Jupiter 10/9/23

[Matt S]

Still learning the ropes with this, but here’s my first serious attempt at Jupiter. 10/9/23.

Equipment

• Skymax-127
• 2x Barlow
• ASI 678
• RPI4 / Astroberry
• firecapture

This one was the best 24% (I can’t remember how many frames I got)

Processing

• autostakkert 
• Lucky Stack Worker (for 0322) and Registax (for 0746)
• Affinity Photo

 

Thoughts:

• I think I shot for too long, probably for over a minute - more like 2/3 
• The RPI / Firecapture setup is nice and small, but the frame rate felt kinda slow
• using an iPad for viewing the preview to judge focus was tough, there was quite a lot of lag between adjusting focus and seeing the preview update
• it was nice and warm out, but although clear this possibly made for more wobble?
• I’ve seen some others post some much smoother/detailed images of Jupiter using the 127, so it must be doable… I guess I need to get some more nights out!

 

 

[knobby]

I'm really no expert but I think they're good shots. aperture is king with planetary and for 5" you're on the right track.

You might find leaving the barlow out will get you higher frame rates as you're possibly oversampling with the 2 micron pixels on your ASI 678.

I'd aim for 5 x pixel size as f number, you're at about 11 x with the barlow.

[Mark2022]

The first pic is similar to where I am with an 8 inch Meade at the moment. From the feedback I'm getting, it appears to me it's just a matter of try and try again while experimenting with collimation, focus, exposure times (some say as low as 4ms) and gain and then also, dealing with 'seeing', not forgetting what Knobby says about sampling.

I'm looking for just one or two things which would make the most significant difference but haven't found them yet.  The last few clear nights, since about the 12th when I last took some shots, I've just been a bit too tired to go out, set up and sit for a couple of hours attempting and I hate missing opportunities but I'm working on a shed/obsy during the day and, by the time night rolls around..... snore!

[Ibbo!]

Great start.

I would leave the barlow out until you get more practice in and use ROI and check if you have the high speed mode(if you cam does support ) is ticked.