Posts Made By: Alan Friedman

Hi all -

Not my best image - too much turbulence, too many clouds and too much processing to boot. but it may be the last Jupiter my backyard has to offer for a while. At 37 degrees Jupiter is now entangled in the wires and treetops and it won't rise above them again until 2010!

details -
10" f14.6 A/P mak/cass with 2Xpowermate
LRGB image from DMK21BF04 B&W firewire webcam with RGB filterwheel
approximately 350/1100 (red) and 250/850 (green) frames average for luminace
AstroIIDC for camera control, Keith's Image Stacker and Adobe Photoshop used for processing

best wishes,
Alan

Hi all -

I've just returned from two weeks vacation in New Hampshire. Although we had way too much rain I did have some good opportunities to use the APQ130 and test my new focuser retrofit with my solar set-up and under the night sky.

The solar set-up was most exciting. With the focuser's short length and the ability to remove the 3/4" ring for the rotating finder and attach the focuser directly to the tube back I was, for the first time, able to insert the Zeiss Mark V binoviewer with 1.7X corrector/Coronado 90mm Solarmax/BF30 H-Alpha filter and reach focus. With 32mm televue plossls, the resulting full disk image was simply breathtaking - contrasty, three dimensional and at a perfect magnification for a detailed view in typical daytime seeing.

At night I used the T2 prism diagonal from the binoviewer with Baader clickstop 1.25" eyepiece adapter for 1.25 eyepieces and a Baader 2" prism diagonal for 2" eyepieces. The 1.25" set-up allows a quick swap for the binoviewer which (with the planets too low for high resolution images) I used mostly to test the performance when pointed at the zenith. The unit focuses flawlessly in this postion. The fine focus operates easily even with significant braking action applied. It is very easy to apply the brake adjustment for secure and smooth operation with the scope pointed at any angle. Werner from Starlight has done some recent testing on actual load threshold for his current model 2" focuser which I think he will post to this forum when he has time. I found no problems at all.

If you are used to the force required to move a loaded Zeiss helical focuser, or to loosen and move the optional adjustable drawtube for the Zeiss focuser you will really appreciate the effortless and smooth motions of the Feathertouch. It was necessary to add an extension to achieve enough optical length to reach focus with both the T2 and 2" prism diagonals (without the binoviewer). For this, the A/P extension unit with brass compression ring was a fine and rigid solution.

Feel free to contact me by private message if you would like additional info on this project.

clear skies and best wishes,
Alan Friedman

Hello Robert -

Very nice work!

Alan

Hi Damian -

Excellent images!

I think that the high quality of the images that have been posted so early in this apparition are showing the experience gleaned two years ago (some very fine and natural processing) combined with some fine new options for imaging equipment . Should be a very exciting summer and fall.

Can you explain further the two almost featureless images at lower right?

Thanks,
Alan

Excellent shots.

I am just amazed by the quality of all these early apparition images. Our cloud cover is supposed to move off next week - I hope to finally get a first look at Mars for 2005!

Alan

Hi all-

Finally had a first opportunity to view Mars yesterday morning. My, is it small! Best thing about this first attempt is knowing that it will grow to almost twice this size by november.


app. diameter 10.48"/ seeing 6/10
A/P 10" mak/cassegrain with Baader FFC
DMK 21BF04 B&W camera with manual RGB filterwheel
approximately 300 frames R+ 200 frames each G, B at 15fps
captured in ASTROIIDC and processed in Keith's Image Stacker
and Adobe Photoshop on Mac Platform

best wishes,
Alan

Those are excellent images - and a very fine view of the SPC region.

Alan

A massive prominence from this morning - turbulent morning conditions, but it was too beautiful not to give it a try.

July 28th - 9:40am edt.
solarmax 90 on A/P 155 edfs at f24
DMK 21BF04 webcam - approx 150/800 frames

best,
Alan

I rose early to image mars and the moon Sunday morning - took a catnap and had a chance to capture some solar images too. It will take me a long time to wade through all the video 8O

Here is a quick panorama of some prominent prominences in close proximity on the solar limb (hows that for a sentence!) I hope to do more work on this and add the chromospheric details and AR792 when time allows.

best,
Alan

Hi all -

Mars from Sunday morning, July 31. Olympus Mons is the prominent dark area at the lower center, and the three Tharsis volcanoes can be seen faintly slanting down towards the preceding (shadowed) limb.

best,
Alan

CM 129, diameter 11.25" distance .83AU
seeing 5/10, transparency 3/5
L(R)/RGB image - approx 550 frames from 2200 used for luminance.
A/P 10" mak at f45/ DMK 21BF04 b&w firewire webcam
processed in AstroIIDC, Keith's Image Stacker and Adobe Photoshop on Mac platform