My first planet "Jupiter" !!!!!!

[PBD]

Ok, I know it sucks but I still think its cool! Also, I think the 4 dots are some moons but I don't know which ones

Now for a real question:

What telescope/mount do I need to see the rings? I'm planning Christmas for myself =)

[Kai]

What scope / mount do you have now ? , i have seen the rings of Saturn with very modest scopes

[PBD]

I don't own any scope/mount. This was taken with my canon 1d mkIV camera. I used the Canon 300 f/2.8L mkII lens.

I also used a manfroto tripod and wire trigger. I also had the mirror locked up.

[Demonperformer]

Nice shot with simple equipment (although the lens is VERY nice). If you download Cartes du Ciel from en:download [skychart], you can enter the date and time you took the photo and find out which satellite is which (I think stellarium will do the same thing, but I have never got on with that prog).

[PBD]

bah, I meant to say, how can I see the Ring of Saturn. Jupiter doesn't have rings =p

I really really want to see more of space. This is my first time seeing a moon other than our own and I really want to see more. I want to go into space and explore.

To bad we aren't there yet =(

[Capricorn]

I have seen the rings of saturn very clearly through something like a Tal refractor. As it was visual the magnification was something like 120x or 125x.

If you intend to image then you need a mount that will track and equitorial. What scope you use is not easy to say. Some start with a 150mm reflector, others go with an 80mm refractor. If a refractor then you really need to consider an ED one to reduce CA.

That is not the end of it, the mount will need motors to track and there will be adaptors to hold the camera in place. The camera will need to be able to be held open for say 5 minutes or 10 minutes. Then comes the software to stack one image on another - free on the net.

Mount wise, try for an EQ5 at least, more solid then the EQ3-2 and being stable is essential.

[Nova]

I think if you have achieved that just with your camera you may get a view of the rings as it is. Will only be a slight visible bulge but still obvious. For imaging of the planets if you already have a DSLR thats great but you will do better on the planets with a webcam. An EQ5 would be good to future proof yourself but I find my EQ3-2 with tracking motors is fine for planetery webcam imaging

And yes they are moons you have captured. Callisto, Ganymede, Europa and Io

[PBD]

I think if you have achieved that just with your camera you may get a view of the rings as it is. Will only be a slight visible bulge but still obvious. For imaging of the planets if you already have a DSLR thats great but you will do better on the planets with a webcam. An EQ5 would be good to future proof yourself but I find my EQ3-2 with tracking motors is fine for planetery webcam imaging

And yes they are moons you have captured. Callisto, Ganymede, Europa and Io

My camera can also shoot HD video and has video out.

Is this the same as a webcam?

[karlyboo]

nice shot !!

[Nova]

My camera can also shoot HD video and has video out.

Is this the same as a webcam?

I dont think so. But there is one way to find out. Your image is very similar in size to what I shot recently with my webcam so it may work I guess

Stargazers Lounge - Nova's Album: Jupiter Images - Picture.

What file format does the camera use for video? you will need to convert it to AVI if its not already

[ChrisThePuma]

Nova - was that taken using your 150p?

if so it will give me a good idea of what i can expect in my 150PL when i get it :-)

[Nova]

yes. That was taken using no barlow. Use this fov calculator

http://www.12dstring.me.uk/fov.htm

Enter your scope and webcam into the drop down boxes (there already on the list) and it will give you an even better idea

[ChrisThePuma]

Ohh - thanks :-)

[PBD]

Here is the uncropped image. nothing to look at lol

[Astronut1982]

Hi PBD,

Believe it or not but Jupiter actually does have a ring system, as do all the gas giants but it is comprised mainly of dust, so it is invisible to all but the largest ground based telescopes.

Once you have your 150pl you should be able to take some nice vids of Saturn & Jupiter with a webcam like this:-

Buy Philips Pre flashed SPC880 CCD webcam bundle at Morgan Computers

All you need to do is to take some videos with this webcam & then using a program like registax you can stack all the good frames from your video to make a decent pic of the planets &/or the Moon.

Jeff

[Pete Presland]

the image does not "suck" at all its the image every beginner gets first attempt well done with your first astro image

[starman1969]

Top pic of Jupiter and moons.

The only way to get some detail on Jupiter without using a telescope would be to underexpose by a few stops. You would not see the moons on this pic but you would be able to photoshop the detailed Jupiter on top of the overexposed Jupiter picture with the moons.

How about a 2x converter to get closer? F number would rise, though. F5.6?