Saturn this Morning - 4th Nov 06

OK.
So I gave imaging Saturn another attempt this morning,
(after the pea soup fog had lifted).
Taking note of the advice offered and set my equipment to shoot some AVI's

The only problem is, although they will play fine
in Real & Windows Media Player,
I can't open the (bigger) files in Registax.
(They are 5min at 2.4 GB.)

Is there any way to shorten these?
I have tried using an AVI to BMP converter but again, the file will not open.

Thanks again everyone..

Hi Frank,

I suspect the fact that you exceeded the 2 Gb limit is the root of the problem. You can use Virtual Dub (freeware) and/or HandyAVI. I am sure there are others as well.

Excellent Anthony!
Thanks again for your help.

Sorry this may be too late. I would strongly advise not to use anything above 10fps. Windows cant copewith that much info and it compresses the frames loosing data. stick to 10fps max.

DaveG

Thanks Dave,
No your not too late, I was just hitting the hay.

I was thinking that 15fps was about the max.

Anthony,
might it be that a 2.5 min AVI ran at 10fps
could yeld the same end result as a 5 min AVI ran at 20fps?
(with both captured under roughly the same seeing conditions
and bursts of clarity etc.)
Obvously the longer AVI would give more frequent clear frames
but the shorter would give more detail?
Or am I oversimplifing this?

By the way defragmenting the drive worked a treat.
I am getting almost 0 dropped frames now. Thanks!

Hi Frank,

If you don't mind, please shoot three 5-min AVI's and all in sequence. One AVI at 10 fps, a second AVI at 15 fps and a third AVI at 20 fps. If you don't mind, please process each AVI on its own so that we can see the results.

My best result from 2004 is the following: www.perseus.gr/Astro-Planet-Sat-20041107b.htm ... and I am very eager to try something similar using my AP160 refractor.

I am delighted to learn that defragmentation worked great and you are not dropping any frames. You would be surprised how many people overlook this trivial exercise in improving their captures and results!