this year especially. Those 462 cameras seem to be rarer than "rocking horse poo" at the moment. other than the player one version.

Cheers Pete. lets hope so. Got a sony pic of Jupiter this morning. Popular cameras for sure. 

23 hours ago, Space Cowboy said:

Nicely done Neil. Warming up the Stella engine 😉

You have a way with words that always makes me smile lol. Glad to have got it out the way tbh. We worry its going to be blur. And although i can tell from this, it will take good seeing to perform. And likely will be the fussiest performer out of the 3 goes out of focus more often. Good conditions should help

cheers

Hope you know i am using your reports as reference for Saturn later in the evening. The one time you said seeing had improved it did at my location also. So great work. and thanks for the useful information

7 hours ago, NenoVento said:

Hi @neil phillips, I saw it this morning as well (Jupiter "close" to the Moon, I mean) and took this quick picture with my Canon 600D and a Canon EFS 55-250mm lens:

I though you would like to see it :-).

Excellent. i didn't check until daybreak. Its truly in our sights soon. Great pic too btw

Just now, Kon said:

Yes being out imaging is very soothing and fun. Many times it's frustrating but still fun.

I hope to join soon.

You will love it. Yes its calming with daybreak

Just now, Space Cowboy said:

Nice captures Neil. Considering the sub 20 degree elev. Must be very pleasant out at that time in a morning. 

I need the exercise too. And it certainly gives me that. Saw Jupiter this morning washed out into daylight with binos. Close to the moon

Cheers

Just now, Kon said:

Looks nice but I know what you mean 'more of the same'; Cassini division is not quite crisp yet, is it? The banding has come out nicely. The heat and long cooling overnight is not helping.

All of the above. Trying to achieve that this early in daylight. At 18 degrees under iffy seeing. is all preventing me so far of getting that quality.

But its fun trying 

Lovely work Love it. Great images nicely presented. Quality

More of the same. Orion 245 mm newtonian 

drizzle 150% downsized to 85% 

9 hours ago, Kon said:

Very nice and good to see the 12" gathering some photons. At least you can learn its quirks under bad seeing so when we do get the good conditions you will be flying with it.

Looking forward to seeing what it can do under good conditions and when Jupiter is high up for us later on.

 

cheers out with saturn at the moment. Not great lol

Just now, Space Hopper said:

.....and further to this

Hopefully an opportunity to see a 'Titan shadow transit'. Not seen one of those either.

That i haven't got. But know someone who has 

13 minutes ago, Space Hopper said:

The rings are closing in again aren't they ?

I'm guessing only another couple of years before they appear to be edge on. (Which i've never seen before, and is on my bucket list)

Yes i imaged it last time around Many moons ago. Here's what it looks like

Just now, dweller25 said:

Great image 👍

Thank you David

32 minutes ago, knobby said:

Another nice capture ... how on earth do you keep manging to get up so early 🙂

 

Health issues i don't work. 59 this year. So  just sleep when i want. Need great seeing in darkness. Hope it happens. I also lose Saturn to a roof before full height. So its a battle

Cheers

28 minutes ago, Space Cowboy said:

I'd been looking at your mono Lunar Neil and came to this and was struck by the green. Must be my eyes or the heat! As you say the sky wasn't dark during capture. 

Need to get back to processing the f17 full crescent mosaic. Unfortunately processing each pane individually produces variable colour balance.  I need to get more familiar with gimp as it seems the only program on my system that can handle the beast as a whole.

I've noticed that. Gimp takes very large files

As above. First gas planet for the Stella lyra 12" Started ok. Then rapidly worsened ? So this a early 17 degrees capture before it all went awol lol.

But i learned something. Cant get focus with My Celestron 2x ultima. but did manage to by screwing the 2.25 baarder Q directly on to the ADC, For Jupiter this year i might try without ADC to get a range of powers. So not what i wanted but Stella eyes Saturn. First light any planet at all. I noticed the larger optics getting affected by seeing more. All the more reason to have two other smaller planetary scopes. will need very good seeing for this beast to deliver on planets

8 hours ago, Space Cowboy said:

I must be going colour blind as this looks so green.

On my 4k 32" the right limb looks slightly green. The left limb a bluer tint. Color affected by the conditions maybe. Normally a consequence of not having a dark sky when taken. Doesn't look too bad to me.

8 hours ago, Space Cowboy said:

Phenominal level of detail!

Cheers Stuart, data was reasonable. Not perfect, just slight heat disturbance. But good focus. And 12000 frames enables cherry picking down to 545 Frames. I like the edge of seat processing. Up to the noise point, but not over. I used 1 top wavelet linear registax further sharpen analyzer. Quite simple

Just now, lukebl said:

Nice captures. What sort of Barlow/Powermate did you use?

I'd forgotten that the rings would be closing up so soon.

Hi Luke my train was 2X Celestron Ultima Barlow. ZWO ADC.  QHY 462 c. The color Capture was a straight 100% stack. So capture size.  The IR685 was a 1.5x drizzle downsized to 75% 

Cheers

Just now, knobby said:

Nice captures, I still find it weird looking when the rings start closing 🙂

What time are you imaging Neil, 3.30 ish ?

Cheers.

Getting Saturn on screen around 2.45 But that's acquisition. The color shot was 03:33. Or to be universal 02:33 UT

Just now, Kon said:

Conditions seem much better than the previous attempt. I am not sure how the heat with the thunderstorms may affect current conditions.  The IR is looking good and the colour has come out very nice despite the daylight conditions. 

Yes far from perfect. But good to get away from that de focus seeing. I knew straight away it had cleared, that warm air mass.

Cheers

Just now, Space Cowboy said:

We're starting to get into some proper Saturn meat there Neil! 

Its encouraging isn't it. Things should improve more in about 4 weeks time.  20 degrees in darkness, Not daylight.

Jupiter is going to clear the roofs around here soon. Stella isn't showing until i feel its remotely worth trying. Its unlikely to be as easy as my old semi long focus Newt