Inspired by Rod Mollise (from the sct-user group), I tried my hand at my first
color
RGB images last night from my sidewalk here in the heart of the SF Bay Area. The
results are at:

Jupiter:    http://members.home.com/jsterngold/jupiter3.jpg

0.05 secs each RGB taken between 10:23p and 10:28p. Combined in Maxim, "High
Pass More"
filter applied. I also had a hot pixel in the red image that I had to deal with.

Saturn:     http://members.home.com/jsterngold/saturn3.jpg

0.40 secs each RGB taken between 10:57p and 11:00p. Combined in Maxim, "High
Pass More"
filter applied.

Celestron C9.25 SCT, Losmandy GM8 mount, eyepiece projection with Brandon 16mm
for
approx. 10,000mm focal length. Starlight Xpress MX916 camera, Homeyer CFW with
SBIG
IR-blocking filters.

I didn't look visually through the scope so I don't know firsthand how good was
the
seeing, but the results seem to indicate that it was quite good. I battled dew
all
night.

Cheers,
Paul Sterngold



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/

As of 9:42am pacific time, I get "server not found" for these link.

Ron Wodaski
The New Astronomy Book Site - http://www.newastro.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Sterngold [mailto:psterngold@...]
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 9:31 AM
To: ccd-newastro@egroups.com
Subject: [ccd-newastro] First planetary RGBs


Inspired by Rod Mollise (from the sct-user group), I tried my hand at my
first color
RGB images last night from my sidewalk here in the heart of the SF Bay Area.
The
results are at:

Jupiter:    http://members.home.com/jsterngold/jupiter3.jpg

0.05 secs each RGB taken between 10:23p and 10:28p. Combined in Maxim, "High
Pass More"
filter applied. I also had a hot pixel in the red image that I had to deal
with.

Saturn:     http://members.home.com/jsterngold/saturn3.jpg

0.40 secs each RGB taken between 10:57p and 11:00p. Combined in Maxim, "High
Pass More"
filter applied.

Celestron C9.25 SCT, Losmandy GM8 mount, eyepiece projection with Brandon
16mm for
approx. 10,000mm focal length. Starlight Xpress MX916 camera, Homeyer CFW
with SBIG
IR-blocking filters.

I didn't look visually through the scope so I don't know firsthand how good
was the
seeing, but the results seem to indicate that it was quite good. I battled
dew all
night.

Cheers,
Paul Sterngold



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/


To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ccd-newastro-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Oops, those URLs are wrong, should be:

Jupiter:   http://members.home.com/jsterngold/ccd/jupiter3.jpg

Saturn:    http://members.home.com/jsterngold/ccd/saturn3.jpg

Sorry for the error.

-- Paul

--- Paul Sterngold <psterngold@...> wrote:
> Inspired by Rod Mollise (from the sct-user group), I tried my hand at my first
color
> RGB images last night from my sidewalk here in the heart of the SF Bay Area.
The
> results are at:
>
> Jupiter:    http://members.home.com/jsterngold/jupiter3.jpg
>
> 0.05 secs each RGB taken between 10:23p and 10:28p. Combined in Maxim, "High
Pass
> More"
> filter applied. I also had a hot pixel in the red image that I had to deal
with.
>
> Saturn:     http://members.home.com/jsterngold/saturn3.jpg
>
> 0.40 secs each RGB taken between 10:57p and 11:00p. Combined in Maxim, "High
Pass
> More"
> filter applied.
>
> Celestron C9.25 SCT, Losmandy GM8 mount, eyepiece projection with Brandon 16mm
for
> approx. 10,000mm focal length. Starlight Xpress MX916 camera, Homeyer CFW with
SBIG
> IR-blocking filters.
>
> I didn't look visually through the scope so I don't know firsthand how good
was the
> seeing, but the results seem to indicate that it was quite good. I battled dew
all
> night.
>
> Cheers,
> Paul Sterngold
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
> http://shopping.yahoo.com/
>


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/

Hi Paul,

very crisp and well-focused pictures. Colors are wonderful !

I hope i'll do too my first color planetary within ten days .
I do planetary with two 2x barlows and as usual with this stuff,
focusing are my biggest issue.

Alain
http://adrozd.free.fr

Thank you, Alain. I have an older C9.25 with the built-in focus micrometer,
which makes
it easier to focus. Still, it is challenging, especially with planets, where you
can't
tell if a change in sharpness is the result of a change in the focus, or due to
the
seeing.

Paul Sterngold

--- Alain Drozd <a.drozd@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Paul,
>
> very crisp and well-focused pictures. Colors are wonderful !
>
> I hope i'll do too my first color planetary within ten days .
> I do planetary with two 2x barlows and as usual with this stuff,
> focusing are my biggest issue.
>
> Alain
> http://adrozd.free.fr
>
>
>


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/

Oops, those URLs are wrong, should be:

Jupiter:   http://members.home.com/jsterngold/ccd/jupiter3.jpg

Saturn:    http://members.home.com/jsterngold/ccd/saturn3.jpg

Sorry for the error.

-- Paul

--- Paul Sterngold <psterngold@...> wrote:
> Inspired by Rod Mollise (from the sct-user group), I tried my hand at my first color
> RGB images last night from my sidewalk here in the heart of the SF Bay Area. The
> results are at:
>
> Jupiter:    http://members.home.com/jsterngold/jupiter3.jpg
>
> 0.05 secs each RGB taken between 10:23p and 10:28p. Combined in Maxim, "High Pass
> More"
> filter applied. I also had a hot pixel in the red image that I had to deal with.
>
> Saturn:     http://members.home.com/jsterngold/saturn3.jpg
>
> 0.40 secs each RGB taken between 10:57p and 11:00p. Combined in Maxim, "High Pass
> More"
> filter applied.
>
> Celestron C9.25 SCT, Losmandy GM8 mount, eyepiece projection with Brandon 16mm for
> approx. 10,000mm focal length. Starlight Xpress MX916 camera, Homeyer CFW with SBIG
> IR-blocking filters.
>
> I didn't look visually through the scope so I don't know firsthand how good was the
> seeing, but the results seem to indicate that it was quite good. I battled dew all
> night.
>
> Cheers,
> Paul Sterngold
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
> http://shopping.yahoo.com/
>


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/

eGroups Sponsor

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ccd-newastro-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Thank you, I think. "Stonking" sounds like a good thing, but one never knows.
<g>

Paul

--- Ivor Barker <ibarker@...> wrote:
> Stonking great images Paul !
>
> Lots of great detail.
>
> --Ivor
> At 09:52 AM 12/1/2000 -0800, you wrote:
> >Oops, those URLs are wrong, should be:
> >
> >Jupiter:
>
<http://members.home.com/jsterngold/ccd/jupiter3.jpg>http://members.home.com/jst\
erngold/ccd/jupiter3.jpg
> >
> >Saturn:
>
<http://members.home.com/jsterngold/ccd/saturn3.jpg>http://members.home.com/jste\
rngold/ccd/saturn3.jpg
> >
> >Sorry for the error.
> >
> >-- Paul
> >
> >--- Paul Sterngold <psterngold@...> wrote:
> >> Inspired by Rod Mollise (from the sct-user group), I tried my hand at my
first
> color
> >> RGB images last night from my sidewalk here in the heart of the SF Bay
Area. The
> >> results are at:
> >>
> >> Jupiter:
>
<http://members.home.com/jsterngold/jupiter3.jpg>http://members.home.com/jsterng\
old/jupiter3.jpg
> >>
> >> 0.05 secs each RGB taken between 10:23p and 10:28p. Combined in Maxim,
"High Pass
> >> More"
> >> filter applied. I also had a hot pixel in the red image that I had to deal
with.
> >>
> >> Saturn:
>
<http://members.home.com/jsterngold/saturn3.jpg>http://members.home.com/jsterngo\
ld/saturn3.jpg
> >>
> >> 0.40 secs each RGB taken between 10:57p and 11:00p. Combined in Maxim,
"High Pass
> >> More"
> >> filter applied.
> >>
> >> Celestron C9.25 SCT, Losmandy GM8 mount, eyepiece projection with Brandon
16mm for
> >> approx. 10,000mm focal length. Starlight Xpress MX916 camera, Homeyer CFW
with
> SBIG
> >> IR-blocking filters.
> >>
> >> I didn't look visually through the scope so I don't know firsthand how good
was
> the
> >> seeing, but the results seem to indicate that it was quite good. I battled
dew all
> >> night.
> >>
> >> Cheers,
> >> Paul Sterngold
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> __________________________________________________
> >> Do You Yahoo!?
> >> Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
> >> <http://shopping.yahoo.com/>http://shopping.yahoo.com/
> >>
> >
> >
> >__________________________________________________
> >Do You Yahoo!?
> >Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
> ><http://shopping.yahoo.com/>http://shopping.yahoo.com/
> >
> >eGroups
>
Sponsor<http://rd.yahoo.com/M=102308.1038796.2731130.908943/D=egroupmail/S=17000\
82829:N/A=466330/?http://www.yahoo.com>
>
> >
> >To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> >ccd-newastro-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> >
>
> --
>  Ivor Barker
> 10" LX 200
> ST-237
> 37 08 24 N
> 121 36 25 W
> http://www.employees.org/~ibarker/Astronomy
> Please take a look at my Messier Project (updated daily - almost)
> http://www.employees.org/~ibarker/Astronomy/Messier.html
>


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/

I still can't access the web site. I can't even get to //members.home.com,
so it's not the URL that is my trouble. I'll look at these whenever I can
actually get to them. <g>

Ron Wodaski
The New Astronomy Book Site - http://www.newastro.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Sterngold [mailto:psterngold@...]
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 11:06 AM
To: ccd-newastro@egroups.com
Subject: Re: [ccd-newastro] URL CORRECTION First planetary RGBs


Thank you, I think. "Stonking" sounds like a good thing, but one never
knows. <g>

Paul

--- Ivor Barker <ibarker@...> wrote:
> Stonking great images Paul !
>
> Lots of great detail.
>
> --Ivor
> At 09:52 AM 12/1/2000 -0800, you wrote:
> >Oops, those URLs are wrong, should be:
> >
> >Jupiter:
>
<http://members.home.com/jsterngold/ccd/jupiter3.jpg>http://members.home.com
/jsterngold/ccd/jupiter3.jpg
> >
> >Saturn:
>
<http://members.home.com/jsterngold/ccd/saturn3.jpg>http://members.home.com/
jsterngold/ccd/saturn3.jpg
> >
> >Sorry for the error.
> >
> >-- Paul
> >
> >--- Paul Sterngold <psterngold@...> wrote:
> >> Inspired by Rod Mollise (from the sct-user group), I tried my hand at
my first
> color
> >> RGB images last night from my sidewalk here in the heart of the SF Bay
Area. The
> >> results are at:
> >>
> >> Jupiter:
>
<http://members.home.com/jsterngold/jupiter3.jpg>http://members.home.com/jst
erngold/jupiter3.jpg
> >>
> >> 0.05 secs each RGB taken between 10:23p and 10:28p. Combined in Maxim,
"High Pass
> >> More"
> >> filter applied. I also had a hot pixel in the red image that I had to
deal with.
> >>
> >> Saturn:
>
<http://members.home.com/jsterngold/saturn3.jpg>http://members.home.com/jste
rngold/saturn3.jpg
> >>
> >> 0.40 secs each RGB taken between 10:57p and 11:00p. Combined in Maxim,
"High Pass
> >> More"
> >> filter applied.
> >>
> >> Celestron C9.25 SCT, Losmandy GM8 mount, eyepiece projection with
Brandon 16mm for
> >> approx. 10,000mm focal length. Starlight Xpress MX916 camera, Homeyer
CFW with
> SBIG
> >> IR-blocking filters.
> >>
> >> I didn't look visually through the scope so I don't know firsthand how
good was
> the
> >> seeing, but the results seem to indicate that it was quite good. I
battled dew all
> >> night.
> >>
> >> Cheers,
> >> Paul Sterngold
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> __________________________________________________
> >> Do You Yahoo!?
> >> Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
> >> <http://shopping.yahoo.com/>http://shopping.yahoo.com/
> >>
> >
> >
> >__________________________________________________
> >Do You Yahoo!?
> >Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
> ><http://shopping.yahoo.com/>http://shopping.yahoo.com/
> >
> >eGroups
>
Sponsor<http://rd.yahoo.com/M=102308.1038796.2731130.908943/D=egroupmail/S=1
700082829:N/A=466330/?http://www.yahoo.com>
>
> >
> >To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> >ccd-newastro-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> >
>
> --
>  Ivor Barker
> 10" LX 200
> ST-237
> 37 08 24 N
> 121 36 25 W
> http://www.employees.org/~ibarker/Astronomy
> Please take a look at my Messier Project (updated daily - almost)
> http://www.employees.org/~ibarker/Astronomy/Messier.html
>


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/


To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ccd-newastro-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Actually, my Wodaski filter is still turned on. <g> I hope you're able to get to
it
later.

Paul Sterngold

--- Ron Wodaski <ronw@...> wrote:
> I still can't access the web site. I can't even get to //members.home.com,
> so it's not the URL that is my trouble. I'll look at these whenever I can
> actually get to them. <g>
>
> Ron Wodaski
> The New Astronomy Book Site - http://www.newastro.com
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Sterngold [mailto:psterngold@...]
> Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 11:06 AM
> To: ccd-newastro@egroups.com
> Subject: Re: [ccd-newastro] URL CORRECTION First planetary RGBs
>
>
> Thank you, I think. "Stonking" sounds like a good thing, but one never
> knows. <g>
>
> Paul
>
> --- Ivor Barker <ibarker@...> wrote:
> > Stonking great images Paul !
> >
> > Lots of great detail.
> >
> > --Ivor
> > At 09:52 AM 12/1/2000 -0800, you wrote:
> > >Oops, those URLs are wrong, should be:
> > >
> > >Jupiter:
> >
> <http://members.home.com/jsterngold/ccd/jupiter3.jpg>http://members.home.com
> /jsterngold/ccd/jupiter3.jpg
> > >
> > >Saturn:
> >
> <http://members.home.com/jsterngold/ccd/saturn3.jpg>http://members.home.com/
> jsterngold/ccd/saturn3.jpg
> > >
> > >Sorry for the error.
> > >
> > >-- Paul
> > >
> > >--- Paul Sterngold <psterngold@...> wrote:
> > >> Inspired by Rod Mollise (from the sct-user group), I tried my hand at
> my first
> > color
> > >> RGB images last night from my sidewalk here in the heart of the SF Bay
> Area. The
> > >> results are at:
> > >>
> > >> Jupiter:
> >
> <http://members.home.com/jsterngold/jupiter3.jpg>http://members.home.com/jst
> erngold/jupiter3.jpg
> > >>
> > >> 0.05 secs each RGB taken between 10:23p and 10:28p. Combined in Maxim,
> "High Pass
> > >> More"
> > >> filter applied. I also had a hot pixel in the red image that I had to
> deal with.
> > >>
> > >> Saturn:
> >
> <http://members.home.com/jsterngold/saturn3.jpg>http://members.home.com/jste
> rngold/saturn3.jpg
> > >>
> > >> 0.40 secs each RGB taken between 10:57p and 11:00p. Combined in Maxim,
> "High Pass
> > >> More"
> > >> filter applied.
> > >>
> > >> Celestron C9.25 SCT, Losmandy GM8 mount, eyepiece projection with
> Brandon 16mm for
> > >> approx. 10,000mm focal length. Starlight Xpress MX916 camera, Homeyer
> CFW with
> > SBIG
> > >> IR-blocking filters.
> > >>
> > >> I didn't look visually through the scope so I don't know firsthand how
> good was
> > the
> > >> seeing, but the results seem to indicate that it was quite good. I
> battled dew all
> > >> night.
> > >>
> > >> Cheers,
> > >> Paul Sterngold
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> __________________________________________________
> > >> Do You Yahoo!?
> > >> Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
> > >> <http://shopping.yahoo.com/>http://shopping.yahoo.com/
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > >__________________________________________________
> > >Do You Yahoo!?
> > >Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
> > ><http://shopping.yahoo.com/>http://shopping.yahoo.com/
> > >
> > >eGroups
> >
> Sponsor<http://rd.yahoo.com/M=102308.1038796.2731130.908943/D=egroupmail/S=1
> 700082829:N/A=466330/?http://www.yahoo.com>
> >
> > >
> > >To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > >ccd-newastro-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> > >
> >
> > --
> >  Ivor Barker
> > 10" LX 200
> > ST-237
> > 37 08 24 N
> > 121 36 25 W
> > http://www.employees.org/~ibarker/Astronomy
> > Please take a look at my Messier Project (updated daily - almost)
> > http://www.employees.org/~ibarker/Astronomy/Messier.html
> >
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
> http://shopping.yahoo.com/
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> ccd-newastro-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>
>
>
>


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/

Thank you, I think. "Stonking" sounds like a good thing, but one never knows. <g>

Paul

--- Ivor Barker <ibarker@...> wrote:
> Stonking great images Paul !
>
> Lots of great detail.
>
> --Ivor
> At 09:52 AM 12/1/2000 -0800, you wrote:
> >Oops, those URLs are wrong, should be:
> >
> >Jupiter: 
>
<http://members.home.com/jsterngold/ccd/jupiter3.jpg>http://members.home.com/jsterngold/ccd/jupiter3.jpg
> >
> >Saturn:  
>
<http://members.home.com/jsterngold/ccd/saturn3.jpg>http://members.home.com/jsterngold/ccd/saturn3.jpg
> >
> >Sorry for the error.
> >
> >-- Paul
> >
> >--- Paul Sterngold <psterngold@...> wrote:
> >> Inspired by Rod Mollise (from the sct-user group), I tried my hand at my first
> color
> >> RGB images last night from my sidewalk here in the heart of the SF Bay Area. The
> >> results are at:
> >>
> >> Jupiter:  
>
<http://members.home.com/jsterngold/jupiter3.jpg>http://members.home.com/jsterngold/jupiter3.jpg
> >>
> >> 0.05 secs each RGB taken between 10:23p and 10:28p. Combined in Maxim, "High Pass
> >> More"
> >> filter applied. I also had a hot pixel in the red image that I had to deal with.
> >>
> >> Saturn:   
>
<http://members.home.com/jsterngold/saturn3.jpg>http://members.home.com/jsterngold/saturn3.jpg
> >>
> >> 0.40 secs each RGB taken between 10:57p and 11:00p. Combined in Maxim, "High Pass
> >> More"
> >> filter applied.
> >>
> >> Celestron C9.25 SCT, Losmandy GM8 mount, eyepiece projection with Brandon 16mm for
> >> approx. 10,000mm focal length. Starlight Xpress MX916 camera, Homeyer CFW with
> SBIG
> >> IR-blocking filters.
> >>
> >> I didn't look visually through the scope so I don't know firsthand how good was
> the
> >> seeing, but the results seem to indicate that it was quite good. I battled dew all
> >> night.
> >>
> >> Cheers,
> >> Paul Sterngold
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> __________________________________________________
> >> Do You Yahoo!?
> >> Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
> >> <http://shopping.yahoo.com/>http://shopping.yahoo.com/
> >>
> >
> >
> >__________________________________________________
> >Do You Yahoo!?
> >Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
> ><http://shopping.yahoo.com/>http://shopping.yahoo.com/
> >
> >eGroups
>
Sponsor<http://rd.yahoo.com/M=102308.1038796.2731130.908943/D=egroupmail/S=1700082829:N/A=466330/?http://www.yahoo.com>
>
> >
> >To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> >ccd-newastro-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> >
>
> --
>  Ivor Barker
> 10" LX 200
> ST-237
> 37 08 24 N
> 121 36 25 W
> http://www.employees.org/~ibarker/Astronomy
> Please take a look at my Messier Project (updated daily - almost)
> http://www.employees.org/~ibarker/Astronomy/Messier.html
>


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/

eGroups Sponsor

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ccd-newastro-unsubscribe@egroups.com

I finally got in. They are extremely sharp shots. I can see lots of detail
for the image scale; makes me think you could have gone even further with
the magnification with that setup and seeing. I've gone as high as f/33 with
the C9.25" scope on these two planets when the seeing permitted (which
wasn't that often).

There is a bit of a greenish cast, making me think that you have a bit of
light pollution perhaps? You can clean this up either by reducing the green
component as you color combine, or by selectively reducing the green level
in your image editor after the combine.

In Maxim, that would mean using something like .85, .9. or .95 for the green
layer instead of 1.0. You can also use Maxim's Color Balance feature: click
on the white middle band to have Maxim calculate the color balance for you
automatically. There's a checkbox for this in the Color Balance dialog.
Remember to click in the main image, not the preview window!

Ron Wodaski
The New Astronomy Book Site - http://www.newastro.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Sterngold [mailto:psterngold@...]
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 12:05 PM
To: ccd-newastro@egroups.com
Subject: RE: [ccd-newastro] URL CORRECTION First planetary RGBs


Actually, my Wodaski filter is still turned on. <g> I hope you're able to
get to it
later.

Paul Sterngold

Thanks, Ron. There's currently a gap in my projection-suitable eyepieces, and my
projection adapter has fixed spacing. The ep's jump from the 16mm Brandon I used
for
this image, to a 7mm Pentax Ortho. However, I have 12mm and 8mm Brandons on
order, and
they should provide just the right amount of fl to obtain larger images. For
this first
effort, I was literally too timid to go any larger. But the results have
encouraged me,
as have you. Thanks!

We've been unusually lucky this week with the seeing in my neighborhood. A good
friend,
who lives about six miles away, has had crappy seeing all week.

Cheers,
Paul Sterngold

--- Ron Wodaski <ronw@...> wrote:
> I finally got in. They are extremely sharp shots. I can see lots of detail
> for the image scale; makes me think you could have gone even further with
> the magnification with that setup and seeing. I've gone as high as f/33 with
> the C9.25" scope on these two planets when the seeing permitted (which
> wasn't that often).
>
> There is a bit of a greenish cast, making me think that you have a bit of
> light pollution perhaps? You can clean this up either by reducing the green
> component as you color combine, or by selectively reducing the green level
> in your image editor after the combine.
>
> In Maxim, that would mean using something like .85, .9. or .95 for the green
> layer instead of 1.0. You can also use Maxim's Color Balance feature: click
> on the white middle band to have Maxim calculate the color balance for you
> automatically. There's a checkbox for this in the Color Balance dialog.
> Remember to click in the main image, not the preview window!
>
> Ron Wodaski
> The New Astronomy Book Site - http://www.newastro.com
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Sterngold [mailto:psterngold@...]
> Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 12:05 PM
> To: ccd-newastro@egroups.com
> Subject: RE: [ccd-newastro] URL CORRECTION First planetary RGBs
>
>
> Actually, my Wodaski filter is still turned on. <g> I hope you're able to
> get to it
> later.
>
> Paul Sterngold
>
>
>


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/

Thinking about getting an ST-237 to start imaging. I'll probably
manually guide it for a while for short exposures.

Can I use it to autoguide when shooting film? Seems to me as long as
I have a CCD, guiding is just a matter of software. If so, what
software should I use?

thanks,

-n

Yes, you can use the ST-237 to guide. I bought mine for two main purposes:
planetary imaging with my Dobsonian, and guiding so I can do film work. The
control box for the ST-237 has a guide port that connects to the guide input
of most mounts, that's all their is to it.

The camera comes with CCDOPS software from SBIG, which handles camera
control and some image processing tasks. You can also control the camera
with other packages such as Maxim DL, which has more advanced image
processing features.

What scope do you want to image with? The pixels in the ST-237 are small,
high-resolution pixels, and the camera is best suited to scope with a fairly
wide-angle view. Ideal focal lengths are from 400-800mm, but you can use it
at shorter and longer focal lengths if you want to.

Ron Wodaski
The New Astronomy Book Site - http://www.newastro.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Nikhil Joshi [mailto:nikjo@...]
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 4:47 PM
To: ccd-newastro@egroups.com
Subject: [ccd-newastro] Can any CCD guide?


Thinking about getting an ST-237 to start imaging. I'll probably
manually guide it for a while for short exposures.

Can I use it to autoguide when shooting film? Seems to me as long as
I have a CCD, guiding is just a matter of software. If so, what
software should I use?

thanks,

-n



To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ccd-newastro-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Ron Wodaski
The New Astronomy Book Site - http://www.newastro.com

-----Original Message-----
From: mjchapa@... [mailto:mjchapa@...]
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2000 7:22 PM
To: ccd-newastro@egroups.com
Subject: [ccd-newastro] Re: Rosette median combine

Hey gang,

Awesome images1

I have a question about median combining.  My own personal experience is I
get a much better image even with f2 FASTAR imaging by summing, rather than
median combining.  This enables more DDP or other processing.  I understand
WHY median combining is desirable to get rid of pixel issues, but WHEN should
it be applied?  The full well of my ST-237 isn't so deep with 4000 being the
max high res dynamic range so with the quick FASTAR I often can only take a
1-2min luminance exposures to avoid saturating the bright stars.  The ABG in
the chip prevents blooming 99% of the time if I go longer, but then galaxy
cores are "burned" in and unable to be processed.  Thanks in advance for any
help on this matter.

Mike Chapa

Hey Guys,  I'm desperate.  Anyone have any experience with a Sirius
Instruments Cwip CCD?  Bueno, Dan

Good Morning Bill:

A beautiful image.  Very nicely done.

Clear skies,
Kevin Dixon
ksbtk@...

> > --- Bill Smith <bsmith1@j...> wrote:
> > > Hi Folks,
> > >
> > > I just uploaded my first attempt at imaging the Rosette Nebula.
> > >
> > > http://www.egroups.com/files/ccd-newastro/CCD+Gallery/Rosette4.jpg
> > >
> > > I used the LRGB technique, each layer being a median combine of
> three
> > > 10 minute unguided exposures. I registered and combined the
> images
> > > with MaximDL, and refined the final color composite with Picture
> > > Window Pro 2.5. I used an St-8E/CFW-8 through a Takahashi FSQ-
> 106N on
> > > an EM-200 mount. The images were taken on 11/25/00 at Henry Coe
> State
> > > Park, CA. Most of the "oldtimers" estimated seeing conditions to
> be
> > > somewhere between mag 6 and 7.

Good morning Paul:

Very nice images!

Clear skies,
Kevin
ksbtk@...

> > > >Oops, those URLs are wrong, should be:
> > > >
> > > >Jupiter:
> > >
> >
<http://members.home.com/jsterngold/ccd/jupiter3.jpg>http://members.home.com
> > /jsterngold/ccd/jupiter3.jpg
> > > >
> > > >Saturn:
> > >
> >
<http://members.home.com/jsterngold/ccd/saturn3.jpg>http://members.home.com/
> > jsterngold/ccd/saturn3.jpg
> > > >

Good Morning Ron:

Can you devise a list of December targets?  With the upcoming
holidays and an extended vacation, I hope to do some serious imaging.

I did image most of the November targets.  Waiting for the image
processing chapter of the book to begin processing the images so that
I can post them.

Clear skies,
Kevin
ksbtk@...

I have the list, but I'm still annotating it. Here it is in short form for
anyone else who might be ready to roll. <g>

Eskimo Nebula (NGC2392) - also called the Clown Face Nebula.

M44 (Beehive Cluster) -

Christmas Tree Cluster/Cone Nebula (NGC2264) -

Hubble's Variable Nebula (NGC2251) -

Pisces-Perseus Supercluster of Galaxies -

M42-43 -

Flame Nebula -

Flaming Star Nebula -

M35/36/37/38 - Open clusters, all.

M81 -

M82 -

M97 -

M108 -

California Nebula (NGC() - 1499

IC-410 -

NGC2174 -

Ron Wodaski
The New Astronomy Book Site - http://www.newastro.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Dixon [mailto:ksbtk@...]
Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2000 3:11 AM
To: ccd-newastro@egroups.com
Subject: [ccd-newastro] December Targets


Good Morning Ron:

Can you devise a list of December targets?  With the upcoming
holidays and an extended vacation, I hope to do some serious imaging.

I did image most of the November targets.  Waiting for the image
processing chapter of the book to begin processing the images so that
I can post them.

Clear skies,
Kevin
ksbtk@...




To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ccd-newastro-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Dan,
  I have owned and used both the CWIP12a and the CWIPs and would not
recommend you pay more than $200us as you will not have the chip
sensitivity or user friendly software the STARLIGHT XPRESS or SBIG
cameras offer.

Dan Wolk wrote:
>
> Hey Guys,  I'm desperate.  Anyone have any experience with a Sirius
> Instruments Cwip CCD?  Bueno, Dan
>

Clear skies,
  John N. Gretchen III
  Port O'Connor TX
  http://www.tisd.net/~jng3/stars/
"The facts are always less than what really happened."
      Nadine Gordimer, Nobel Prize-winning author

Good Morning folks:

At the conclusion of my imaging session this morning, I used the litebox
from Fred Herman for the first time to create a series of flat field frames
with the ST-237 in fastar mode on my C-8 Deluxe.

Following Ron's sage advice, I created 5 images each using the RGB filters
of the ST-237 with the goal of achieving a value between 1300 and 2000.  As
it turned out, I achieved a value of roughly 1600 with each filter.  It was
interesting to note the difference in exposure length to achieve this value
for each filter.  Following are the specifics of a single flat field for
each filter:

red @ 0.13 seconds; green @ 0.80 seconds; blue @ 2.0 seconds

I am going to upload one of each of the flatfields to the feedback files
folder for your examination.  I welcome any and all comments regarding the
quality of the flats.

And, of course, now a series of questions.

1. Is it best to achieve approximately the same value for each flat taken
through a colored filter?  As I mentioned above, I varied the exposure
length to achieve a value of approximately 1600 for the RGB images.

2. I took 5 each of the RGB flats.  Ron, your chapter on flat fields
mentions median combining each of the flats taken for a particular color
filter, prior to image calibaration.  Do you then median combine the
already-combined RGB flats or do you subrtract them from the images
individually?

3. Is it necessary, or desirable, to do a dark field subtraction from the
flat fields prior to the median combine?

I look forward to your input.  Thank you.

Clear skies,
Kevin Dixon
ksbtk@...

I am having difficulty uploading the files to the egroups site.  Will try
again later today.

Clear skies,
Kevin
ksbtk@...

----- Original Message -----
From: "KSBTK@HOME" <ksbtk@...>
To: <ccd-newastro@egroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2000 9:48 AM
Subject: [ccd-newastro] Flat fields with the ST-237


> Good Morning folks:
>
> At the conclusion of my imaging session this morning, I used the litebox
> from Fred Herman for the first time to create a series of flat field
frames
> with the ST-237 in fastar mode on my C-8 Deluxe.
>
> Following Ron's sage advice, I created 5 images each using the RGB filters
> of the ST-237 with the goal of achieving a value between 1300 and 2000.
As
> it turned out, I achieved a value of roughly 1600 with each filter.  It
was
> interesting to note the difference in exposure length to achieve this
value
> for each filter.  Following are the specifics of a single flat field for
> each filter:
>
> red @ 0.13 seconds; green @ 0.80 seconds; blue @ 2.0 seconds
>
> I am going to upload one of each of the flatfields to the feedback files
> folder for your examination.  I welcome any and all comments regarding the
> quality of the flats.
>
> And, of course, now a series of questions.
>
> 1. Is it best to achieve approximately the same value for each flat taken
> through a colored filter?  As I mentioned above, I varied the exposure
> length to achieve a value of approximately 1600 for the RGB images.
>
> 2. I took 5 each of the RGB flats.  Ron, your chapter on flat fields
> mentions median combining each of the flats taken for a particular color
> filter, prior to image calibaration.  Do you then median combine the
> already-combined RGB flats or do you subrtract them from the images
> individually?
>
> 3. Is it necessary, or desirable, to do a dark field subtraction from the
> flat fields prior to the median combine?
>
> I look forward to your input.  Thank you.
>
> Clear skies,
> Kevin Dixon
> ksbtk@...
>
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> ccd-newastro-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>
>

Hey John,  I bought the Cwip12 about a year ago for about 300.  I set it up
on my Meade 10" LX 50 with an old laptop.  The enter key on the laptop
didn't even work but the cwip did.  Now I have a new laptop and I loaded the
disk and I get a connection in camera mode but as soon as I click idle, the
cursor disappears.  Also, when I tried it out as an autoguider,  I can't get
the laptop and camera to connect.  I have a new STV and I would like to use
steve as the imager and cwip to guide.  I'm not sure but I believe the
software for cwip was probably user friendly for it's time.  Can you help?
Bueno Dan Wolk
----- Original Message -----
From: John Gretchen <jng3@...>
To: <ccd-newastro@egroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2000 11:35 AM
Subject: Re: [ccd-newastro] Sirius Instruments


> Dan,
>  I have owned and used both the CWIP12a and the CWIPs and would not
> recommend you pay more than $200us as you will not have the chip
> sensitivity or user friendly software the STARLIGHT XPRESS or SBIG
> cameras offer.
>
> Dan Wolk wrote:
> >
> > Hey Guys,  I'm desperate.  Anyone have any experience with a Sirius
> > Instruments Cwip CCD?  Bueno, Dan
> >
>
> Clear skies,
>  John N. Gretchen III
>  Port O'Connor TX
>  http://www.tisd.net/~jng3/stars/
> "The facts are always less than what really happened."
>      Nadine Gordimer, Nobel Prize-winning author
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> ccd-newastro-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>

Hi Dan,
  In order to autoguide you must have the CWIP12"a". I only tried to
guide once with the DobDriverII and it did work. The DobDriverII and
LX50 and LX200 have the same autoguider  inputs so it should work for
you. Assuming you have the "a" version of the CWIP12.

Dan Wolk wrote:
>
> Hey John,  I bought the Cwip12 about a year ago for about 300.  I set it up
> on my Meade 10" LX 50 with an old laptop.  The enter key on the laptop
> didn't even work but the cwip did.  Now I have a new laptop and I loaded the
> disk and I get a connection in camera mode but as soon as I click idle, the
> cursor disappears.  Also, when I tried it out as an autoguider,  I can't get
> the laptop and camera to connect.  I have a new STV and I would like to use
> steve as the imager and cwip to guide.  I'm not sure but I believe the
> software for cwip was probably user friendly for it's time.  Can you help?
> Bueno Dan Wolk
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: John Gretchen <jng3@...>
> To: <ccd-newastro@egroups.com>
> Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2000 11:35 AM
> Subject: Re: [ccd-newastro] Sirius Instruments
>
> > Dan,
> >  I have owned and used both the CWIP12a and the CWIPs and would not
> > recommend you pay more than $200us as you will not have the chip
> > sensitivity or user friendly software the STARLIGHT XPRESS or SBIG
> > cameras offer.
> >
> > Dan Wolk wrote:
> > >
> > > Hey Guys,  I'm desperate.  Anyone have any experience with a Sirius
> > > Instruments Cwip CCD?  Bueno, Dan
> > >
> >
> > Clear skies,
> >  John N. Gretchen III
> >  Port O'Connor TX
> >  http://www.tisd.net/~jng3/stars/
> > "The facts are always less than what really happened."
> >      Nadine Gordimer, Nobel Prize-winning author
> >
> >
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > ccd-newastro-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> >
> >
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> ccd-newastro-unsubscribe@egroups.com

--
Clear skies,
  John N. Gretchen III
  Port O'Connor TX
  http://www.tisd.net/~jng3/stars/
"The facts are always less than what really happened."
      Nadine Gordimer, Nobel Prize-winning author

Hello,

I have an ST-9 camera and a JMI NGT-18 equatorial newtonian.  The other evening,
I polar aligned on Polaris, giving me roughly an alignment error of about three
quarters of a degree.

I then tried to calibrate using CCDOPS.  The calibration message told me there
was an error tracking in the X direction.  I checked around and it was suggested
that I make sure the camera is lined up with the axis of the scope, that the
camera was skewed on the X/Y plane.

I made sure that I was as close to the plane as I could be, and tried to
calibrate again.  Got the same error message.

SBIG said that maybe I could just try the tracking and see if it would work
regardless of the calibration.

It did not work well.

So my question for this forum is:

How close does polar alignment have to be to allow the ST-9e camera to be able
to track properly?

Thanks in advance.

Steve Robinson

PS Ron, I am looking forward to more chapters.

Thanks

It does not sound like you're having a polar alignment problem, it sounds like
you're
having a problem with one of the drive motors, either DEC or RA (whichever is X
axis).
I typically get an error when:

1) The calibration time for that axis is too short, so the guider detects no
motion of
the guidestar (esp. if there's backlash in the DEC gears).

2) The calibration time for that axis is too long, so the guidestar is driven
off the
chip between calibration tests movements.

3) There's quite a bit of backlash in the drive gears, so the guider sees
movement in
one direction but no in the other.

I use an ST4 so I'm not familiar with the messages and capabilities of the ST9
in
providing insight into the issues it's encountering.

Your polar alignment may also be exacerbating the situation, since you only need
minor
DEC corrections with good alignment, and if there's significant backlash and you
are
not well aligned, trouble is brewing.

Paul Sterngold

--- Steve Robinson <srobinso@...> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have an ST-9 camera and a JMI NGT-18 equatorial newtonian.  The other
evening, I
> polar aligned on Polaris, giving me roughly an alignment error of about three
> quarters of a degree.
>
> I then tried to calibrate using CCDOPS.  The calibration message told me there
was an
> error tracking in the X direction.  I checked around and it was suggested that
I make
> sure the camera is lined up with the axis of the scope, that the camera was
skewed on
> the X/Y plane.
>
> I made sure that I was as close to the plane as I could be, and tried to
calibrate
> again.  Got the same error message.
>
> SBIG said that maybe I could just try the tracking and see if it would work
> regardless of the calibration.
>
> It did not work well.
>
> So my question for this forum is:
>
> How close does polar alignment have to be to allow the ST-9e camera to be able
to
> track properly?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Steve Robinson
>
> PS Ron, I am looking forward to more chapters.
>
> Thanks
>


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/

Good evening:

I have uploaded jpeg images of my flat fields for anyone who would
like to examine/comment on them.

Clear skies,
Kevin
ksbtk@...

I looked at the flat fields; they do look a bit odd, with those lines
through them. I wonder if that is an artifact of the light box somehow? One
doesn't expect to see lines like that in a normal flat field.

HOWEVER: I see a similar pattern in my own flat fields with the Megrez 80,
and I plan to do some experiments to see why this is so. Here's a look at
one of my ST-237 flat fields:

http://www.wodaski.com/wodaski/images/ST_237/flat_AVG.jpg

In answer to your questions: see below.

Ron Wodaski
The New Astronomy Book Site - http://www.newastro.com



-----Original Message-----
From: KSBTK@HOME [mailto:ksbtk@...]
Sent: Sunday, December 03, 2000 6:49 AM
To: ccd-newastro@egroups.com
Subject: [ccd-newastro] Flat fields with the ST-237

1. Is it best to achieve approximately the same value for each flat taken
through a colored filter?  As I mentioned above, I varied the exposure
length to achieve a value of approximately 1600 for the RGB images.

--> Yes. But they can vary within the norms for a flat field, as you can
(and should) take steps to normalize your background levels in the RGB
images before you combine them anyone. Typically, you simply subtract from
the background to get them all in the same range (I use 50 units for the
background with the ST-7/8; I might drop that to 25 for the ST-237).

2. I took 5 each of the RGB flats.  Ron, your chapter on flat fields
mentions median combining each of the flats taken for a particular color
filter, prior to image calibaration.  Do you then median combine the
already-combined RGB flats or do you subrtract them from the images
individually?

--> Every image is calibrated (bias, dark, flat-field) individually.

3. Is it necessary, or desirable, to do a dark field subtraction from the
flat fields prior to the median combine?


--> Yes, the flat field itself must be calibrated prior to use, so each of
its individual images have to be calibrated with a dark frame.