From: Mark Gaffney <markgaffney@me.com>

Date: October 17, 2009 5:22:43 PM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] I think this is my best Jupiter image so far!


Hi Terry, 

You live video junkie, you! That image of mine is an old one but still the best I`ve managed of Jupiter so far. You`ll be surprised how easy it can be to Stack & Align a movie. Provided you have a suitable one on file (Astro IIDC generated) go to the Processing window & Stack & Align movies. You`ll be asked to select your movie & where you want to save it to. Then provided you have "manually select frames for stacking" unselected or un-ticked just select Use> Both Horiz & Vert Sep. It`ll all be done automatically for you (without the need to manually select frames etc. etc...). Depending on the length of movie it`ll probably take all of a minute to do. Just take note of where you`re saving the stacked image to so you can easily find it...That`s all you need for a first run through,anyway! With your B/W camera it won`t be in colour but who`s objecting if there`s superior resolution involved! Take a bit of time familiarising yourself with the other selections in the Processing window-again pretty basic & a few seconds work when you`ve got the knack. Go To page 30 of the Manual & skim through `til you`ve got the idea. You`re right about the instant appeal of nice images especially to show family & friends over (even) the scientific work you usually work on..


Mark. 

On 18/10/2009, at 9:44 AM, Terrence Redding wrote:

Hi Mark.


Nice image as usual.


I saw your message and the copy of Ray's and realized I had missed his.  I went back and answered his, and now thought it best to respond to yours.  I have been tempted to get the color camera, like yours, but would really like to produce the best possible picture of Jupiter and that seems to demand a monochrome camera with filter wheel.


With the filter wheel arriving next week I will be tempted to shoot some images.  Time is tight for the next month at least.  We are finishing the season on the mutual events - happens every six years - but along the way believe we have confirmed Dengenhardt's theory and he has developed a few more that will extend the work.


We also have a major occultation event in Florida in November which will involve dozen's of observers from several countries and if the weather cooperates may produce the best snapshot to date of the shape and size of (234) Barbara from central Florida November 21, in conjunction with the annual meeting of the International Occultation and Timing Association.


http://scottysmightymini.com/PR/234_Barbara_CallForObservers.htm


I suspect over 30 observatories will be involved, most mobile, both from Florida and Europe.


I noted Ray's concern that his question might be taken as sarcastic - not at all - I need the push - and last week was very irritated that the filter has taken so long to arrive.  I have been taking solace in the notion that next year Jupiter may be more favorably positioned for imaging from Florida - as opposed to Go's location.


All we can do is learn and get better.  For that I am thankful, but most appreciative of the Internet - and the many people we can now share the experience with.


Be well, 


Terry


On Oct 17, 2009, at 11:50 AM, Mark Gaffney wrote:

Hi Ray, 

I think that thread was started by me with this image taken on my C9.25 & TIS DBK 21A F04.AS in 2008; 

<Snapshot 2008-09-13 18-45-53.jpg>


I`d be interested to see any experiments Terry has carried out so far too! 


Mark.

On 18/10/2009, at 1:56 AM, Ray Byrne wrote:

Hi Terrence,


At the risk of sounding sarcastic. What? is the your best Jupiter image so far. I'd really like to have a look :o]


Ray Byrne



On 17 Oct 2009, at 14:10, Terrence Redding wrote:

Alan, I am slowly getting all the pieces in place.


I have a Homeyer's Motorized Filter Wheel on the way and all of the other items you suggested in the list below.  Lets hope I can become a competent planet imager.  Lucky for me I did not have to move.  (-:


Thanks for the help.


Terry - W6LMJ - 14.287 


Terrence R. Redding, Ph.D. 

Redding Observatory South, West Palm Beach, Florida

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

How do amateur astronomers learn?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSgiXGELjbc

American Association of Variable Star

Observers (AAVSO): RTN http://www.aavso.org/




On Jul 15, 2009, at 12:38 PM, Alan Friedman wrote:

Hi Terry,


I sent a response to one of your earlier posts from vacation but I don't think it made it through. Milton brought up the issues of working with an analog camera and the compression pitfalls that limit the results using IMovie for planetary imaging. I'd suggest going this route:


DMK21AF04 firewire camera (60fps - 15fps on 41 series camera is too slow for Jupiter)

IR blocked RGB filters Astronomik work well)

color filter wheel - manual rotation is fine.

Astro IIDC for camera control

home in Florida (you have that, lucky dog)


The last time I used my astrovid for imaging was at the Venue transit:


http://www.avertedimagination.com/img_pages/venus_transit.html


it works, but a digital firewire camera will remove many limitations and let you get the best from the fine seeing at your location.


cheers,

Alan



On Jul 15, 2009, at 11:07 AM, Terrence Redding wrote:



Tim, I am not familiar with the camera you used - but assume it is a color firewire camera.  I notice they have them from 80 fps down to 7.5 fps.  I assume the higher frame rates are needed to freeze the rapid rotation of Jupiter, something like a 9.5 hour day.


But I would appreciate hearing comments on which cameras are best for which applications.  I am also interested in inserting a date/time stamp on the individual frames to support photometry.  Is there a system for doing that with firewire?


Terry - W6LMJ


Terrence R. Redding, Ph.D. RTN

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

How do amateur astronomers learn?




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On Jul 15, 2009, at 9:47 AM, Tim wrote:



But I forgot to check the "notify" box when I uploaded it, so here it is:

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/0NJdSpsXT-XxZMm72Mhg! puzbRAOXrQTTduGcNu8Khts6IpdHmAiBUm7_bZZeoHz8JAEOkhaiV0sK6gNeUXVWNtcu5gsVGk_duPaZyE8h165r/Planetary/2009-07-15_121502_UT_TJP.jpg

I've just started stacking the movies, and I shot a bunch of movies. This was the first one processed.

For some reason, Astro IIDC is showing 0 frames at the 75% confidence level, with all 1001 frames represented by a single spike. So for now, until I figure out why, I'm letting it stack all the frames (the seeing was pretty good, after all).

-Tim.