Personal bests!!

[Vicki]

I wanted to share these images as I'm very proud. These were imaged in July of this year and it was my second proper go since last year. With more knowledge of software and using my equipment, I was able to achieve something I'd strived for. To get 'that' image. Seeing was very good that evening and it certainly paid off ? My kit for this was a Skywatcher 130P, x2 barlow and an Altair GPCAM2 290C. I used Region of Interest in SharpCap. I collected around 1600 frames for Jupiter and around 1700 for Saturn. I'd love to see some other's personal bests too.

 

[geoflewis]

Those are both excellent images Vicki. This year I’ve got just one passable, though still poor image of Jupiter and not a single image of Saturn, which is hugely disappointing.

[KevS]

Two very good images Vicki, I especially like the detail on Jupiter. ? 

[Vicki]

Posted by: @geoflewis

Those are both excellent images Vicki. This year I’ve got just one passable, though still poor image of Jupiter and not a single image of Saturn, which is hugely disappointing.

Thanks very much, I'm made up with these. Probably the best 2 from this year so far although, I've given up now as they're so low. I have had a couple of goes at Mars but I need to perfect the processing. Without an ADC, I'm really struggling with the optical aberration side of things but I mustn't grumble, I'm lucky I can do what I can. 

[Vicki]

Posted by: @KevS

Two very good images Vicki, I especially like the detail on Jupiter. ? 

Thanks so much. Yeah, I love the detail I've captured on this one. It's a truly show stopping planet isn't it?!

[Andy 274]

They are fantastic Vicki

I can't remember the last time I did any planetary imaging. Need to pull my finger out lol

[Gina]

Superb images Vicki ? - I'd love to get images like those!  Maybe one day...  In my very early days of imaging I managed to capture Saturn showing the rings and was "over the moon" but that was just with a webcam and cheap Newtonian scope.

[Carastro]

Excellent images Vicki, better than any I ever achieved for planetary, but I think where I live I am fighting a losing battle with it being London suburbia.  I gave up planetary a couple of years ago having made little progress over several years and just do DS imaging now which I find a whole lot easier.

Carole    

[Vicki]

Posted by: @andy-274

They are fantastic Vicki

I can't remember the last time I did any planetary imaging. Need to pull my finger out lol

Thanks Andy, I'm rather chuffed. Can wait for them to be a little higher over the next few years. Mars is on my hit list now especially coming up to opposition.  Yes, go on and get stuck in ?

[MarkAR]

Two very good images, well done.

[warwickshireastro]

 

Great images. Love the Saturn detail.

New to planetary and lunar so here’s a couple of my personal bests so far (only had three clear nights so far!).

Equipment used: Celestron Nexstar 4SE, Altair GpCam3 290C, 2xBarlow.

Quite happy with the first go at Mars and hope to work on this in the next few weeks if the weather plays nicely.

Jupiter and Ganymedes shadow transit was a nice bonus. 

Really struggle with Saturn though. Tips welcomed. 

Dan

[Vicki]

Posted by: @warwickshireastro

 

Great images. Love the Saturn detail.

New to planetary and lunar so here’s a couple of my personal bests so far (only had three clear nights so far!).

Equipment used: Celestron Nexstar 4SE, Altair GpCam3 290C, 2xBarlow.

Quite happy with the first go at Mars and hope to work on this in the next few weeks if the weather plays nicely.

Jupiter and Ganymedes shadow transit was a nice bonus. 

Really struggle with Saturn though. Tips welcomed. 

Dan

That Mars is superb! Do you use an ADC at all? I really struggle with the aberration from the optics and can never seem to get rid. Saturn, I find a bit hit and miss with processing and not really found a workflow with it. I start with the same settings as Jupiter and just wing it the rest of the way??

[warwickshireastro]

@superlunarchick

Thanks! I just fiddled around with the wavelets got disheartened a bit and came back to with a clear head. I took it through wavelets twice. Saved and reopened the initial processed one and it sort of popped out like that. 
No ADC yet can’t find one in stock :( I had a good spell of seeing in the early hours for around 30 mins before it went all wobbly again. 

With Lunar what histogram do you aim for?

 

Thanks a bunch!

[Vicki]

@warwickshireastro

Sorry for the late reply. I'll be totally honest with you but I've never once used the histogram for lunar or planetary. I just tend go by eye ?‍♀️?

[Stub Mandrel]

Great pictures folks!

I use a ZWO ADC and I'd say it's probably essential for the best results with Saturn and Jupiter at the moment. Once you get the knack they are easy to use as even if not spot on they still make your image better.

This is a composite of my images from September, hoping for another crack at Mars this week!

[Vicki]

@stub-mandrel

Wow, these are fabulous! Yes, an ADC will be on my hit list next year ?

[Jkulin]

Super images Vicki.

I have never gone down the planetary route as it would mean changing my whole setup to accommodate, which has taken months to stabilise.

I do keep thinking about it but there are so many Galaxies and Nebula out there, that it is hard to pull away!

[CraigT82]

These are my bests from this year (and any year to be honest) starting off with Venus in April and ending with Mars just a couple of weeks ago.  Hoping for another go at Mars tonight.

All images with 8.75" Fullerscope and either Altair GPCAM3 290m and Baader filters, or GPCAM3 224c

 

The shot of Copernicus was done with same scope and the 290m and green filter in v. good seeing, again in April.

 

[DaveBolton]

Seriously impressed! These are the kind of results I’m hoping to achieve but I haven’t even got my scope yet (Evo8 on order for a month) but I’ve already sent a letter to Father Christmas (aka my wife) asking for a ZWO asi 290MC, which I’m hoping will be up to the task.

[geoflewis]

Posted by: @Jkulin

Super images Vicki.

I have never gone down the planetary route as it would mean changing my whole setup to accommodate, which has taken months to stabilise.

I do keep thinking about it but there are so many Galaxies and Nebula out there, that it is hard to pull away!

John, as you already know I like to do both, but it is definitely a case of one or the other, so right now it's Mars all the way for me. Next year summer will likely be more about DSO.

Cheers, Geof

[geoflewis]

Posted by: @CraigT82

These are my bests from this year (and any year to be honest) starting off with Venus in April and ending with Mars just a couple of weeks ago.  Hoping for another go at Mars tonight.

All images with 8.75" Fullerscope and either Altair GPCAM3 290m and Baader filters, or GPCAM3 224c

 

The shot of Copernicus was done with same scope and the 290m and green filter in v. good seeing, again in April.

Those are seriously good images Craig. I've never imaged Mercury and haven't imaged either Venus or the ice giants for several years, when I had very little idea what I was doing. I really must give them a try sometime, but I don't have the right filters for Venus, so something else on my wanted list.

Cheers, Geof

[Jkulin]

Posted by: @CraigT82

These are my bests from this year (and any year to be honest) starting off with Venus in April and ending with Mars just a couple of weeks ago.  Hoping for another go at Mars tonight.

All images with 8.75" Fullerscope and either Altair GPCAM3 290m and Baader filters, or GPCAM3 224c

 

The shot of Copernicus was done with same scope and the 290m and green filter in v. good seeing, again in April.

 

Superb quality images, impressive ? 

 

[Jkulin]

Posted by: @geoflewis

Posted by: @Jkulin

Super images Vicki.

I have never gone down the planetary route as it would mean changing my whole setup to accommodate, which has taken months to stabilise.

I do keep thinking about it but there are so many Galaxies and Nebula out there, that it is hard to pull away!

John, as you already know I like to do both, but it is definitely a case of one or the other, so right now it's Mars all the way for me. Next year summer will likely be more about DSO.

Cheers, Geof

I know Geof and its the same with me as in with Broadband or narrow Band, there are so many images to focus on, I don't think I'll ever finish, but maybe when Mars comes around again in 15 years time, then I may be able to grab it ? ? 

 

[geoflewis]

“....maybe when Mars comes around again in 15 years time, then I may be able to grab it....”

LOL ? ? . It will be back again in Dec 2022, smaller at 17”,  but at a much more favourable altitude of ~60 degrees from the UK.

Go on you know you want to...., but that is right in the main DSO season, so it will be a difficult call, even for me.... ?

Geof

[Vicki]

@craigt82

Wowzers or what at those!! You had me hooked the second I saw Copernicus. I'm a mad crazy lunar fan haha. The planets are just stunning too. Mars looks like a marble there, it's beautiful. I only wish I had a bigger scope for planetary as I'm really enjoying it but limited now with how far I can go.