Saturn - where am I going wrong?

[CThody]

This is an image I tool last night with a Celestron neximage and C8 XLT scope. Seeing not fantastic but through the eyepice as sharp as a pin! Yet when i use the camera I struggle badly to get the same quality of image. When I tried a barlow the image was worse.

Really appreciate any advice with focussing in particular as well as AmCap, I just don't seem to be able to get the sttings right.

All advice very welcome!

[Demonperformer]

The eye is far more forgiving than the camera.

Try focussing on a nearby star (easier to achieve focus than with an extended object like Saturn) using a simple Y-mask (relatively simple using the preview screen), and once you have achieved perfect focus, slew back to Saturn and take your avi.

HTH

[Jannis]

It looks ok to me. the eye is actually very slow, so to have the same result from a pic as you can see with your eyes, you'll haver to stack several pics to have an averge pic similar to what the eye can see.

if that's a single frame, it looks very good, but focuse might be a tiiiny bit off i think?

But i recommend to record as a movie instead. About 1 min shuold be enough. then stack using registax, or my favorite, avistack.

[CThody]

Thanks... Is there any advice anywhere as to how to make a Y Mask? I've been searching, but having never used one I'm not sure what to do with it!

[CThody]

It looks ok to me. the eye is actually very slow, so to have the same result from a pic as you can see with your eyes, you'll haver to stack several pics to have an averge pic similar to what the eye can see.

if that's a single frame, it looks very good, but focuse might be a tiiiny bit off i think?

But i recommend to record as a movie instead. About 1 min shuold be enough. then stack using registax, or my favorite, avistack.

This image is the result of a minite's worth of video from the neximage... I really need to sort out focussing as just can't get it on the laptop screen...

[Jannis]

I see. If that's the result of a stacked image, then you're just out of focuse i think.

an Y mask is easy to make yourself, however, i like the bahtinov mask better for the scope, but is harder to make yourself. Not sure what works best for your cam though, as i've noticed i may need a bit long exposure to see the focusing lines when using a bahtinov mask.

[Viv]

For a bahtinov mask here is a good link

http://www.focus-mask.com/Free_Templates.html