Ags

My best Jupiter ever, captured 2020-08-03 11:15 CET. I managed to capture Io as a disc, a shadow transit, and more detail than usual, probably because I got closer to perfect focus. I find that my RGB filters are not parfocal, a problem exacerbated by my cheap Revelation achro barlow. So I have to find focus three times over, which aside from being annoying increases issues with rotation between subs. I had to align the planet and Io separately due to the time gaps, and processed to keep only the green channel moon shadow. C6 at 2400mm focal length, ASI 178 MM, RGB filter wheel 3 minutes of R at 10 ms and Gain 260, kept 33% 3 minutes of G at 10 ms and Gain 310, kept 33% 3 minutes of B at 10 ms and Gain 360, kept 33% Processed in AS!3, Registax 6 and Gimp 2.10

With my AZ-GTi I I just manually point the scope at Saturn or Jupiter and then select Point and Track. That's enough for planetary viewing and imaging. For deep sky I never align on solar system objects as I find that results in less accurate gotos. I usually go for two star alignment, with one of the stars being Polaris. The other star is whatever is brightest and visible from my location. I am also in a highly light polluted environment, but you should still be able to pick out the very brightest stars, which is all you need for alignment? If you have trouble identifying any stars, download an app like Stellarium for your phone.

Hi Naveen, welcome to forum! If I had your scope I would look at getting a 12mm and 8mm eyepiece. The 12mm would have lower magnification, leading to a brighter more stable image so colors would pop more, and the 8mm would be a comfortable maximum magnification. You could look at the BST Starguiders which are relatively affordable. It will help people advise if you give us a budget?

Jupiter from last night - 2020-08-01. Each channel was a 3 minute sequence of 16 ms frames. I processed in AS!3 keeping 50% of frames then did wavelets in Registax and combining into a final color image in Gimp.

I watched the egress on NASA TV. I am relieved they are back safe and sound.

Grover's - see the link earlier on this thread.

That's gorgeous!

2020-07-31, seeing very poor C6, ASI 178 MM, AS!3, Registax 6 5 minutes of 8 ms subs (gain=310) at 2400 mm Focal length (F/16), kept best 30%

I think the occasional purchase now and then can keep things fresh and interesting.

I just calculated the focal length at 2800 mm - I was expecting something like 1900mm!

EDIT: Changed the subject as I will place my all efforts for this opposition here. Had my first proper run at Jupiter and Saturn with my C6, ASI 178 MM, Wratten 29 filter. I'm lazy so the C6 still has its 6.3 reducer/corrector screwed in, and then I barlowed it out to an unknown focal length... Reasonably happy with the results though. Both are 2 minutes of 10 millisecond frames.

When the funds stop...? That's why we have credit cards 🙂

That's why you want an ND filter to attenuate brightness without reducing aperture. The Moon is actually as black as a lump of coal, pity the Sun is so bright.

An aperture mask will reduce resolution.

Does SLV stand for "Shows Lovely Views"? I do want to get the 2.5mm SLV, but I really wish they made a 3.3mm. My highest is currently a recently acquired SLV 6mm, but the only thing I can say about it so far is it can't see through clouds!

Ed looks cute but he was a bit of a tyrant to Omar. Omar misses Ed a bit, but I think he also feels the advantages of the new situation.

Thanks for the kind comments. Omar is contemplating the perks of being Number One Dog now 🙂

Thanks everyone. Ed was a magnificent dog, perpetually battling health problems but he always demanded to be treated as an equal.

I binge on clear weekends.

Yes a Westie. Ed had the chocolate box looks, but his brother Omar has the health.

I have used the AZ-GTI + Mak 102 combination. It works very well, although the quality of the AZ-GTI can be a bit hit and miss.

Indeed. For me, I hit the floater barrier just under exit pupil of 1mm. In contrast, my partner doesn't know what floaters are... You have to find out for yourself.

He went into a coma and didn't wake up. Here a pic from happier times - Ed is assisting me with three-star alignment. I took this picture of Albireo that same night:

Up until now the comet was approaching Earth so that offset the dimming from receding from the Sun. But now it is getting further away from both the Earth and the Sun, so it will dim much more rapidly from now on.

Great Mars!