trouble with saturn

Ive tried imaging saturn last night with not much success, see the link below:

i78.photobucket.com/albums/j87/schmintan/Sat2avi_Bmp1.jpg

This was taken from about 4500 frames, which was whittled down to about 1500 after using registax to remove unusable ones.

Im not sure if this image is bad due to :


bad seeing : I dont think this is the case though
bad focus : focus is hit and miss still.
bad processing: i think this is a major factor.

im sure you guys would need to see the avi to know the answers but have you any pointers that may let me get an image that remotely resembles the smooth clear images many of you guys get. from looking at the image, could you advise what may be the problem(s) with my processing?

It could be a bad focus or using too many frames per second which dims the image. Try it with a few hundred frames next time and see if it improves (5-15 fps)

are there any apps to help with focusing when using webcam's or is it just something you have to get good at by trying loads of times?

We had Pickering 3 seeing in Louth last night, which is the worst seeing I've recorded in several years. (I normally get between Pickering 5 and 7.)

Registax can certainly improve the results of bad seeing, but I'm not sure it can completely account for them. You may just need to wait for more stable conditions.

-- Jeff.

Fintan I'd say its a combo of everything really. Certainly you will need to adjust the settings in the capture software do that the image isn't too dim or too bright on screen. As you suspect focussing is no gimme either. Takes lots of practice to acquire the skill. Then one day when the focus, seeing, practice come together it will all pay off.

Remember as long as your next image is a little better than the last you know you're going in the right direction.

Keep at it mate and I'm sure the dedicated planetary imaging experts will give you some good tips.

Hi Fintan,

there is to much to tipe i will go through everything with you on Saturday
in the shop