Telescope: Celestron C11 @ f/25, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: ZWO ASI462MC, 2.5x Powermate

Filter: Highpoint Scientific IR Filter

Seeing: poor to fair, 2-3/5

Exposure: 5% of 5min @ 15msec, gain 400, saved as RAW8, SER

Histogram: 75%

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: SharpCap Pro, AutoStakkert, Registax, Nebulosity, WinJUPOs, Photoshop

It has been quite a while since I have done any extensive planetary imaging, but I’m starting to get the hang of it. I wasn’t planning on imaging Saturn as the seeing wasn’t forecast to be very good, but it was better than I had expected. I wanted to test some camera settings and processing work flow that I am working on and I’m pretty happy with the results. A big part of this is getting comfortable with this fairly old (1994) C11 that I have been working with and it seems to be settling in nicely.

Saturn is well placed in the evening sky rising in the east as the sun set and high in the south by midnight.

Telescope: Celestron C11 @ f/25, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: ZWO ASI462MC, 2.5x Powermate

Filter: Highpoint Scientific IR Filter

Seeing: poor, 2/5

Exposure: 5% of 5min @ 15msec, gain 400, saved as SER

Histogram: 70%

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: SharpCap Pro, AutoStakkert, Registax, Nebulosity, Photoshop

This is my first image from the opening of the 2022 planetary imaging season. I still have lots to learn, but I’m off to a good start!

Saturn is well placed in the evening sky wising in the east as the sun set and high in the south by midnight.

Telescope: Astro-Tech RC8 @ f/8, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: QHY 367c Pro, Baader Mk III MPCC

Filter: GSO IR Blocking Filter

Exposure: 64x15ms, gain 2000, offset 50, 0C, saved as FITS

Seeing: fair, 3/5

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: SharpCap Pro, Nebulosity, Registax, Photoshop

This is the first-light image taken with my new to me QHY 367c Pro full-frame camera. As sunset approached I used the moon to provide a rough alignment for the mount, slewed to Vega to set the focus, and then back to the moon to take this image set. Off to a great start!

Telescope: Astro-Tech 8” f/8 Ritchey-Chretien, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: Full Spectrum Modified Nikon D810, Baader Mk III MPCC

Filter: GSO IR Blocking Filter

Guide scope: Astro-Tech 60mm, ZWO ASI120MM mini, PHD2

Exposure: 12x120sec, ISO 200, saved as RAW

Darks: Internal (Long Exposure Noise Reduction On)

Flats: 32×1/50sec, Tee shirt flats taken at dusk

Average Light Pollution: Red zone, Bortle 8, good transparency

Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 18.8

Stacking: Average

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: Backyard Nikon, Nebulosity, Photoshop

Comet C/2017 K2 (PanSTARRS) is a relatively small, faint comet that is slowly crossing southwards across Ophiuchus in the evening sky. As comets go, this comet is visually challenging, though is may be glimpsed in a small telescope as a faint star-like core with a diffuse coma. Physically, this is an amazing comet. It was discovered in May of 2017 when it was in the outer solar system between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus and approaching from deep space well above of the plane of the planets. Comet 2017 K2 is likely a visitor from the Oort Cloud making its one and only pass through the inner solar system before departing for interstellar space, never to return. So, while it may be challenging to locate, it’s a fascinating object to track down.

C/2017 K2 (PanSTARRS) is currently well placed in the eastern sky at dusk. Although it will remain relatively faint, it will remain visible from the northern hemisphere until August as it flows southwards across Ophiuchus and Scorpius. It will be closest to the Earth (167 million miles) while still inbound to the sun on July 17^th, and it will be closest to the sun (about as far as the orbit of Mars) on December 19^th while it will be visible only from the southern hemisphere.

Telescope: Astro-Tech RC8 @ f/8, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: Full Spectrum Modified Nikon D810, Baader Mk III MPCC

Filter: GSO IR Blocking Filter

Exposure: 64×1/500 sec, ISO 320, saved as RAW

Seeing: fair, 3/5

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: Backyard Nikon, Nebulosity, Registax, Photoshop

This is a quickie image taken of the moon this morning as I stepped outside to check on my gear. I had intended to cover everything up after moonrise, but the sky was so clear I decided to push ahead until dawn.

This is an excellent example of the high resolution performance of the Unitron 142. I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of color fringing with this relatively long f/ratio scope. Note the lunar terminator sweeping across the southern highlands, indicating that the moon is passing north of the Earth’s shadow.

Telescope: Unitron 142 3” f/15

Camera: ZWO ASI 294MC

Filter: Meade IR Cut Filter

Exposure: 128×0.005sec, Gain 200, saved as PNG

Seeing: Good, 4/5

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: SharpCap Pro, AutoStakkert, Registax, Nebulosity, Photoshop

This 50 year old Unitron produces a sharp, high contrast image with little or no chromic aberration. The 142 equatorial mount is very stable with excellent slow motion controls and a very accurate synchronous drive. I was curious to see how well it performs with basic imaging and this is the first test image. I chose to use my uncooled ASI294MC as is it a very lightweight color camera with a modest size chip and since there is no shutter there wasn’t a problem with vibrations. This does a fairly good job showing the excellent image quality and the lack of color fringing. Very nice!