Astromart

January 5, 2008 03:51 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Saturn Jan. 5, 08, Panasonic cam at EP, 6" scope

Hi Jason, that's a nice sharp Saturn. Have you tried using a barlow with that 10mm eyepiece? Is this image a single frame from the video or a composite? I imagine the views from down in Florida are incredible. 8O Have a good day, Dan

January 14, 2008 01:44 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Venus image by Messenger (that I've re-processed)

Posted By Dan Petersen

Hi Jason:

Way to go, your Venus rework rocks, it shows those boys at NASA how a planet is suppose to be processed - the "Higley" way! grin

I can't wait to see the regions of Mercury that have never been imaged, should be exciting!

Thanks for posting, Dan

January 16, 2008 12:18 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

New Jan.14 Mercury image (see more detail here!)

Posted By Dan Petersen

Sweet! Hey, that's not fair, your suppose to use an earth based telescope for your imaging! grin

Awesome job, those craters are spectacular. I can't wait to give it a shot this spring, should be fun just trying to capture one of those craters. Jason, thanks for posting, Dan 8)

January 16, 2008 02:04 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Eyepiece Projection Factor

Posted By Dan Petersen

Hi Gerry:

Here's my two cents - for what it's worth. Now that barlows are of such high quality (3 or 4 lens air-spaced APO's) most planetary imagers have abandoned the old positive eyepiece projection method for the more convenient and simple to use negative barlow system, some guys will stack as many as three of these things together. I just built an EP projection unit and my tests show no increase in resolution over the barlow method. I wish you good luck if you choose the EP route! cheers, Dan grin

PS: I think the 13mm or 17mm Hyperion would be the best choice, from what I've read the shorter focal lengths are (for some reason) lower quality.

January 18, 2008 02:02 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Saturn 1-16-08

Posted By Dan Petersen

Hi, Saturn is so dim at f/27 that I have no choice but to crank up both brightness and gamma to 100% and as you guys know that washes out colors, so here's my "Ringed Planet Restoration Act". wink

I hope to image this weekend at -10F, we're only five weeks away from Saturn's opposition date on February 24th. Now that Mars is rapidly shrinking in size and exiting stage right we're very fortunate to have magnificent Saturn to observe and image this winter. Take it easy, Dan grin

January 20, 2008 03:55 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Moon & Mars 1/19/08, 23:16UT

Posted By Dan Petersen

Hi, here's a cropped version for older or slower PC's that may not be able to handle the data flow. cheers, Dan wink

January 22, 2008 07:21 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

White Spot on Saturn

Posted By Dan Petersen

Hi Steve:

Well done! Is this hobby great or what, it's like going on a treasure hunt every time you image a planet, you never know what you'll discover next! This white spot has been around a couple months now, guys here and across the globe have been imaging it. The storm is located on Saturn's South Temperate Zone (STZ), CM= (III: 273). Chris Go captured it on December 3rd, here's his Saturn web page http://astro.christone.net/saturn/index.htm Jean Prost also has a good shot of it taken December 1st and posted on the ALPO site.

Cheers, Dan 8)

January 22, 2008 07:32 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Mars f45, 1/18/08 first DMK21

Posted By Dan Petersen

Hi Steve:

That's smart to do a practice run before good seeing moves in, it looks like you already have the RGB figured out very well. Good luck, I look forward to your future postings.

Take it easy, Dan smile