My first look at Jupiter through a Telescope :)

17th September (10.29pm...not 9.29pm) my first sighting of the GRS :

www.petermandal.com/images/stories/Temp/...o%20in%20Transit.jpg

And last night, 29th September, 9.47pm:

www.petermandal.com/images/stories/Temp/...929_2047_59Clean.jpg
www.petermandal.com/images/stories/Temp/..._2047_59%20Clean.jpg

Peter

Peter - what setup are you using? They're pretty good images.

Hi Peter

Agree with all comments - I wish my first images were as good!

As a former tester for Registax theres a few cheats...

If you set align to 80% eg dont necessarily take the number of frames that Regi gives you. Slide the slider up or down and stop only when the img gets very blurry. (if you want I can pm you an image of what I mean)

stack a minimum of 300 frames

use gaussian wavelets they are less harsh

unless the seeing is really good use 5fps (its less noisy)

at your focal legnth image for 3 mins at 5fps and stack the best 600 or 700 (use the slider I mention above)

HTH and keep up the good work

dave gradwell

btw always post your images on the IFAS boards no matter what you think of them as you may have captured something unique.

DG

:blush:

Thank you guys.

I'll defenitely try the 'cheats' Dave. Thank you!

I'm really just a novice with all this technology (the scope, software etc.) and learning new things each time I go out....not just about the sky

My setup is pretty modest and, as someone with 'upgradite-is', the current lack of funds is a blessing.

Here's what I've used for the shots:

Celestron G8N

A Hybrid 8" newtonian.
Celestron have inserted a lens beween the primary and secondary mirrors.
Most reviews are not glowing for this scope.

I've changed the focusser to a Crayford and added a PC fan to the base plate for cooling.

Old CG5 mount with RA tracking.
I've stripped, serviced and regreased the mount.

Either a Celestron 2x or GSO (Revelation) 2.5x Barlow

Philips SPC900NC (cortesy of Frank Ryan Jr.).
I use a cracked IR/UV filter on this (one day I'll save up enough to buy a new one )

Capturing with WxAstroCapture using WcCtrl for camera control (both free)

Stacking is done with either K3CCD or Registax and processing with Registax.

While both the above are free but I'm using the paid version of K3CCD at the mo'.

Wavelets in Registax are like some form or magic
The good image from 29th September just materialised out of a blur with wavelets.
I was so surprised that I actually said 'WOW!' out loud!

Lots of writing, but a very modest set-up.

I thing a decent 8" regular Newtonian may give better images.

Many thanks for the kind comments and encouragement!

Peter

Keep at it Peter - even with your current setup you'll still improve as time goes by.

You'll find that the second-hand astronomy kit market these days is full of bargains - keep your eyes peeled and you should bag some nice replacements/additions for very little outlay.

one thing Peter.
I did up a step by step guide for registax here nearly 4 years ago when I used to dabble in abit of imaging..
www.irishastronomy.org/forum?func=view&catid=29&id=39009
You might be beyond its level at this stage, but its worth having a look through incase there is anything you can do in it to improve your images, it was done for an earlier version of registax but I'd bet the controls are pretty much the same.