James4

Some retries on processing. I think the DSLR is beating my new planet cam because I'm new to the planet cam and still need to learn the best settings.

But at least I'm learning a little more about processing in Registax while I am figuring out the camera.

Need another clear sky outting with Jupiter - maybe tonight, its looking good.

From the DSLR

Was out last night and shot rafts of video with the Neximage5. I also tried some with my Nikon D5100 DSLR in Video Mode connected via T-Ring to an 8mm Celestron Zoom E.P. I know I don't know the Neximage5 yet, but on the initial results, the DSLR is beating the Planet Cam. I shot lots of higher resolutions with the Planet Cam - I assumed that's how you got such a large Jupiter. The Videos are all green. I can fix them in PS or NEB but this can't be good for quality. Sounds like I need to Barlow up - just got the new Celestron Luminous 2" 2.5x Barlow. But I do already have Jupiter at a reasonable size. Just not seeing any detail in the clouds - and visually too, not seenig the detail. Collimation must be close but perhaps its not optimal. Bought an external drive to run the video onto at the scope - its drop proof, water proof - just as well because I knocked it off my accessory case first time out. I set maximum frames 2000 on the Neximage5 - which resulted in 3.99 GB files. Although Registax can see these files - its warns 'Unknown Frame Count' Then bombs out when I try to Align them. Running into a lot of niggly issues so far.

Next time out I will need to drop the resolution, hopefully that will drop the file size into the useable zone, and barlow up with the 2.5x. Will see how that works out.

If can close to your example above I would be well pleased! Got some good skies for the next few days here in BC (Canada). Good Seeing

All right Bus_ter - now I'm inspired ....

Holy! OK there goes the theory that we are at the same level of experimenting! That's superb!

Interested to know how The DMK performs. I've got my eye on one of those for when I hit the improvement barrier on the Neximage5.

Hope it turns up soon!

The wifi on the ferry here just lost my huger spiel of a comment.

Good to hear someone else is at the same level of experimenting!

How are The DFK and The Neximage able to share firmware?

Good luck imaging!

I figured out the problem with the resolution on The Neximage5. You have to uncheck the 'Compression' option on the File Save parameters.

That setting prevents the files being saved in higher resolutions.

Trying to find a VW Camper now so I can do this more often!

It cost $600 to rent a van for 5 days - not counting gas.

I think a C11 is on the cards ....

We had a club night at the local airport - 9.00 pm until 4.30 am (the last two survivors).

I was too busy scoping - so saw about a dozen. Many of them were down low diving towards the horizon.

My astro pals who were laying face up on recliners counted over 40 per hour - highest counts were from midnight onwards - quite sparse before that. We are on GMT -8 near Vancouver, BC. The best sight all night was around 3.00 am when Venus, Jupiter, The Pleiades and Taurus were all rising over the trees.

I just got bleeped - I love it - makes my post sound more dangerous that it really was!

Ah yes, know the feeling. I get one of those nights ever so often when my careful plans go south within the first 5 minutes, The power cable pops loose after aligning, I kick the tripod leg after re-aligning. The power goes dead after twice aligning. Then a racoon walks up to me - presumably mistaking me for a tree - causing me to close the garage in case he decides to nest there ... Sometimes take down seems to take forever. But I have timed myself twice - 10 minutes. Feels like a half hour - but just 10 minutes .... I remind myself how long the C14 Brigade with wedges must take to setup and I think - 10 minutes is not so bad :-)

Always worth the effort - because every so often you have a blinding good night -everything works well - you see the veil easily - the ISS comes over - the neighbours forget to put their outside lights on - ahh yes, that keeps me going until the next time.

Ps M101 is a [removed word] to see even in a good sky - its more like a light grey piece of sky than any definate shape ....

Hey Vlebo, I did briefly have both scopes on Saturn at The Table Mountain Star Party but I was not really doing a head to head. I had an excellent view of Saturn with The AR152 at 200x. I was using my 5mm EP so I had nowhere to go after that. I took down the refractor and put up the 9.25. I was able to go as high as 470x on the 9.25 with the same EP. It was certainly less defined at that power but still a good view - my scope visitors were OMG'ng at the sheer size they were seeing Saturn. Next time I will push the refractor farther and be more critical on image quality. Both scopes are very well made and I really like them both. The refractor does have lots of CA on Jupiter though - of course there is none in the 9.25. The refractor costs half as much! Mm? I've got them both and I can't decide!

Isabelle, that is Brilliant! You captured Venus passing in front of The Sun for the last time in 105 years.

I am not flattering you when I say - if took that, I would hang it on my wall!

The most troubling thing for me is that - although I had little trouble accepting 'we missed it - but not for the want of trying' - everyone who knows my interest in Astronomy says the same thing - "oh what a downer - oh you must be ready to shoot yourself" ... Eh? no, not really! I've been off work sick since the transit (unrelated honest), and I know when I go back to work Monday, my workmates will all be on the same bandwagon - "Oh Venus ..." Its quite funny now, really ... Ah the joys of Astronomy!

We were also clouded out here in Canada on (wait for it ...) 'The Sunshine Coast'. About half a dozen of us stayed by the seawall from 2.30 pm right until sunset around 9.12 pm in the hopes of catching the sun in the clear as it got low in the sky ... But no luck. At one point we did glimpse the sun through thin clouds but not enough to catch a glimpse of Venus. A couple of our club members placed their bets and headed out of town to where they hoped it would be clear. At least one of them was successful and saw the whole transit from Vancouver Island. Lets not get too upset - Venus passes in front of the Sun all the time - but mostly a little above or below our line of sight. Today of course, completely clear skies!

Hi Todd, that's because the 9.25 has most of its weight in the mirror at the back. You have to push the mirror as far forward (from the back of the dovetail) as possible. This makes it slightly nose heavy. Then when you attach your diagonal and eyepieces or camera - it balances out nicely.

Love the star trail photo badgerchap. Looks like a train going by ... Your M13 is completely respectable. It takes a while to see results, adjust things a bit, and gradually get the results you have in mind. I have lots of similar shots of M13 and pals - I was totally happy with at the time. Can I suggest to shorten your exposure time to 1 minute and shoot 10 frames. Also crank up the ISO to Max. When you stack them together (Deep Sky Stacker - its free), things smooth out a lot. Nice work, I love Globs!

Sounds like a great session Stargazer - I also had great views of the crescent moon Saturday night from BC Canada. I used a reducer on my C9.25 and the night side was glowing really nicely with Earthshine.

Thanks Pat, my pics seem to have disappeared - will see if I can get them back ...

Hey Mr Saddo, your 300D works great on Deep Sky - so don't get rid of it. At some point you'll be glad you have it! Good luck

Jim, hope you get your roof sorted and the batteries haven't done in your equipment. But on the bright side, "flight cases full of gear" sounds like a good time - almost as much fun as observing!

"and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance ...." Lee Ann Womack

Hey mr saddo, its really difficult to get anything good with single images. You need to take video and you need to either shoot video through an eyepiece (small pocket digital camera's are quite good at this) that's giving a reasonable sized image, or attach the camera to the focuser with either a couple of barlows in front of it. or use a camera adapter that allows you to put an eyepiece inside - try a simple 5mm or 6mm plossl. Then use Registax to stack the video. I have the 300d too and its great through the scope for Deep Sky, but single frames don't work well at all for planetary.

Here's a link showing how to do it with a pocket digital camera - I got quite good images this way: Planetary Imaging

Here's a link to how I do it now - I upgraded my DSLR to one that shoots video:

I found the better the camera the less well it worked pointed into the eyepice! The smaller the camera the better it worked into the eyepiece. Ultimately though, you want to go with the barlows - because that will work with real planetary cameras and DSLRs that shoot video - the results will be better.

Good Luck and have fun!

I'd love to build a large observatory in my backyard - it would have the biggest most powerful spot lights allowed by law! As soon as the first neighbour decides to come out (becuse they heard a noise) and turn on their back porch light - I turn on my 500 Mw spot lamps! "What - is this too bright?" Oh - sorry, maybe we should both turn off our lights? Plan B - use 5000 MW spot lamps so they can't even see what they are looking at. "What - You'd rather I didn't shine these lights in your yard? - Oh, very well then - I'll turn them off" No explanation in light abatement required!