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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2016 16:46:25 GMT
Well I finally had a few moments of clear sky tonight and wanted to try out my new Mallincam DSc. It was about 15 deg F outside and my observation area covered in snow, so I thought well I will just set up in this East facing computer room and wait for Jupiter to come up. Ran down the top window so I was looking through a single pane of glass, pointed at Jupiter about 15 deg of elevation. Not the best situation!! Darn window kept fogging up. So here is the first real attempt at EAA. Its with a ES 127 scope, (F/L about 825mm) using a x.5 focal reducer and Mallincamsky software. Mount is Celestron AVX and have it controlled with Cartes Du Ciel program. Exposure time 575ms and gain of 2.3. My area is a red/white zone. Critique and suggestions welcome...........fire away.................. My suggestion to self; Wait for Spring and get outside. Chuck
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Post by davy on Mar 2, 2016 17:37:45 GMT
Chuck,brilliant you got an image and captured it,so now its down to refining . Its handy taking notes on settings you used for future reference, but no two nights observing are the same,play about with your settings and see if the captured frame can be made better with camera and scope..if it cant then you have a couple of options,,am I happy with what I have,,if yes great,if not lets look at stacking images in a deepsky stacker,its all a learning curve..your on your way lol ..good work..davy
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Mar 2, 2016 21:49:01 GMT
Really like the middle image... the combination of Focal/Length plus a Reducer is going to definitely give you the nice wide-field view of the moons, but the disc of Jupiter will be pretty washed out. The problem is that if you reduce the exposure to get the cloud detail, the planets then go away... tough to find a medium and get both. That DSc is pretty sensitive.
I'm anxious to try a couple of my planetary cameras now that Jupiter is getting high enough without it being too late!
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Post by Dragon Man on Mar 3, 2016 11:37:24 GMT
G'day Chuck. I'm not quite sure what to say about your 1st and 3rd images. They look similar to Jupiter but the bandings are all wrong. Something seems out of whack with them but I can't work out what it is Here's a website that shows what Jupiter currently looks like. It''s a great site for matching the view in a scope with real data: www.skymarvels.com/infopages/vids/Jupiter%20-%20Current%20001.htmThe middle pic looks great though
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2016 13:17:36 GMT
Thanks for the reply's all,
Seems like I read somewhere that some types of cameras (sensors?) are better on planets than others, so maybe my expectations on plant views are skewed. My main interest is in DSO's but Jupiter was there so thought I would give it a go. Like you said Rick, it works super on those moons.
Thanks for the link Ken. When I first lined up Jupiter in the spotting scope and then looked at the computer screen Jupiter was one big spilling off the screen blob. Then I turned the focuser and got it within the confines of the software window with the two subsequent pictures that you commented on. Focusing on down the planet became smaller and smaller until I got to the point of the middle picture. Maybe I am asking too much of the DSc system on planets? Will try to poke around the net and maybe I can find some DSc examples.
Cheers, Chuck
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Mar 3, 2016 14:24:29 GMT
Chuck,
I dont think #1 and #3 are really Jupiter. The image scale is wrong -- meaning that to get that big of a Jupiter in your field of view you would need both a longer scope (more focal length) and a Barlow -- not a focal reducer and shorter scope that you were using.
Instead, I think that this is an out-of-focus object that is getting banding from your window glass, perhaps?
If I were you, I'd have a go at replicating it and see if you can get the same image and note where your focuser is compared to where it is to get #2.
--Rick
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2016 16:57:15 GMT
Rick,
You know Rick, your comment is some food for thought!!! I feel a well of embarrassment rising up. Well lets see. The scenario was; Jupiter rises to about 15 deg before I can see it visually, naked eye. Get it in spotting scope and it appears on computer screen as a large round blob of light. The focuser is out about 3 inches when I snap the picture. I can see the AVX mount tracking it as a small power line obstruction slowly goes through the screen in front of the "Planet."
I start running the focus in until Jupiter and its moons appears as in middle picture. At the Middle Picture point, the focuser is in to about 1/4 to 1/2" before reaching the end of available travel.
Not sure what I was seeing now....The bands do look too straight for Jupiter, not sure of myself now. But then again, if I whilst looking at the moons, focus back out then the other "Jupiter" will appear as I back out. Ha, I think I am digging myself a confusion hole!
Chuck
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Mar 3, 2016 22:51:24 GMT
Its all good experience and please don't feel embarassed. I've wasted 30 minutes or more checking cables and signals because I left the lens cover on the telescope! I've failed a StarSense alignment because I didnt take the rubber lens cap off the camera. If we had a "bloopers" board, I'd be the leading poster!
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Post by johnno on Mar 4, 2016 0:27:43 GMT
Chuck I wonder if you might of knocked the mount with 1 and 3, looks like a corrugated roof ?
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Post by howie1 on Mar 4, 2016 0:45:08 GMT
Its all good experience and please don't feel embarassed. I've wasted 30 minutes or more checking cables and signals because I left the lens cover on the telescope! I've failed a StarSense alignment because I didnt take the rubber lens cap off the camera. If we had a "bloopers" board, I'd be the leading poster! Just did that last night LOL ... first time out trying my new (2nd hand) starsense ... had read that once you done the alignment you can cap the starsense. So I did. Later in the evening I decided to try the manual "add additional calibration points' thing ... wondered why it kept failing to acquire stars! Dang cap was still on wasn't it!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2016 13:29:22 GMT
Well I tried again last night and am convinced it's Jupiter I have in the scope and on the screen, still looking nasty. I am going to call it a day on this item until I can get the system outside with more sky, too much frustration under these indoor conditions.
I do have a question for you folks....Where is the optimum place for the Focal Reducer? After the nose piece or before?
Thanks, Chuck
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2016 16:31:27 GMT
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Post by davy on Mar 6, 2016 16:53:24 GMT
I don't bother with that,,,,i just ask rick lol
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2016 0:50:19 GMT
Good idea Davy....he is pretty sharp, nailed my supposed Jupiter with a wrong image scale....Course all you long time astronomers on here are sharp.
If Rick would get his Hamradio license I could ask him on the radio. That's all he needs is another hobby to keep the wallet heated! Heat caused by friction from pulling dollars out.
Was going to take a run at Jupiter again tonight but the clouds rolled in. Looks like temps might be on the rise so hopefully will get some time in one of these nights.
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Mar 7, 2016 17:15:16 GMT
Chuck, I do need to get back to studying... I got distracted by an SDRPlay and a ADSB Antenna and software!
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Post by johnno on Mar 7, 2016 18:28:43 GMT
Get it done Rick. I did my technicians back in 97 KF6OZQ when I had a home address over there in CAL. had to let it run out as I no longer had a primary address so had to let it expire
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