An optimistic go at Saturn and Mars...

[Hallingskies]

Although planetary imaging isn't really "my bag", I thought it might be worth trying to record a closer view of the baleful, dull red ember that is currently rising in my south-eastern sky at around 21.00.   This was taken using an old Phillips TouCam Pro (bet there aren't many of them left out there!) and a x2 barlow lens fitted to a Celestron C9.25.  The planet is too low down to be seen from my observatory so I set the scope up on my balcony, which offers unrestricted views to the east and south.  A one minute AVI file was taken at 25 fps and the output processed in Registax...

The southern polar ice-cap (I think) is just discernible as a lighter smudge at the bottom of the disc but other than that, surface details are just blurry blobs.  OK, no award-winner, but it was a pretty good representation of what could be seen bouncing around in a 15mm eyepiece on the back of the barlow. 

Similarly, here's my meagre attempt at Saturn...

It was a lot of fun trying this out, if nothing else.  Not sure I can blame the seeing for these mediocre results and I do wonder if the collimation was a bit off on the C9.25 - might give it a look over tonight.  These bigger SCTs really don't like being moved in my experience...

[orion25]

Good show! Sometimes, it's not about the quality of the image, but the whole setup experience. The nice thing about imaging is that you get a little better each time and learn a little bit more. There's nothing like getting your very own images of the cosmos!

Cheers!

Reggie  

[Hallingskies]

11 minutes ago, orion25 said:

....There's nothing like getting your very own images of the cosmos!...

Couldn’t agree more -that’s why all we do what we do!  And it’s fun playing with the associated toys - especially on the odd occasion they all work.

[Stub Mandrel]

Toucam can still deliver, it seems!

[Pete Presland]

A couple of very nice images, great to see the Toucam camera still in use. I remember when these cameras used to change hands for over a £100.