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Posts Made By: Stephen Fugardi

October 15, 2007 04:35 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

IR Cut vs IR Pass Filter? (for Mars)

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
I am currently using an IR cut filter on my Toucam Pro for imaging all the planets. However, for obtaining the best images of Mars in typically average seeing conditions, should I really be using the IR Pass filter? Thank you for your advice

Here's a filter link,
http://www.alpineastro.com/filters/filters.htm#UV-IR-Cut%20Filter

Regards,
Steve

October 22, 2007 09:49 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Uranus f25, 10/21/07

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Under very clear but below average seeing, I tried to image Uranus again this time using my 2.5x barlow. Besides the marginal seeing, I spent too much time trying to micro collimate and ended up capturing the avi 45min past the transit time. This time I used vDub to do the image capture and have found that the saved avi file is 44% larger vs the Philips VRecord (with all settings the same). I stacked the best 685/5000 frames.

Regards,
Steve

October 25, 2007 03:13 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Neptune vs Uranus @f25

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Attached is a comparison of the 2 outer planets. Capturing Uranus with my C11 and a 2.5X barlow is the limit of the Toucam with the gain & brightness cranked up >80%. To match the image size, I scaled my recent prime focus f10 Neptune shot by 2.5x. Realistically, a shutter speed of at least 1/15sec would be required to obtain a true f25 Neptune. Capturing of any cloud detail would require exceptional seeing.

Regards,
Steve

October 30, 2007 05:15 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Comet Holmes 10/30 from CT

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Attached is my shot from 45min ago (12:20AM) using my C11 and Nikon D70s at prime focus for 30sec @ISO1600 with dark frame subtracted. Compared to M31, Holmes is brighter and even seems larger in binoculars! Seeing was bad but who cares, the low power eyepiece views at 50X were stunning.

Regards,
Steve

November 2, 2007 05:07 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Comet Holmes 11/2/07 Afocal

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Using a Canon A80 Powershot digital camera attached afocally to a 55mm eyepiece in my C11, 12x15sec shots at ISO400 were stacked. For this camera, these are the max settings. The image is inverted since I realized after the capture that I left the diagonal in place.

Regards,
Steve

November 4, 2007 05:28 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Venus f25 11/4

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
This morning I was trying image Mercury and shot Venus initially to set the focus. Best 250/1700 frames stacked @f25. Once I found Mercury in the trees visually, I slewed over and centered it in the scope. Using the same 2.5x barlow setup, Mercury's image on the computer screen was very unstable. I tried to switch from the IR block to a red filter but it did not help. After accidentally bumping the scope and having one of the control wires pop off, I lost the elusive planet for good as the sun started to brighten the sky. Unless Mercury gains a few more degrees in altitude during the next 4 days with decent seeing, imaging it may not work from my site. I'll try again at f10.

Regards,
Steve

November 6, 2007 11:02 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Mars f25 11/5/07

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
In average seeing/transparency, I captured Mars with a Toucam +IR blocking filter +2.5x barlow and my C11 at 5:30AM Monday. These were the best conditions in CT for awhile and I used Mars to set my focus waiting for Mercury to rise. Best 300/2500 frames stacked. There is a hint of Olympus Mons in the middle approx 1/3 of the way down. Definitely, my best Mars so far. I have a few other avis to still check out but this was the last one which usually ends up being the best.

Regards,
Steve

November 6, 2007 11:13 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Mercury f10 11/5/07

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
With 3 days before its greatest elongation, conditions on Nov 5th seem to give me the best window to observe and capture Mercury. Attached is the best 19/276 frames at f10 with C11 + Toucam + IR at prime with Mercury approx 13deg above the horizon but just above the treeline. This was taken from my last avi of the morning at 6:22am which stopped abruptly as my hard drive became full (mostly of Mars avis)! At that point, I replaced the camera with my high power eyepiece (318x) and viewed the awesome cresent shaped planet. Although even unstable visually, it gave me the best views I have ever seen of Mercury. Through the eyepiece the 7.5" DIA planet, it looked like a "mini" Venus. Try to check it out during the next week.

Regards,
Steve

November 9, 2007 02:45 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Mercury f25 11/8 Above Avg Seeing

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
I had the rare opportunity to view and capture Mercury on the morning of its greatest elongation in above average seeing. Taken at 6:17am today, with the elusive planet 15deg above the horizon, just clearing the tree lines, I took my best Toucam avi with 1/50s shutter, 50% brightness, no color, 100% sat, 0% gamma, 34% gain manually tweaking to 24% by the end of the 10fps 4981 frame video. The best 277 frames were stacked in Registax. From 11/5 to 11/8, the apparent diameter decreased from 7.5" to 6.8" and the illuminated phase increased from 44 to 57%. High power eyepiece views at 318x showed a strange rainbow colored glare coming off the edge of the planet. It almost seemed like the -0.5mag reflected sunlight was refracting through the thick atmosphere. From my backyard observatory location, there is a small window to see Mercury. Sometimes you have to be lucky to get just the right conditions.

Regards,
Steve

November 13, 2007 04:48 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Mars f45 11/8/07

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Last Thursday morning, waiting for Mercury to rise, I tried double stacking my barlows for the first time on Mars using a 1.8x into a 2.5x yielding approx 4.5x withy my C11 and Toucam. The best 500/3182 frames were stacked. Seeing was above average, transparency however was below average. I am yet to actually verify my collimation with this double stack. Results are surprisingly good.

Regards,
Steve

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