Jupiter and Saturn

Had some pretty clear skies Thursday morning so I took advantage of that.

The first couple of pictures are over exposed, but I have found with over exposed pictures of Jupiter the Moons of Jupiter do not hide as easily.
Here is a shot of Jupiter as seen straight out of the camera using my Sigma 150-600C lens.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mfC​x5S

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mfy​DmU

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mfG​gi1

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mfC​vFz

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mfH​FtK

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mfD​Cv6

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mfC​urf

Here is a picture of Jupiter and its Moons from this morning August 06, 2021
Notice the difference from August 5, 2021 just 24 hours earlier.

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19268800
Had some pretty clear skies Thursday morning so I took advantage of that.

The first couple of pictures are over exposed, but I have found with over exposed pictures of Jupiter the Moons of Jupiter do not hide as easily.
Here is a shot of Jupiter as seen straight out of the camera using my Sigma 150-600C lens.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mfC​x5S Jupiter 1 by inspeqtor, on Flickr

Here is the 100% crop of same photo.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mfy​DmU Jupiter 1A by inspeqtor, on Flickr

Another shot now adding my Sigma 2.0 Tele-extender and changing other settings.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mfG​gi1 Jupiter 2 by inspeqtor, on Flickr

100% Crop

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2mfC​vFz Jupiter 2A by inspeqtor, on Flickr

I changed more settings on this one, shown at 100% only. I do think this is the best shot I have ever gotten of Jupiter.

https://flic.kr/p/2mfH​FtKJupiter 3 by inspeqtor, on Flickr

Here are 2 shots of Saturn

https://flic.kr/p/2mfD​Cv6Saturn 1 by inspeqtor, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/2mfC​urfSaturn 1A by inspeqtor, on Flickr

Those are very nice.
It is nice that you got the bands on Jupiter in color. I was surprised I could resolve the bands on my camera, not as good as yours! A little extra reach makes a big difference.

Capn Jack wrote in post #19268833
Those are very nice.
It is nice that you got the bands on Jupiter in color. I was surprised I could resolve the bands on my camera, not as good as yours! A little extra reach makes a big difference.

It is so hard to MANUALLY focus something THAT small in camera. I was VERY happy I did so well that first day. The second day I could not get the focus near as good.

I will not be able to go out tonight. A storm is just now starting to rumble thru here. I was sure surprised to get 2 mornings next to each other with very clear skies both mornings... well 12:30AM morning.

Thank you Capn for your very kind words.

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19268849
It is so hard to MANUALLY focus something THAT small in camera. I was VERY happy I did so well that first day. The second day I could not get the focus near as good.

I will not be able to go out tonight. A storm is just now starting to rumble thru here. I was sure surprised to get 2 mornings next to each other with very clear skies both mornings... well 12:30AM morning.

Thank you Capn for your very kind words.

The atmosphere makes a big difference, too It's hard to focus on something being made fuzzy by the air!
I think you are approaching the limits of your equipment. You can do the lucky imaging as described earlier and it will help. The next step, in my opinion, is a really good mount (I'm assuming you are using a tripod) followed by a telescope. A good mount will help with the focusing because the planet won't bounce all over as you fine-tune focus at 10x in live-view. The telescope will allow more of the frame to be filled, as a larger lens would. However, there are people in this forum who have produced some truly wonderful images so listen to them, rather then me, if they say something different than I have.

Excellent work. Planetary imaging is a different beast to DSO imaging but just as much fun.

Capn Jack wrote in post #19268867
The atmosphere makes a big difference, too It's hard to focus on something being made fuzzy by the air!
I think you are approaching the limits of your equipment.

Capn Jack wrote in post #19268867
You can do the lucky imaging as described earlier and it will help.

You are referring to my description of how I do it? Yes I use a tripod...let me go into more detail. My tripod is an older Manfrotto 3021BPRO which is pretty healthy in size then on top of that I use the Manfrotto 410 Geared Head which I do LOVE using, except when it comes to using my Sigma 150-600C lens with me Sigma 2.0 Tele-extender. out to 1200mm When I twist and turn the focusing ring, the lens bounces all over the place which is what makes it difficult to focus on something as small as Jupiter is inside my Live View screen.

Capn Jack wrote in post #19268867
The next step, in my opinion, is a really good mount (I'm assuming you are using a tripod) followed by a telescope. A good mount will help with the focusing because the planet won't bounce all over as you fine-tune focus at 10x in live-view. The telescope will allow more of the frame to be filled, as a larger lens would. However, there are people in this forum who have produced some truly wonderful images so listen to them, rather then me, if they say something different than I have.

What do you mean by a really good mount? (please answer that question!) I would love to get a telescope, but my house is running out of room for another "larger?" tripod and larger telescope. I am not sure I have the room for it. Sure wish I did...

xa-coupe wrote in post #19268873
Excellent work. Planetary imaging is a different beast to DSO imaging but just as much fun.

Thank you for your compliment! What is DSO?

Deep Space Object .. such as a nebula.

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19268905
You are referring to my description of how I do it? Yes I use a tripod...let me go into more detail. My tripod is an older Manfrotto 3021BPRO which is pretty healthy in size then on top of that I use the Manfrotto 410 Geared Head which I do LOVE using, except when it comes to using my Sigma 150-600C lens with me Sigma 2.0 Tele-extender. out to 1200mm When I twist and turn the focusing ring, the lens bounces all over the place which is what makes it difficult to focus on something as small as Jupiter is inside my Live View screen.

What do you mean by a really good mount? (please answer that question!) I would love to get a telescope, but my house is running out of room for another "larger?" tripod and larger telescope. I am not sure I have the room for it. Sure wish I did...

By a good mount, I mean essentially a stronger, heavier tripod. The tripods we use for general photography are a compromise between mobility and stability. As you have proven, they can do very well for imaging space objects, under good conditions. A little wind, and you'd have a more difficult time focusing (and likely have more turbulence in the air too). A mount isn't very mobile compared to a tripod, but it isn't supposed to move much, or allow a camera or telescope to move, either. Camera movement is my biggest frustration right now! It seems that reasonable telescopes aren't that large, but I'm talking a bit outside my knowledge.

I've seen galaxies with a 200 mm lens, and those would be easier to capture well with a good mount and an inexpensive tracker.

Capn Jack wrote in post #19269018
By a good mount, I mean essentially a stronger, heavier tripod. The tripods we use for general photography are a compromise between mobility and stability. As you have proven, they can do very well for imaging space objects, under good conditions. A little wind, and you'd have a more difficult time focusing (and likely have more turbulence in the air too). A mount isn't very mobile compared to a tripod, but it isn't supposed to move much, or allow a camera or telescope to move, either. Camera movement is my biggest frustration right now! It seems that reasonable telescopes aren't that large, but I'm talking a bit outside my knowledge.

I've seen galaxies with a 200 mm lens, and those would be easier to capture well with a good mount and an inexpensive tracker.

Thank you Capn.

I have owned a an iOptron Sky Tracker since 2016 when I "met" Roy A. Rust here on POTN. He talked me into buying the tracker back then and was a huge help to me in using that and many other things. With a tracker you have to align the tracker to Polaris. My eye sight is not what it was then, and I can no longer see Polaris in the sky

Capn Jack wrote in post #19268867
The atmosphere makes a big difference, too It's hard to focus on something being made fuzzy by the air!
I think you are approaching the limits of your equipment. You can do the lucky imaging as described earlier and it will help. The next step, in my opinion, is a really good mount (I'm assuming you are using a tripod) followed by a telescope. A good mount will help with the focusing because the planet won't bounce all over as you fine-tune focus at 10x in live-view. The telescope will allow more of the frame to be filled, as a larger lens would. However, there are people in this forum who have produced some truly wonderful images so listen to them, rather then me, if they say something different than I have.

You got me to do more thinking about this Capn. You are right in saying I am approaching the limits of my equipment. If I can find a scope that is not huge I think I can store it in one other room in my home. I do have one other larger tripod that I bought again at the urging of my friend Roy Rust. This ONE HERE. I have not used it very much because it is really a bit harder to manhandle but maybe this one would be a "really good mount"? Do telescopes need an entirely different type of tripod??

There is a camera store in the next town over about 20 miles from where I live that I have not been to in several years as they used to deal more in Nikon and much less in Canon but I do not remember them dealing in telescopes at all before. I called them this morning and learned that now yes they do sell telescopes! I am planning on visiting them next week hopefully on Monday to see what models they have, how complicated are they to use, how big are they and what is the cost. If I end up buying anything, I will have YOU to blame!! (or thank??!!!) LOL LOL

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19269162
You got me to do more thinking about this Capn. You are right in saying I am approaching the limits of my equipment. If I can find a scope that is not huge I think I can store it in one other room in my home. I do have one other larger tripod that I bought again at the urging of my friend Roy Rust. This ONE HERE. I have not used it very much because it is really a bit harder to manhandle but maybe this one would be a "really good mount"? Do telescopes need an entirely different type of tripod??

There is a camera store in the next town over about 20 miles from where I live that I have not been to in several years as they used to deal more in Nikon and much less in Canon but I do not remember them dealing in telescopes at all before. I called them this morning and learned that now yes they do sell telescopes! I am planning on visiting them next week hopefully on Monday to see what models they have, how complicated are they to use, how big are they and what is the cost. If I end up buying anything, I will have YOU to blame!! (or thank??!!!) LOL LOL

I'm sorry, Inspeqtor. You've reached beyond my knowledge and experience. That tripod certainly looks stable and would lock things down. As for how telescopes are mounted compared to cameras, again, I've no knowledge. There are a few people who frequent Astronomy and Celestial who do have the answers add I hope one of them chime in. With a telescope, you still need to align it on Polaris if you are doing tracking.
With that tripod and the sky tracker, you should be able to get some decent shots of thinks like the Orion nebula, Andromeda, and other things with your current gear. I saw you have trouble seeing Polaris. It may be that you are in an area with too much light. An alternative is to align to true north with a compass (phone compass might work) and use an inclinometer to match your latitude. Remember, the southern hemisphere doesn't have Polaris! Again, some of the people who frequent here will have better thoughts on this.

Hi Capn,

I knew your knowledge of telescopes was limited, I just was not sure how limited. I thank you for helping me as much as you could.

I am aware to do any tracking, be it with camera or telescope, to be able to do the actual tracking it must be lined up with Polaris; the North Star

My problem with seeing Polaris is not because of where I live with too much light. Back in 2016 (and all my decades before that) when Roy Rust encouraged me to buy the tracker I now own, I was able to see Polaris just fine. My eye sight is going down hill. I have been going to the eye doctor for a while now learning I now have Glaucoma but they think they can control it with eye drops so hopefully it won't get any worse than it is now. Time will tell.

As for using the compass on my phone, I could see me being off possibly 2-3 degrees or more and the same with an inclinometer. So with that in mind I have to find out how in the world the people down under do it!!

As I said I am hoping to go to the camera store next week, perhaps they know of a way to track Polaris without using a tracker. I am sure glad there is a brick and mortar store somewhat near me. After I go to the store then I will post a new thread asking people here for more help if needed.

Thank you Capn!

P.S. Check my Signature

Be aware , buying telescopes can be addictive !!
That tripod could mount a tracker and a scope but I would have a long think about a couple of things before going ahead with that... this is where you enter the 'buy once cry once zone'.

1. What scope will you get? There are quite a few and they vary in size and weight. They also vary in quality and therefore price. If you have a star tracker already and will get a smallish scope, then this may well be enough for you.

2. Will you be likely to get further into this? I know it is impossible to tell right now but if you are getting the taste for it, a proper mount/tripod combo may be more appropriate. This starts to get expensive but your world opens up. You can get 'goto' functionality for instance, which is a game changer unless you're into astronomy already and know where things are in the night sky.