Mars f25, 10/13/07

C11 + 2.5x barlow + Toucam in below average conditions, best 200 frames stacked. With Mars higher in the sky, the image can tolerate worse seeing compared to Venus. While the mirror temp was within 0-0.1degC vs ambient, the atmospheric seeing was marginal. Sadly, these were the best conditions in the last 3 weeks here.

Regards,
Steve

Attached Image:

Hi Steve, here is my (weaker) Mars also shot this morning, but with a discontinued Kodak EasyShare Z730 (family camera) no PC present, on an old 8" Meade 2080 SCT (with an approximate Starry Night map inserted for comparison.)

http://setisociety.org/marsredcomparestarry.jpg

Neutral filter 50% transparent and a 12.5 mm Celestron EP (with CA).

Regards, Jason H.

Steve Fugardi said:

C11 + 2.5x barlow + Toucam in below average conditions, best 200 frames stacked. With Mars higher in the sky, the image can tolerate worse seeing compared to Venus. While the mirror temp was within 0-0.1degC vs ambient, the atmospheric seeing was marginal. Sadly, these were the best conditions in the last 3 weeks here.

Regards,
Steve

Attached Image:

Dan, Thanks! I tried capturing the avi with VDub but couldn't get the settings right so I went back to VRecord. I also tried cranking up the brightness to 100% but the image ended up colorless so I went back to my usual settings:
Br 50%, Gam 0%, Gain 44%, 100% Sat, 10fps, 1/33sec, WB Freeze R=22, B=29 (set originally in auto), best 200 frames of 2000 taken (worst 300 trimmed off to fit into Reg4). What was interesting was with an 8mph wind, my scope and obs were completely cooled off to within 0.1degC for over 2 steady hours. However, having good "local" seeing does not help when the "atmos" seeing is bad. The probability of the perfect night seems near impossible when you consider all the factors

Regards,
Steve