I’m only a part time planetary imager with a basic set up but still enjoy this form of astrophotography a few times a year.
Set up last week under a 40% waxing moon and spent an hour or two capturing some lunar vistas.
Location: Sydney B8 Skies
Atmospheric conditions 6/10
Altitude 60deg to 48deg
8” f5 Klaus Helmerich Carbon Fibre Newtonian
Canon 600D with T ring adapter
Televue Powermates ( 2 x , 2.5 x , 4x , 5x )
Tracking and Goto EQMOD and Stellarium
Capture BYEOS Planetary mode
ISO 800
1500 AVI frames
Stacked in Autostakkert 3 ( best 70% frames )
Processed in Registax 6
Nice set of lunar images Martin. Well done! Lovely seeing the moon in all her glory - really pretty shots. An interesting exercise using the different powermates - they're quality focal extenders and have got you up and close with more detail to be seen for sure. Thanks for posting your results!!
PS. I know you don't do a heap of lunar/planetary imaging, but I do wonder if you wanted to do some closeups I think your DSO setup (asi2600mm) with a red filter would probably yield some really nice results, and possibly use the 2" 2x powermate....if you can get it to focus...
Thanks Dave,
It was a lot of fun
The old Canon does a good job up close and personal on a given night
Conditions were pretty poor zoomed in , image jumping around way too much to capture data so I didn’t use 5 x zoom which is close to 1:1 pixel scale
I’m a bit lazy to use the 2600MM , I’d have to learn Sharpcap or Firecapture and start from scratch. You get a bit stuck in your ways into your 60’s
Here’s some lunar images with 5 x zoom using Powermates a few years back ….
Thanks again
I purchased a 5 times Powermate some time back but haven't had a chance to try it. I couldn't get focus on the moon with my 8" RC last time I tried but I'm sure it's possible.
I have to fill in a hole with concrete and radiating steel spikes, bolt my pier down and do some imaging. The hole I dug ages ago for the pier has been till recently mostly full of water.
It's right where I have my levelled pads set up for my mount so I don't want to take a scope out and be digging bits and pieces out of a deep, muddy hole in the dark if I drop anything.
Really great results, well done. I've gotta stop looking, dust off the 60D, find some clear skies and do a little more with ol' luna myself.
Marvelous images in any event.
Thanks Warren,
Yeh it’s kinda nice hearing the shutter snap unlike my silent 2600MC and 2600MM cameras , oh and forgot guide cameras as well
Lunar is a lot of fun especially with an old DSLR and TV Powermates
Cheers
Martin
I purchased a 5 times Powermate some time back but haven't had a chance to try it. I couldn't get focus on the moon with my 8" RC last time I tried but I'm sure it's possible.
I have to fill in a hole with concrete and radiating steel spikes, bolt my pier down and do some imaging. The hole I dug ages ago for the pier has been till recently mostly full of water.
It's right where I have my levelled pads set up for my mount so I don't want to take a scope out and be digging bits and pieces out of a deep, muddy hole in the dark if I drop anything.
Thanks Leo
Yeh I drag the old Canon DSLR out once or twice a year to do planetary , it’s a lot of fun. BYEOS is old but excellent capture software for DSLR’s both DSO and Planetary, simple to use and also can accommodate Nikon as well with BYNikon.
Don’t wait for your pier just chuck a few bricks or pavers down and use a tripod if you have one , you’ll be up and running in an hour or so with a DSLR and your Powermate , it’s a lot of fun imaging our closest celestial neighbour
Cheers
Martin
Good effort Martin, you will be converted away from your Deep Sky yet. You have a 290mm in your list of gear, perfect for lunar, and planetary imaging, better than the dslr, which is no slouch either.
Good effort Martin, you will be converted away from your Deep Sky yet. You have a 290mm in your list of gear, perfect for lunar, and planetary imaging, better than the dslr, which is no slouch either.
Thanks Jeff,
I started AP back in 2017 with the same DSLR and 6” GSO newt imaging the moon and planets. That spring-boarded me into long exposure DSO imaging over 6 years later to where I am today. Still enjoy dabbling in planetary but DSO is my thing , so difficult, challenging and rewarding being able to image so many different celestial objects. Planetary is pretty much only 4 objects but I do enjoy it once or twice a year , so much fun and it’s all done in a few hours over one night , not weeks and weeks like DSO.
My 290MM is in my guide scope on my big rig down south in the Obs , however pulling it off means I’ve gotta re calibrate in PHD2 and refocus etc.. Ive used the same calibration for nearly 2 years without any issues. The 290MM is staying put , but yes it would be a great camera for planetary !!
Thanks again
Martin
I've gotta stop looking, dust off the 60D, find some clear skies 
and do a little more with ol' luna myself. 
