Saturn by TV85
@ Chatsworth, CA. USA
I am just traveling USA to visit
friends. Carry the telescope around but condition or
any other factors were not fit so easily to take
astro images. However, finally got a good chance to
have this one and Pleiades.
Appreciated to the Californian
clear sky even it is not so dark enough by the lights
on the city because no jet stream. This Saturn was
so stable and super sharp on my naked eyes. Never
got the great condition at Kobe, Japan.
But, at some reason (can not
write down here), I could not get more great shots
at Gila, New Mexico. Maybe next time....
(would you
please browse the galaxy page, too)
- The Sequel -
The picture above has published on Sky&Telescope
magazine's SKYWATCH'05 P76. That description says
diameter 85mm makes it "hopelessly fuzzy". Well,
that's true. However, the price of a 200mm
refractor, If you could buy one, would be enormous.
And since, in my case, travel is important can you
imagine trying to carry a 200mm refractor on to an
airplane? The aperture is an important factor, as
you can see here. But it is not always everything.
It depends on what you can deal with and what you'd
like to do, I think.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Marv & Kay Spector, Kurt Reichl, Joe & Sherry Runyan, Dan
Dominy, Lloyd & Melanie Vancil, Steve Kopito : They
help me to one of my dream come true which carry the
telescope to see the stars at some part of USA.
Because I've seen so good night sky at USA before.
Mars 03/09/08
The controller
for the another mount which use for Orion has been
broken. So until exchange the controller (DD-1) as a
inferior goods, I can use only TV85. However, can
not stop to see because view is different day by
day. Seeing was not too bad at this night then I
could get enough shots to composite.
Mars 03/09/04
It was so bad seeing then this is the limit for the
TV85. It is looks good at icon size but not good at
larger size. TV85 is only 600mm and Orion is 1200mm
so it is better to shot with Orion. However, if just
looking by own eyes, TV85 shows so clear and
contrastive view. It is really beautiful.
Mars 03/08/25
Mars by "The small bigger" TV85. It was cloudy then
could get not enough shots to composite to the good
quality. So this one is poor image than Orion.
However, this shot mean you can get Mars picture by
digital camera even by the small diameter refractor.
When compare this one with below, you can see how it
comes closer.
Mars 03/06/03
If
compare with Orion, small diameter gives dark view
then disadvantage slower shutter. However, it is not
miserable.
Jupiter 03/03/20
At the last season, I had very good seeing like possible to watch the
surface but can not at this season, yet. Even this night again, it was
almost hopeless for small diameter telescope. But little bit better than
the last time.
 At
this night, also I've shoot pictures of setting of
the telescope in bright city night, materials for rotation animation
(right) and with satellite by Radian 18mm (below).
(time is in J.S.T = UT+9)
Saturn 02/12/15
Like November 13th, it was good seeing by similar distribution of
atmospheric pressure. At the same time, 14th's weather was cold at the day
time then it was best seeing I've never had at my home. This is reason why
I could get 180 good shots. Also I bought the "Moto Focus" which made by
J.M.I.. This device amazingly makes
focusing easier.
At the composite work,
make all pictures as layer on Photoshop once and adjust the position. Then
trimming the size better to composite. For composite, use Astro Stak or
Stella Image3. I've done with Stella Image 3 as same as below right.
However, it was not so good satisfactory. So I've return to the beginner
mind and used Astro Stak. Astro Stak can not composite over 150 pictures
at this size. I made 28 pictures that limit number of Astro Stak for each
group of pictures with this size and then made up one result by 2nd
composite which made up one picture total 173 pictures composite. Adjust
on Photoshop is finish work.
If some software does
the automatic position adjustment, I will strongly appreciated that.
Because the place adjustment takes most long hours. I switch the target
layer visible or invisible to search the exact position. Finally use the
automatic positioning on Astro Stak then fine adjust by the hand. Tired to
do this.
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Jupiter 03/03/11
It's cold even in March. 11th was just before weather been to the
winter style - West Low/East High for Kinki area, Japan. The weather
condition was not good and cloudy comes again and again from North to
South. But transparency was good. Actually, I've try to take Jupiter
at night of 10th. When I was targeting GP mount moves strangely. So, I
checked all cables. Soon find one of the jack of DD-1 connect to the
motor was removing out. And finally it plucked out. I used tester to
find the pin-a-sign to re-solder. But took too many time then could
not back to sky again. Then, this night was revenge. So many clouds
but I was lucky to get this one.
I
figured out what I have to do by experience after made the last
picture. Then use 2.4times digital zoom and been L-mode to get the
sequence photograph about 60 shots or more. Maybe I can make animation
of rotation if I will get good seeing. |
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Jupiter 03/02/24
As you well known, take the picture of the Jupiter is different story
with Saturn's case. It must be less than 2 minutes because rotate
quicker. Use the Nikon E5000 in Low speed sequence shooting to take
pictures as many as possible. In this season Spring at Japan, we will
have yellow sand from China. So very few chance to get good shoot
under the good weather. |
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Jupiter 02/12/15
Shoot after the
Saturn above, Jupiter comes up higher. As you known, Jupiter rotates
so fast then
must be shoot in less than 2 minutes. However, it is impossible to get
the enough cuts like over 100 in 2 minutes. But have to composite to
make it up as good quality picture. This is the dilemma of shooting
Jupiter.
The picture's result dependant on how to up the quality of each
pictures. The idea is get several of high quality picture (not so much
like over 100) and then composite them. When the Jupiter comes up more
early night, I will try again. This one is only mean "at Jupiter's
picture, can not use the same way with Saturn".
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Saturn 02/11/13
After not good result at 10th's picture below left, good seeing comes
again by the similar distribution of atmospheric pressure. At this
time, not only the focus but also I knew I have to have a lot of
pictures enough to composite more than 100. So, finally I could get
150 better pictures to composite.
Actually, it was amazing who can do the composite like over 50
pictures. Who has the time to do that? However, I've done, now.
Moreover, 150 pictures.... I'd like to write for the TV85's honor. If
the digital camera gives real vision what I could see, it might be
much beautiful picture. I think this result is not good enough yet
with TV85.
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Saturn 02/11/10
It was lucky good seeing night as bright South-East Kobe area.
Carefully adjusted focus to the cassini. 3mm Radian with digital zoom
gives so rough resolution. So merged 101 pictures to get smooth
detail. Used unsharp filter gently. Little bit thick cassini but
anyway this is a first success with Nikon E5000. BTW, I could not wait
to Astro Stak 2's release. So this picture has been merged by Stella
Image 3. But could not use the auto alignment because bad memory
management or too slow on that software. Then I made 101 pictures'
alignment on PhotoShop. |
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 Saturn
02/11/05
Wait until midnight to rise the Saturn higher. Clearly saw the cassini
as thin line but could not get it yet, again. Carefully selected good
pictures to composite.
After this night, I decided to buy the Stella Image 3 software to
composite more than 30 pictures with large pixel size. I was waiting
for Astro Stak 2 but not released color accept version yet. So I could
not wait that.
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Saturn 02/10/27
Coincidentally hit the good seeing. I could see the cassini's space
between rings as eye view. Carefully composite with finely fitting
pictures. But not the best, yet. |
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Saturn 02/10/25
The weather report says it will be rain. However, could see the stars
in between the clouds, very clear. So decided to try to shoot. At this
time, I was not used Power Mate and used optical center for better
quality. Size of object got by digital zoom and picture quality made
by composite at Astro Stak.
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Jupiter 02/03/09
Is that seeing good or bad? Because not so bad jet stream effect but sky
is not clear by warm weather or yellow sand comes from China. Finally,
I've got the picture right. One of the report on the magazine suggests
composite the pictures which took with in less than 2 minutes because
Jupiter rotates on axis very fast. This picture made with pictures in 4
minutes. Not so bad.
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 Saturn
02/02/12
The seeing was better but it was so cold. Try to the planets with
Nikon E5000's Clear Image Mode. This function gives 2 pictures
automatic composite when taking picture. Then composite them again on
Astro Stak. Adjusted the color much like CCD pictures. |
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 Jupiter
02/02/12
The Jupiter as same as above. Little bit more detail on the surface
than the pictures below. When taking new shot, feel hard because want
to be take over the last result. One of the digital camera review
report says "useless" to the Clear Image Mode at E5000. However, at
taking the kind of pictures like this, Clear Image Mode is useful. |
Jupiter 01/12/27
Jupiter (same as left/single shot)
The seeing was not so good like 22nd (below). However I'm took this to
show the Nikon Coolpix 5000's new specification "Clear Image Mode". This
single shot mode is usable and when you merge them as source, result will
be more fine like picture above left.
Jupiter 01/12/22
Saturn 01/12/16
These are my first light of Tele Vue 85. Took the picture of Saturn with
Nikon CoolPix 5000. I can show more large picture when new version of
Astro Stak ready to use. |
