Saturn from 04-08-2006

[Celestron]

Heres an image of Saturn i took back 04-08-2006 . This is EP (eye-piece) Projection using my Celestron 8" SCT using the 300D and a tele-extender and a 12mm Plossi EP . This is a single exposer . Not exactly sure of the timing but i believe it to be about 11-secs at 1600 ISO . PP in PS7 .

[drevilsmom]

Nice work. Looks just like I remember it from when I was using telescopes.

[Celestron]

Thanks Elizabeth !

[Nighthound]

That's a beauty Ron. Must have been a steady night.

[Johnny9s]

Great shot Ron. My next scope purchase will hopefully be an 8" of some variety to compliment my 80mm.

[Celestron]

Thanks Steve & John :D !

[yagimax]

Good detail for a single exposure. Please post a couple more if you can.

[Celestron]

Thanks yagimax ! At the moment this is the only shot i got with a digital camera . I've got boo-coos' film stored away out in the shop so will have to be another time before i get anymore images of Saturn . Right now it's close to the Sun , too close to image :( .

[nprdavid]

Ron, you are amazing. Thanks for the inspiration

[Celestron]

Ron, you are amazing. Thanks for the inspiration

Thanks for the nice comment David ! Keep posting here and let us know if you need anything !

[ron chappel]

I guess a serious astrophotographer would think this shot rather lame but like others here i say its cool .I don't think i've ever seen a saturn shot by an amateur
Makes me want to try it myself!!

[Celestron]

I guess a serious astrophotographer would think this shot rather lame but like others here i say its cool .I don't think i've ever seen a saturn shot by an amateur
Makes me want to try it myself!!

Anyone who is in this hobby is a Amateur Astronomer . The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys :) !

Professional Astronomers are college graduates in the astronomy field and the majority of Professionals hardly ever spend time at a telescope much less do any imaging . Most are Professors at an Institute of some kind or colleges all over the world . Most only study images that come from the Hubble-Space Telescope and the radio-wave frequencies at observatories throught out the world .

I've personally have had email conversations with some from McDonalds Observatory in Ft.Davis , Texas and this is what they tell me . They don't have the true fun we Amateur Astronomers have :) .

Also they will tell you that they depend heavily on Amateur Astronomers to help them take images of objects that maybe some see and others do not .

Did you know that Robert Gendler (http://www.robgendlerastropics.com/) has taken images of the Galaxie M31 that were better than the Hubble Space Telescope takes and NASA has been studying his image of M31 (http://www.robgendlerastropics.com/M31Page.html) cause of the quality and detail ?

Glad you like my image of Saturn :D ! I'm quite pleased myself since it was taken with a Canon DSLR 300D 6.3mp .

One reason i'm proud of it is because how well it did turn out and that i was able to pull detail out of it with my mediocre PP in PS7 .

The second reason i'm proud of it is because most Saturn images that are this good or better have been taken with either a Phillips webcam (http://arnholm.org/astro/saturn/index.htm)or some high-end $$$ CCD camera .

You wont find many images of Saturn this good taken with a 300D and scope (http://www.secondbestblog.com/2007/02/saturn-opposition-canon-300d-vs-labtech.html). I not trying to brag here cause i've taken dozens and dozens of Saturn and Jupiter images and only a couple come out worth posting . It's very hard to get a good focus of a bright planet throught the ViewFinder of a 300D and i don't have any optical help except my eye glasses .

Thanks again everyone for all the comments :D !

[markjpcs]

A great single frame shot Ron!

It does not take a lot of $$$ to get moving in webcam planetary photography.

Then you can stack hundred and even thousands of frames and get some pretty "Hubble-Like" images.

[Celestron]

A great single frame shot Ron!

It does not take a lot of $$$ to get moving in webcam planetary photography.

Then you can stack hundred and even thousands of frames and get some pretty "Hubble-Like" images.


Thanks Mark ! The webcam isn't what i was talking about as far as the $$$ . I was talking about the High-End CCD Cameras (http://www.astronomics.com/main/category.asp/catalog_name/Astronomics/category_name/UM5PH8LKHS8T9K186JXPPSP842/Page/1) that are made strictly for astrophotography . They range from $1k-sometimes over $10k . Depending your taste . The Phillips ToUcam 740k (http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=139) was the best webcam ever made for planetary images ! The 740k ToUcam (http://www.stargazing.net/David/toucam/) is what i was talking about that produce near Hubble-Space Telescope images . Sadly now tho the 740k is discontinued but replaced by the 840k ToUcam II (http://www.saratogaskies.com/category.pl?c=equip&sub='Camera%20Model4') . However i beleive now the 840 has been replaced but i don't have time to do more research at the moment . I bought the Celestron Next-Imager but have never used it yet :( . Someday maybe .

[markjpcs]

Took these a week ago using an "Imaging Source" DFK21AU04 Industrial webcam that I purchased used for $250.00

This one shows Europa and its shadow transit. It's my Avatar! lol
http://www.pcsincnet.com/JupiterMac2.jpg

The moons on the left are Ganymede and Io
http://www.pcsincnet.com/Juipter092808-TAKColor1.jpg

[Celestron]

Very nice Mark !

[markjpcs]

Thanks!

Those were first and second light ever with any webcam.

I hope to get much better seeing in Chiefland in a couple of weeks.