Image of the day

Captured by
Douglas Rollain

Lion Nebula SH2-132 - RC71

About Astromart

My Account

New to Astromart?

Register an account...

Need Help?

Posts Made By: Stephen Fugardi

March 25, 2012 01:50 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Venus, Mars, Saturn from this past week

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
I've had the rare chance to use my scope 5 of 6 nights with good seeing this week. First time I was able to get cloud capture on Venus using a Shuler UV filter

Regards,
Steve

May 27, 2012 01:06 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Saturn f25 RGB 5/19 Good Seeing

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Taken last week in rare 4/5 seeing and transparency just after transit. Captured histograms all at 67%, noise 16-17. My best Saturn of the season

Regards,
Steve

June 4, 2012 12:11 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

My C90 Solar Setup for the Transit

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
With all solar filters sold out worldwide and the transit not visible from my observatory, I opted for modifying my C11 filter to go on my C90. The mod uses velcro to easily go back to C11 mode and attaches to the C90 with an opened out 4" drain cap and some thin plywood. I have a field 1/4 mile away that will give a good view until 8pm. Using my tripod and some tweaking knobs I took a few test shots, ISO 200 1/500sec giving an approx 67% histogram. Some sunspots can be seen. Painters tape should keep the focus close for Tues. Keeping the globe on the chip is challenging as the tripod need slight adjustments every 60sec. Using this method, I can get 80% of the shots in the view. Of course, weather.com is calling for showers Tues PM. Good luck with the transit!

Regards,
Steve

June 6, 2012 05:01 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Venus Transit from Rochester, NY - 1st contact

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
I had to drive 350 miles to Rochester, NY to find a clear sky. It wasn't until the last 30min of the 7hr trip did the sky open up just as the Clear Cky Clock predicted. Nikon D70s with C90 and a baader filter, ISO 200, 1/500s on tripod. 1st contact was 6:05pm from the 1:00 edge which was a surprise. I was snapping shots every 15sec and have >600 to check out. It was worth taking a vacation day and getting home at 3am.

Regards,
Steve

July 22, 2012 08:19 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Pluto 7/22/12

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Last night, I took 88 shots of Pluto and stacked the best 70 with DSS with my C11 and a 0.5x Antares reducer. 30s exposures at ISO 1600 with a stock Nikon D70s right before midnight at its transit which puts the dwarf at opposition, not that it helps much. While I was hoping for back-back clear nights to absolutely confirm if it's Pluto or not, tonight's conditions will not cooperate. Between Sky6 and http://www.sky-map.org/ and about an hour of studying data, I have concluded this to be Pluto but hope to follow-up with a another shot to see movement. I did try to observe Pluto through the eyepiece at the end, but I think its out the reach of my scope and/or poorly dark adapted eyes.

Regards,
Steve

July 22, 2012 08:26 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Neptune 7/22/12

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Here's the other part of my solar system pairing from last night, Neptune at f25 approx an hour before it transitted. I took 300 RGB frames with my 2.5x Powermate, exposure times 1.03sec, max gains, about 178-200 frames stacked per channel. It was different imaging the most 2 distant planets on the same night. I set my alarm to wake up for Jupiter, but I just couldn't do it. Next time, I'll just stay up the whole night. Seeing conditions were 4/5 the entire time, which is rare for my site

Regards,
Steve

August 10, 2012 02:33 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Jupiter RGB F30 8/7/12

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
My first Jupiter of the season taken in good seeing Tues AM right before sunrise. 2x2x3' 60x60x40 fps RGB captures with 2x barlow and an extension tube yielding f30. Best 2500 frames per channel derotated and combined with WinJupos.

Regards,
Steve

August 30, 2012 02:12 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Uranus f20 685nm 8/27/12

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Monday morning I had 4/5 seeing and 3/5 transparency good collimation and temperature control. With no filter I was easily able to see and capture Neptune's moon Triton so I knew conditions were above average. I slewed to Uranus and found it quickly with my 55mm eyepiece.

At f20, using my 1.8x barlow, Flea3 and the 685nm long pass filter, the image size and brightness seemed reasonable with a 650ms exposure and a slight 1.25x gamma boost. To make sure the focus was as good as possible, I closed down FireCapture and started Metaguide and adjusted until the best results were obtained. Then went back to Firecapture and collected 2500 frames, pausing every so often to tweak the centering. The lighter lower edge appears to be the southern polar cap, but the other shadings may or may not be real.

In hind site, I should have confirmed the orientation of Uranus with an unfiltered moon shot, but I plan to try again tonight in good seeing/transparency.

Regards,
Steve


September 6, 2012 04:30 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Jupiter f25 RGB 8/30/12

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Attached is my Jupiter from last week. C11 with 2.5X Powermate, Flea3 & Astronomik filers. 60fps, 60sec per channel, best 1000 RGB frames stacked. Seeing was above average.

Regards,
Steve

March 30, 2004 10:38 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Jupiter double transit 03-29-04

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Vince, Awesome image! I saw the same double last night with the red spot right there too around 10:30. For the first time I removed my green "pollution" filter and could not believe the details! It's been like looking thru a coke bottle apparently... Hopefully my webcam is on the way so I can start taking shots with my C11. If they come 1/2 as good as this, I'd be happy. Thanks for posting

Steve

Funding Member

Sponsors


View all sponsors

Search