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Lion Nebula SH2-132 - RC71

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Posts Made By: Stephen Fugardi

April 30, 2006 04:48 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Jupiter April 29, 2006

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Jim, I was imaging Jupiter at the exact same time early Sat morning! My seeing was better although there was still a slight visible haze around the planet when viewing with the naked eye. According the clear sky clock, I had above average seeing. Surprisingly my usual 1/25sec exposure on my Toucam was too much and I had to back down to 1/33sec and ease up 10% gain. Unfortunately by doing this Jupiter appeared browner than usual but I could not tweak any setting to get the right color. Also I used 5fps since my web cam seems to have some trouble with compression at 10fps on Jupiter. This shot was taken at 1:09AM, just before Jupiter reached it peak in the sky. C11, 2.5X powermate, 1/33 toucam + IR, 40% Br, 0% Gam, 100% Sat, 10% Gain, Auto on, 5fsp, best 150frames of 450 total. Io is almost ready to go behind Jupiter from the left (details pulled out in photoshop).

Seeing is definitely at a premium this season. However, the season isn't done yet...

Regards,
Steve

May 8, 2006 04:36 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Jupiter and Io this morning

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Jim, excellent shot, nice crisp shadow. Thanks

Regards,
Steve

May 19, 2006 02:52 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Jupiter & Ganymede 05-18-06

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Wes, awesome shot! That Jupiter seems huge and nicely detailed. Its been raining every day here in the Northeast and I haven't used my scope for 3 weeks. Thanks for posting!

Regards,
Steve

May 21, 2006 11:51 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Jupiter and Io Transit 5/19

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Chris, Another excellent shot! When you can image that well through thin clouds and fair conditions, I say that's absolutely amazing. Thanks for posting

Regards,
Steve

May 22, 2006 05:49 PM Forum: Home Observatories

Mount Leveling using 3 Bubbles

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Guys, didn't mean to stir everyone up on this one. Basically my top plate was never leveled well from the beginning and I attributed my usual nightly difficulty of polar alignment with this. Once aligned, the computer tracking is ok. Hopefully I will get a clear night this week and see if the top plate levelling helps

Regards,
Steve

June 9, 2006 04:39 PM Forum: Home Observatories

Dome Automation

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Taylor, I noticed that THESKY software website has some automation that may work for you. Try this link,

http://www.bisque.com/Products/Automadome/

Good luck,
Steve

June 13, 2006 01:42 AM Forum: Home Observatories

Polar Alignment Aids

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Also, I found some nice software called astrosnap pro which puts a reticle on the computer screen to help do the polar aligning with a webcam. Since a decent illuminated eyepiece costs $170 (which I don't have), this seems like a reasonable way to go. In the registered version, there's even an automatic polar aligner. Has anyone tried this and is a webcam useful here? I know the field of view is quite small.

Regards,
Steve

July 15, 2006 01:03 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Jupiter last night

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
John, Tremendous shot at that altitude! The near merging of the red spots is very detailed on your image. Which program(s) do you use to split, sharpen, recombine RGB files?

I was out again last night to try for another Jupiter as well. It seems around 8pm, Jupiter is at its peak height but its not dark enough. I could not get "decent" seeing until 9:30 which now the atmosphere was thickening. Here's my Toucam C11 f18, 10fps, 0% gam, 100% sat, 0% gain, 50% br, best 160/900 frames stacked in Registax (no RGB splitting) effort in thin haze.
Thanks for posting.

Regards,
Steve


July 17, 2006 11:13 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System

Jupiter 7-15

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Brian, nice shots! If possible, try animating them in a .gif file. I think you'd end up with a decent rotation movie. Thanks for posting

Regards,
Steve

July 22, 2006 01:58 AM Forum: Home Observatories

Observatory/Pier Project

Posted By Stephen Fugardi
Kevin, That is a serious pier. Not many people go that deep. What size scope are you going to mount? Great move calling in the concrete truck. I hand mixed 35bags making my 42" deep pier and my back stung for days. Good luck with your project and thanks for posting your progress.

Regards,
Steve

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