Superb Video Mark. As far as the Wavelets in Registax (for anyone interested) the layers adjust sharpening based on details size. So layer 1 adjusts the finest details and layer 6 adjusts the overall details with each layer in between. Hope that helps anyone else.
Cheers IANH, agreed. That being said, I now use the "linked wavelets" feature in Registax that seems to manage the smooth transition across the layers very well.
Splendid video Mark! Your approach to your work flow is straightforward. As far as your insistence on focus-focus-focus, I have come to the same conclusion, so your idea of puttinga Crawford on the back of the Schmidt Cassegrain is very practical. What amazed me is that you don't include a Barlow in your equipment list, but perhaps with your C-11 the Barlow is an overkill (I only have a 8" f/10 SC, so maybe I have to deal with the Barlow). The linking option on the Wavelets is a fantastic tip! Please continue in Planetary: we all have a lot to learn from you!
Hi Patrick thank you for your kind words. And yes, focus is so important (and collimation!). Just to clarify your comment, I do use a barlow and screw the lens to the front of the ADC so I am up at f20. I hope you are looking forward to Mars, Jupiter and Saturn returning this autumn. More videos to follow (including a report from Kelling Heath's spring star party).
Hi John I made a more gooder version of the tutorial here. I hope you find it more useful. I have also given talks to astronomy societies (online and in person) if that would help. I prefer not to do livestreams simply as I enjoy the peace and quiet while I am observing. ua-cam.com/video/1VPhED1IkTU/v-deo.html
Great video on a hard to find subject for a new armature astrophotographer. I have had the same asi224mc camera for a year now and absolutely love it. I have a ZWO ADC that supposed to arrive March 3rd and wanted to ask when you adjust the prisms you adjust both prisms an equal amount until finished? Also do you have a Facebook or any other forums that you use to show your work? Thanks, Drew
Hi Drew - that's correct, adjust both levers an equal and opposite amount. Use small increments to avoid the planet / star you are using to set the ADC from promptly disappearing off the screen. It took a bit of research to learn how to use it but now I can set an ADC pretty quickly now I am familiar with it. As for socials - my name is Mark Radice, I am on FB and occasionally instagram although not so often. I look forward to meeting you!
Great video and very useful to me as I am just about to launch into Lunar imaging with my new Zwo ASI462 camera. I normally image DSO's so I will probably need to change my approach (ditching guide camera for guide scope and bye bye Astro Photography Tool). For Lunar work I will plan to use my Synscan handset on a heq5 mount to do star alignment and then acquire / track the moon (lunar rate). The camera will be plugged directly into laptop. Questions: 1. Does this plan sound okay? 2. Also the Zwo camera comes with it's own software and so is 'firecapture' better??? Gerr.
Hi Gerr, Thank you for your kind words. The plan sounds great! Crack on. No need for a star alignment, the moon is pretty easy to find - and yes you will need to set it on lunar rate. Luckily synscan sets it to Lunar rate if you goto the moon. I really like firecapture, is does everything I need it to do. You will still need to download the ZWO drivers so that FireC knows how to control the camera though. Enjoy and I look forward to seeing the results.
Great video. Thanks Mark! A have a quick question... I also have an EQ6 but for some reason it won't track the moon properly. I've tried using Stellarium and EQmod, but the image still slow drifts. Any suggestions?
I would suggest checking i) you are precisely polar aligned and ii) you are at lunar rate (as opposed to sidereal). On my wifi SynScan you can choose no tracking, sidereal or lunar rates. I haven't used Stellarium, or EQ mod so can't comment on them.
@@TheZ3roCool I agree. The Moon will slack behind if I don't click that Moon button. When I use the move buttons, sometimes after using "west", it will slide back slowly "east", but hitting the Crescent Moon button, slams on the brakes on the unwanted skewing.
Have you ever tried to find the flag the Americans left behind on their moon missions (or at least the landing site if the flag is too small a target)? Or is that an impossible feat?
Hi Louise - the Apollo artefacts are too small (alas!). I can get around a mile - kilometre resolution under good seeing so way off the several metre-sized landing modules. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has detected them - some interesting reading here: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/news/apollo-sites.html
I just use the telescope focus to make the image sharp. The moon is (obviously) at infinity so the depth of field is irrelevant once focus is achieved. I manually check focus every 20-30 minutes as the tube cools and the mirror settles - you can get automated focusers but mine is manual for simplicity. I hope that helps!
Well done Mark. Great teach in on how to take super lunar images.
Hi Jonathan thank you! Hope you and family are well.
It is recommended to balance the RGB channels during capture to avoid violet tonality, especially if you use with IR pass filter.
Gracias Jesus - tienes razón. Saludos de inglaterra.
Superb Video Mark. As far as the Wavelets in Registax (for anyone interested) the layers adjust sharpening based on details size. So layer 1 adjusts the finest details and layer 6 adjusts the overall details with each layer in between. Hope that helps anyone else.
Cheers IANH, agreed. That being said, I now use the "linked wavelets" feature in Registax that seems to manage the smooth transition across the layers very well.
Splendid video Mark! Your approach to your work flow is straightforward. As far as your insistence on focus-focus-focus, I have come to the same conclusion, so your idea of puttinga Crawford on the back of the Schmidt Cassegrain is very practical. What amazed me is that you don't include a Barlow in your equipment list, but perhaps with your C-11 the Barlow is an overkill (I only have a 8" f/10 SC, so maybe I have to deal with the Barlow). The linking option on the Wavelets is a fantastic tip! Please continue in Planetary: we all have a lot to learn from you!
Hi Patrick thank you for your kind words. And yes, focus is so important (and collimation!). Just to clarify your comment, I do use a barlow and screw the lens to the front of the ADC so I am up at f20. I hope you are looking forward to Mars, Jupiter and Saturn returning this autumn. More videos to follow (including a report from Kelling Heath's spring star party).
Beautifully explained. Thank you so much.
Thank you!
Amazing
Thanks!
Very good video well done
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it.
At first impressions this interesting topic, appears very complex. Would a possible break down of precedings, be a possible future Web cast.?
Hi John I made a more gooder version of the tutorial here. I hope you find it more useful. I have also given talks to astronomy societies (online and in person) if that would help. I prefer not to do livestreams simply as I enjoy the peace and quiet while I am observing. ua-cam.com/video/1VPhED1IkTU/v-deo.html
Great video on a hard to find subject for a new armature astrophotographer. I have had the same asi224mc camera for a year now and absolutely love it. I have a ZWO ADC that supposed to arrive March 3rd and wanted to ask when you adjust the prisms you adjust both prisms an equal amount until finished? Also do you have a Facebook or any other forums that you use to show your work? Thanks,
Drew
Hi Drew - that's correct, adjust both levers an equal and opposite amount. Use small increments to avoid the planet / star you are using to set the ADC from promptly disappearing off the screen. It took a bit of research to learn how to use it but now I can set an ADC pretty quickly now I am familiar with it.
As for socials - my name is Mark Radice, I am on FB and occasionally instagram although not so often. I look forward to meeting you!
Great video and very useful to me as I am just about to launch into Lunar imaging with my new Zwo ASI462 camera. I normally image DSO's so I will probably need to change my approach (ditching guide camera for guide scope and bye bye Astro Photography Tool). For Lunar work I will plan to use my Synscan handset on a heq5 mount to do star alignment and then acquire / track the moon (lunar rate). The camera will be plugged directly into laptop.
Questions:
1. Does this plan sound okay?
2. Also the Zwo camera comes with it's own software and so is 'firecapture' better???
Gerr.
Hi Gerr,
Thank you for your kind words. The plan sounds great! Crack on. No need for a star alignment, the moon is pretty easy to find - and yes you will need to set it on lunar rate. Luckily synscan sets it to Lunar rate if you goto the moon.
I really like firecapture, is does everything I need it to do. You will still need to download the ZWO drivers so that FireC knows how to control the camera though.
Enjoy and I look forward to seeing the results.
Great video. Thanks Mark! A have a quick question... I also have an EQ6 but for some reason it won't track the moon properly. I've tried using Stellarium and EQmod, but the image still slow drifts. Any suggestions?
I would suggest checking i) you are precisely polar aligned and ii) you are at lunar rate (as opposed to sidereal). On my wifi SynScan you can choose no tracking, sidereal or lunar rates. I haven't used Stellarium, or EQ mod so can't comment on them.
Agree with Mark, check your PA and then make sure you are using the Moon option for tracking instead of Sidereal.
@@TheZ3roCool I agree. The Moon will slack behind if I don't click that Moon button. When I use the move buttons, sometimes after using "west", it will slide back slowly "east", but hitting the Crescent Moon button, slams on the brakes on the unwanted skewing.
Have you ever tried to find the flag the Americans left behind on their moon missions (or at least the landing site if the flag is too small a target)? Or is that an impossible feat?
Hi Louise - the Apollo artefacts are too small (alas!). I can get around a mile - kilometre resolution under good seeing so way off the several metre-sized landing modules. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has detected them - some interesting reading here: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/news/apollo-sites.html
Does DOF affect this way of shooting? Do you have focus stacking automatically when shooting? Thanks!
I just use the telescope focus to make the image sharp. The moon is (obviously) at infinity so the depth of field is irrelevant once focus is achieved. I manually check focus every 20-30 minutes as the tube cools and the mirror settles - you can get automated focusers but mine is manual for simplicity.
I hope that helps!
@@RefreshingViews thanks bro!
Why you never talk about Sharpcap?
Simply because I am used to FireCapture for planets. That being said I am using SharpCap for live stacking the deep sky - video to follow shortly.
Dreadful sound - loud enough to wake the dead in places, and quiet, dull and woolly elsewhere!
Thanks, Alan. I have now bought a DSLR microphone and am now learning how to best set sound levels.