From: Mark Gaffney <markgaffney@me.com>

Date: August 11, 2009 10:58:01 AM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] Terry`s image...


Terry, 

I suggest you follow Alan`s lead as to settings for your Jupiter movie. You are both using the same camera after all. Clouds have rolled in here so my plans for tonight are off! 


Mark.

On 12/08/2009, at 1:47 AM, Terrence Redding wrote:

Mark, you guys are ahead of me.  I am busy teaching a five and seven year old to do their numbers this morning and you guys have been processing video and producing images.  I have yet to do that.  So I am still clearly following you guys and learning from you and Milton.  But I know when I process my first video, if I follow a good workflow chances are better that my product will have benefitted from the structured approach.


I have been looking at the file outputs that have been published so far today in the group and reading Milton's comments.  It appears he os also saying that certain things needed to be done, while other things did not need to be done.  Again, it appears a workflow would have aided in the effort.


I hope you get good weather.  I hope to take a few hours today to produce my first processed image.

  

Terry - W6LMJ


Terrence R. Redding, Ph.D. RTN

http://olt.net/learningstyle/Site_2/Learning_Style_Research.html

How do amateur astronomers learn?



On Aug 11, 2009, at 7:21 AM, Mark Gaffney wrote:

I`m not as methodical as that! I did look at the evening news & some rain is forecast for tomorrow so hopefully it`ll hold off for tonight. I also checked the Sky & Telescope site for GRS spot transits. Getting my scope set up in the dark is quite a project, paricularly for imaging & tonight if I get a chance, I`ll be doing it without proper polar alignment....probably possible... the main problem with the planets is getting them centred on the chip! I`ll also have more space than I`m accustomed to between scope & monitor (after my move off the concrete pad for the carport construction). Also making things less probable is the fact I have to collimate first but I`ll have a go!...There`s been so much interest in Jupiter recently & so many excellent attempts especially on this group at imaging it that I`m inspired... I`ve yet to try the Flea 2 on Jupiter. Everyone`s set-up is unique & hopefully I`ll have something to contribute! 


Mark.

On 11/08/2009, at 6:02 PM, Terrence Redding wrote:

A simple workflow would be the steps you follow to perform a complex task, such as imaging.  It is a way of standardizing work and  quality is assured by reducing mistakes in sequence.  The more complex the task, the greater the likelihood that it would benefit from workflow analysis.


Some critical steps may not be obvious to the novice but over time the experienced imager may consider them essential.  One might be checking http://weather.unisys.com/nam/init/nam_300_init.html  This was a new one for me - but a step that Melton shared.  I may learn over time that I need the very best stable air aloft to take high quality planetary images.  If I find that the jet stream has shifted over my position, then what appears to be a good night for imaging might be scrubbed.


Another might be the sequence for processing a movie to create an image.  Surely there is a best sequence to reduce time and assure the possibility of the best possible outcome.  Perform the steps in the wrong sequence and an image may never be produced that truly reflects the potential captured in the movie. 


So workflow can be as simple as a list of steps to follow in sequence, or have the added element of information to consider at each step to produce a quality result, and may include a time allotment. One may quickly learn that setup is simple for some, more complex for others, cool down or temperature stabilization critical for some, none critical for others.  Imaging may take less than 30 minutes, but post processing may be hours of work.  The sequence for post processing the image clear-cut and straight forward with no opportunity to do things out of sequence.  Or, choices may need to be made every step of the way that may effect the final quality of the image.


Having a good workflow can be very helpful.


Well, back to bed.  Thanks for the help and encouragement.


Terry - W6LMJ


Terrence R. Redding, Ph.D. RTN

http://olt.net/learningstyle/Site_2/Learning_Style_Research.html

How do amateur astronomers learn?



On Aug 11, 2009, at 1:02 AM, Mark Gaffney wrote:

Hi Terry, 

I don`t know what exactly you mean by workflow. I`m referring to the instructions provided in Help for Astro IIDC in the Menu Bar. I`m hoping to try more precisely collimating my scope using the facility in "Metaguide" on my recently obtained PC. I`ve dismantled the corrector (& secondary) to clean a water mark. If possible I`d like to try shooting Jupiter at around 3.30 am here & maybe the impact site half an hour later. 


Mark.

On 11/08/2009, at 2:24 PM, Terrence Redding wrote:

I am always curious to know what workflow others use.  If someone has that written out I would be curious to read it.


I will try to process tomorrow, after that I am on the road to Georgia to participate in my first graze occultation with Hal Povenmier.


Terry - W6LMJ


Terrence R. Redding, Ph.D. RTN

http://olt.net/learningstyle/Site_2/Learning_Style_Research.html

How do amateur astronomers learn?



On Aug 10, 2009, at 7:52 PM, Mark Gaffney wrote:

Hi Terry & Milton,
I`ve had a look too at Milton`s image made from Terry`s movie. As
Milton says any fine detail is removed by the translation to MPEG4 I
assume in the process of obtaining the movie from Terry`s link. Terry,
I stopped the download of the more detailed movie on your website. It
seemed to have virtually have stopped in it`s tracks anyway probably
because our satellite broadband is shaped for the month ( after we use
our 3GB of downloads it reverts to 64 bits speed I think!) & partly
because there were lots of other family movies there to download as
well!? If Milton is right & it was some kind of turbulence (a
jetstream perhaps) at least that should be a bit reassuring for you
Terry-that you don`t have external problems with the site! I`m looking
forward to seeing what you can do with the original movie Terry. If
you have any questions about settings in the Stacking options window
that the Manual can`t solve I`m sure Milton will be there to help. I
know he took me virtually step by step through the right settings for
processing my moon movies!

Mark.