Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Mars on March 27th
Thursday, March 22, 2012
My first shadow on Jupiter!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Mars: In Living Color
Its finally Summer! Oh, not on Earth, for that we still have to wait, but on Mars, Summer is in full bloom.
We were able to image Mars on two different dates at NJAA using the new Image Source DMK21AU ccd video camera. This was coupled with an Orion Telescope filter wheel manually controlled. Both the large NJAA 26” scope and the 12” Meade RCX were employed for imaging. The resulting images produced scientifically useful data along with a pretty pictures of the Red planet.
Imaging Mars thru different filters can target specific features. A red filter will help attenuate the dark maria surface markings of Mars.The red filter can also help display dust clouds and help determine if a Martian dust storm is brewing. Blue filters in turn will show the haze and cloud features.
A green filter will show both the surface aldebo markings and the atmospheric features.
NJAA's 12" Meade RCX with DMK21AU camera
and Orion filter wheel attached
Once images are obtained of the planet thru a red, green, and blue filter, we can produce an RGB color image. While not as scientifically useful, the RGB color image does produce a pretty picture of the Red planet. This might sound like a long drawn out process, and to be honest, it is! Luckily the process is becoming faster as we gain practice.
Here is a quick run down for how these images were acquired and image processed.
Video of the planet thru the telescope was captured using NJAA’s Image Source DMK21AU camera. The manual filter wheel was employed to capture 2 minute video of the planet thru a red, green, and blue filter. Then each video was run thru AutoStakkert 2, where 1000 frames were aligned and composted using 3X drizzle. Once completed, each final image was brought into Adobe Photoshop. From there, the Astra Image plug-in for Photoshop was used for a tad of wavelet sharpening (40 each) and lucy-richardson deconvolution (7 iterations of 5.7 PSF). Then, each image was placed in its appropriate channel (R, G, and B channel). Finally the combined RGB channels gave us a nice color image of the planet. This was after adjusting the levels and curves for each channel. But for scientific reasons, each channel is displayed too. For example, the blue image from March 11th shows the cloud features over the planet on that date. Hopefully the process will be come much faster with practice.
So, what did we capture you might ask??
Mars 3/11/12 thru
NJAA 26" Reflector
The images thru the NJAA 26” on March 11th show clouds over Elysium Mons (the white spot on the left side of the planet). This is quite obvious in the blue filtered image of the planet. We can also see haze on both sides of Mars. We can also determine how small the polar cap has become too. While difficult to detect, the red filtered image shows the shrinkage of the northern polar cap. Certain features that were previously covered in ice are now visible. The large Syritis Major is quite prominent in the middle of the image too.
Mars 2/27/12 thru the
NJAA 12" Meade RCX
Shot a few days before, the images thru the NJAA 12” RCX show a haze/cloud feature on the setting western side of the planet on February 26th (27th in UT time). This feature is quite obvious in the red and green filtered images too. The red filter also shows very good detail around the Northern Polar region of Mars. This again reinforces the notion that the ice has melted making features once covered, visible.
A few of the major surface features are present in this image. The dark arm looking feature on the left side of the planet is Sinus Meridiani. To the right of this is Aurorae Sinus. This feature looks similiar to an upside down hand with the thumb and pinky raised. (What a scientific description!). Below this coming up across the bottum right side of the image is Mare Acidalium. The clear area between these two is Chyrse.
Special thanks to Wayne Jaeschke for his advice and tips. In 3 hrs,
Check out Wayne
Also, a big thanks to all the members of the NJAA Research Group. Their hard work and dedication is greatly appreciated. I would also like to note that each image will be submitted to ALPO USA
William Anthony
NJAA Research Director.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Research Session #3: Imaging Mercury, Venus, & Jupiter
Research Session #3
March 10, 2012
Mitchell D. Revalski
I arrived at the NJAA around 4PM EST. Vlad, Bruce, and I opened both the 26” and RCX domes. We moved swiftly as the sun set to catch elusive Mercury. We managed to get it in the RCX just before sunset. It is always surprising just how small Mercury appears even with high magnification. Both Vlad and I got video recordings with the DMK Camera just after sunset. Unfortunately, the combination of low altitude, and looking through the heat stack coming from the rear vent of the NJAA, made imaging difficult. Despite this we both obtained an “image” showing the partially illuminated nature of Mercury.
Next we moved on and imaged Jupiter and Venus. Using some tips from Wayne Jaeschke’s talk just the night before we got some good, and more scientifically useful results shooting through both the IR and RGB filters. I obtained the images below for Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter. I chose not to submit the Mercury image due to the overall low quality. It was still an excellent learning experience.
Primary lessons learned consist of the following. For Jupiter, as I did not intend to make a RGB color composite, the duration between color filters is less important. As such I would like to double the capture time for each color to get a cleaner stacked image. Furthermore, it seems adjusting the exposure settings while keeping the gain as low as feasible should produce cleaner images with less noise.
ALPO Image Database Link:
ALPO Image Database Link:
This image was not submitted to ALPO.
Image Comments: Note some images were processed using Registax 6 while others were done with AutoStakkert 2 per Wayne Jaeschke’s recommendation. This program is much simpler, but still has some bugs being worked out by the creator for the newly released second version.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions about the images above regarding the capture or processing procedure. Direct questions and comments to mitchellrevalski@gmail.com
In addition, Vlad and I tried using the 26” on Mars with a 2X Barlow shooting at an incredible 16,000mm focal length. The image on the screen, while huge, was also surprisingly clear! Unfortunately, due to the high magnification, the light was so dim that after stacking a poor image was produced. However, using the 26” telescope without a barlow will likely produce much better images rivaling that of the RCX perhaps. The Research Committee will experiment further with this in the coming months.
Furthermore, Steve Gale stopped in later in the evening with drawings he had just produced; it was fun and interesting to compare the camera pictures with good old pencil and paper. We noted a number of similarities in the banding characteristics of Jupiter.
William Anthony, director of the Research Committee, was also present for the majority of the evening and provided good guiding tips on producing better images by utilizing the histogram feature of the capture software as well as doing astrophotography of his own. Bill also changed the filter wheel setup per Wayne Jaeschke’s recommendation, putting the IR filter in front of the wheel to stop any “IR leaks” the color filters may have. Thus now all images are through solely the IR or IR and RGB combinations.
On an unrelated note we had several curious visitors come to our front door. While it was not actually a public night Vlad and I showed half a dozen people objects through the RCX telescope. All left with smiles.
Toward the end of the night I decided to forego waiting another hour or two for Saturn, which was also very close to the moon, in favor or waiting a month or so when it will be better placed during opposition.
Overall, a very successful night with some good images produced and many lessons learned for the future.
End of Report
March 10, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Research Session #2: Imaging Jupiter
Research Session #2
March 6, 2012
Mitchell D. Revalski
Arrival at the NJAA Observatory was around 6PM EST. After opening the Schirra and setting up the telescope and camera, patience was tested as clouds rolled in and out. The clouds cleared out completely within an hour. The seeing and transparency were very good. I was able to obtain a few videos of Jupiter with and without the 2X Televue Barlow lens. Imaging details are included on the image. Lessons learned include that the telescope should be focused by eye with the barlow lens before inserting the camera. Otherwise, when switching from the standard eyepiece to the camera with attached barlow, the image is so far out of focus due to the extra path length from the barlow, that you cannot see it on the computer monitor at all even when it is dead centered. Also, handling of the camera should be kept to a minimum whenever possible, as a few additional dust spots on the chip by the end of the session were noted.
ALPO Image Database Link:
ALPO Image Database Link:
Image Comments: Note the second image is just 19 minutes after the first, and yet you can see the Great Red Spot on the lower belt has rotated around toward the face a noticeable amount! It really goes to show just how fast Jupiter rotates.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions about the image regarding the capture or processing procedure. Direct questions and comments to mitchellrevalski@gmail.com
End of Report
March 6, 2012
Research Session #1: Imaging Mars
NJAA Research Session #1
March 5, 2012
Mitchell D. Revalski
Arrival at the NJAA Observatory was a little after 10PM EST. Bill Anthony and myself used the 12” RCX400 in the Schirra Observatory to do imaging of Mars. With my limited experience I chose to image solely in monochrome. The video was shot using the clubs DMK021AU camera. I took several videos and used the best video based on sharpness of focus and steady seeing to get the image below. The details such as fps, length of video, and processing using Registax 6 are detailed in the image. Lessons learned consist primarily of being better prepared for the cold.
ALPO Image Database Link:
Please feel free to contact me with any questions about the image regarding the capture or processing procedure. Direct questions and comments to mitchellrevalski@gmail.com
End of Report
March 5, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Lunar and Planetary Imager Wayne Jaeschke, March 9th
March 9th, 8 pm
NJAA Research Group Meeting.
NJAA Observatory, High Bridge, NJ
“Expert Lunar and Planetary Imager, Wayne Jaeschke”
At the March 9th Research Group meeting, expert lunar and planetary imager, Wayne Jaeschke will present. Wayne Wayne
Checkout Mr. Jaeschke’s website:
William Anthony
NJAA Research Director.
Mars on Feb 27, 2012
by W. Jaeschke
Jupiter on Dec. 12, 2011
by W. Jaeschke
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