Another from Oct 9th

[neil phillips]

Still got some more to go through. Its a shame the runs were not consistent as i might have done better, But still quite a bit of detail coming through. I like the little red spot

Orion 245mm Newtonian. QHY462C ZWO ADC. Baader UV IR Cut. Celestron Ultima 2x Barlow.  Skywatcher EQ5 PRO Mount. 

Edited October 11, 2022 by neil phillips

[symmetal]

Plenty of good detail again Neil. Blue clouds too. 🙂 I took some of Saturn, Jupiter and Mars the same night and should be ready to post them tomorrow. 😁

Alan

[neil phillips]

1 hour ago, symmetal said:

Plenty of good detail again Neil. Blue clouds too. 🙂 I took some of Saturn, Jupiter and Mars the same night and should be ready to post them tomorrow. 😁

Alan

Hi Alan cheers. Will look out for your posts.  People probably wonder why I come across as disappointed. But after many years of doing this. Most planetary and lunar guys. Really crave those special nights where it all comes together.  So when a night is close to being just that. But something is spoiling. Or hindering it in some way. It does become frustrating. It's not that I don't appreciate what I do get. Just know it can always be so much better. And after a while we build our hopes up such a result will come along. I haven't been able to do Saturn since the local council. Did this to me. The best i got up until that point This year. Was showing promise. At UK elevations. Underneath. I miss it.

 

[Pete Presland]

Another pretty good image Neil, you of course exactly right about craving "special nights where it all comes together" it is the thing that drives us on.  The hope that when you put the camera in you will be greeted by super sharp in focus image. I cannot remember the last time i saw such a sight!

That light is dreadful, i would suggest complaining to the council, but we all know how frustrating that can be!

[CraigT82]

That’s a beaut Neil the detail is excellent and pretty smooth too was this 6 minutes?  You know I’m not sure you’re going to gain much by going to a mass produced 12” scope over your 10” with high quality mirrors 

[neil phillips]

3 hours ago, Pete Presland said:

Another pretty good image Neil, you of course exactly right about craving "special nights where it all comes together" it is the thing that drives us on.  The hope that when you put the camera in you will be greeted by super sharp in focus image. I cannot remember the last time i saw such a sight!

That light is dreadful, i would suggest complaining to the council, but we all know how frustrating that can be!

Thankfully it goes off at 11.30. problem is as planets get earlier. It gets right in the way as east is in that direction. Ive tried to block it off a little with a parasol, but light still spills all around haven't bothered with Saturn since. It's a shame. I should complain. but I tried before. 

[neil phillips]

29 minutes ago, CraigT82 said:

That’s a beaut Neil the detail is excellent and pretty smooth too was this 6 minutes?  You know I’m not sure you’re going to gain much by going to a mass produced 12” scope over your 10” with high quality mirrors 

Thanks Craig. it was an experiment I went to 7 minuets. Wouldn't want to go more than that I don't think. I know what you mean about larger optics. My 300p was only better a couple of times maybe 3. from the time I had it. But I suppose my thinking is next year with Jupiter so high it might perform. Thats why I asked you about consistency of GSO SW mirrors lately. GSO seem to be knocking out great optics. The latest reports on the stella lyra dobs from members here are good. My instinct tells me to go with a stella lyra. sell my mount. and get something bigger second hand to hold it. 

Obviously don't want to get a duff. I also wonder about getting an Antares secondary for one. it seemed to do good things for my 245mm. I want to go forward Craig. Bigger for next year. But I am not loaded. I could sell a couple of scopes ( CC ) Bresser refractor. Swift etc. but that won't raise a lot. And to be honest I enjoy them for different reasons. Thought about a second hand C11 when they come up. But the driven dob is the cheapest overall solution. (Second hand) saw a 14" f4.6 dob with drives second hand recently, But I agree it's risky. And I may not prefer it. But still, I want to go bigger for next year lol. Your 300p is doing great Craig. So, they can perform in the right hands. (like you)  Yours is showing great resolution and sharpness. Even stacking won't help a big fat blurry image. Clearly yours is far from that. Always wanted a killer 12 " or 14" But it's never worked out for me over the years. I had an Orion optics 12" F6 that under performed. I kid you not. Spent the earth and got stung. Thanks for the chat btw. I know you know your stuff. So, your opinions are very much being considered. 

Edited October 10, 2022 by neil phillips

[geoflewis]

Another nice Jup Neil and that Saturn you posted from earlier in the year is a cracker from our latitudes; I haven't been able to get close to that in the few sessions I tried, but we are now nearly 2 months past opposition, so I probably missed the boat. Was that also with the colour camera, any IR lum, or pure RGB?

[neil phillips]

1 minute ago, geoflewis said:

Another nice Jup Neil and that Saturn you posted from earlier in the year is a cracker from our latitudes; I haven't been able to get close to that in the few sessions I tried, but we are now nearly 2 months past opposition, so I probably missed the boat. Was that also with the colour camera, any IR lum, or pure RGB?

Cheers. Geof. yes it was the 462. Pure RGB which is definitely more difficult This low down. 

[Kon]

Great image, with nice details. It seems you had much better seeing at your end.

(those council lights look awful, what's the purpose of lighting the whole neighbourhood?)

[Space Cowboy]

Still knocking out some good stuff Neil!  As every the perfectionist 😉 I need to pull my finger out and get back into it!

Edited October 10, 2022 by Space Cowboy

[neil phillips]

2 hours ago, Kon said:

Great image, with nice details. It seems you had much better seeing at your end.

(those council lights look awful, what's the purpose of lighting the whole neighbourhood?)

I Can get a lot better seeing Kon even at this location. If where talking real decent seeing for the UK  Example below  (Been imaging here about 2 years) the 8th Oct was far from that Kon. Though you suffered more I think, it was very variable from right out of focus (Example posted to you)  to quite sharp 20 or 30 seconds a time. It's those 30 seconds here and there that add up. But yeah, I've seen images just sitting there no distortion 

Saturn 18 degrees 2021 July 21st was just sitting there totally still 

Orion 245mm Newtonian GSO 3X Barlow QHY 462C   Not even an ADC was used. I didn't have one 

Its a ally way lighting both ends 

Edited October 10, 2022 by neil phillips

[neil phillips]

34 minutes ago, Space Cowboy said:

Still knocking out some good stuff Neil!  As every the perfectionist 😉 I need to pull my finger out and get back into it!

Hey bud. Good to see you around. Wondered how you was? After my last message. I figured you needed to have time away from astronomy. Don't forget I gave up for 5 years. So that's why I wasn't bugging you. Ladies and gentleman a old friend of mine. A really excellent planetary imager. Was looking on your page a while back Stuart. Man you did some great stuff back in the day. You only really get back into it when you start to feel it again. For me it was building my daughters old telescope back into service, and imaging with it. And the pandemic. If it hadn't had been for the pandemic. I don't think I would have started again. As I had too many plans for family life by the Suffolk coast. But here I am.  It's been a while Stuart hasn't it

What a weird future we turned out to have. Would love to see you start up again. The astronomy world needs talented people like you showing everyone how good planetary imaging can be.

Great to see you posting on the forum 

[geoflewis]

4 minutes ago, neil phillips said:

Hey bud. Good to see you around. Wondered how you was? After my last message. I figured you needed to have time away from astronomy. Don't forget I gave up for 5 years. So that's why I wasn't bugging you. Ladies and gentleman a old friend of mine. A really excellent planetary imager. Was looking on your page a while back Stuart. Man you did some great stuff back in the day. You only really get back into it when you start to feel it again. For me it was building my daughters old telescope back into service, and imaging with it. And the pandemic. If it hadn't had been for the pandemic. I don't think I would have started again. As I had too many plans for family life by the Suffolk coast. But here I am.  It's been a while Stuart hasn't it

What a weird future we turned out to have. Would love to see you start up again. The astronomy world needs talented people like you showing everyone how good planetary imaging can be.

Great to see you posting on the forum 

49 minutes ago, Space Cowboy said:

Still knocking out some good stuff Neil!  As every the perfectionist 😉 I need to pull my finger out and get back into it!

Hi @Space Cowboy I just saw Neil's post, so went back to look at your Flickr page - some fabulous images there, so I hope to see you back with more on here before long.

 

[Space Cowboy]

2 hours ago, neil phillips said:

Hey bud. Good to see you around. Wondered how you was? After my last message. I figured you needed to have time away from astronomy. Don't forget I gave up for 5 years. So that's why I wasn't bugging you. Ladies and gentleman a old friend of mine. A really excellent planetary imager. Was looking on your page a while back Stuart. Man you did some great stuff back in the day. You only really get back into it when you start to feel it again. For me it was building my daughters old telescope back into service, and imaging with it. And the pandemic. If it hadn't had been for the pandemic. I don't think I would have started again. As I had too many plans for family life by the Suffolk coast. But here I am.  It's been a while Stuart hasn't it

What a weird future we turned out to have. Would love to see you start up again. The astronomy world needs talented people like you showing everyone how good planetary imaging can be.

Great to see you posting on the forum 

Thanks for your kind and generous words Neil.  I do need plenty of motivation to get out there at night when I have to be up early each morning on the farm. Obviously these past few years have been bleak for planetary imagers but now things are improving.

I was surprised to see Mars looking good again despite it being smaller than last time 60 degrees aint too shabby! ( That 18 degree Saturn ain't to shabby either!)

 

Edited October 10, 2022 by Space Cowboy

[Kon]

2 hours ago, neil phillips said:

I Can get a lot better seeing Kon even at this location. If where talking real decent seeing for the UK  Example below  (Been imaging here about 2 years) the 8th Oct was far from that Kon. Though you suffered more I think, it was very variable from right out of focus (Example posted to you)  to quite sharp 20 or 30 seconds a time. It's those 30 seconds here and there that add up. But yeah, I've seen images just sitting there no distortion 

Saturn 18 degrees 2021 July 21st was just sitting there totally still 

Orion 245mm Newtonian GSO 3X Barlow QHY 462C   Not even an ADC was used. I didn't have one 

Its a ally way lighting both ends 

 

From your file it seems we had different conditions to battle. Apart from the 3 images i posted the rest was completely out of focus. I cannot explain it by no boiling effect just fuzzy; maybe similar currents to yours but worst.

That Saturn is brilliant! I don't think i had a single night that Saturn stood still; the best I got was earlier this month but still nothing on that level. It seems Mars is on our side with it's high elevation near zenith so it can cut through the atmosphere. 

[neil phillips]

40 minutes ago, Space Cowboy said:

Thanks for your kind and generous words Neil.  I do need plenty of motivation to get out there at night when I have to be up early each morning on the farm. Obviously these past few years have been bleak for planetary imagers but now things are improving.

I was surprised to see Mars looking good again despite it being smaller than last time 60 degrees aint too shabby! ( That 18 degree Saturn ain't to shabby either!)

 

Yeah at full size Starting 30th Nov its 17.20 arcsecs So not the biggest, but virtually overhead. Worth a punt. I am planning for next year Jupiter 52 degrees. I am getting a 12" Newt again especially for it.

Ted ended up in Ireland was put out to pasture. A new mirror installed apparently RIP Ted

Edited October 10, 2022 by neil phillips

[neil phillips]

9 minutes ago, Kon said:

From your file it seems we had different conditions to battle. Apart from the 3 images i posted the rest was completely out of focus. I cannot explain it by no boiling effect just fuzzy; maybe similar currents to yours but worst.

That Saturn is brilliant! I don't think i had a single night that Saturn stood still; the best I got was earlier this month but still nothing on that level. It seems Mars is on our side with it's high elevation near zenith so it can cut through the atmosphere. 

Yeah, I've had it like you describe. You got the worst of it by the sounds. 60-degree mars should give us all some fun. 18 Degree Saturn calm like that don't happen much at such low elevation. But real good seeing is something else.

[Space Cowboy]

21 hours ago, neil phillips said:

Yeah at full size Starting 30th Nov its 17.20 arcsecs So not the biggest, but virtually overhead. Worth a punt. I am planning for next year Jupiter 52 degrees. I am getting a 12" Newt again especially for it.

Ted ended up in Ireland was put out to pasture. A new mirror installed apparently RIP Ted

Can't think of a better place for Ted to go than Ireland. I believe there is a place on the west coast (Craggy island) where there's a guy who specialises in removing dents. 😉

[neil phillips]

16 minutes ago, Space Cowboy said:

Can't think of a better place for Ted to go than Ireland. I believe there is a place on the west coast (Craggy island) where there's a guy who specialises in removing dents. 😉

Lol seems fitting really.  I hope a couple priests gave it a good send off 🤣