Clear and Cold

[MapleRidge]

Good day everyone...

Clear and cold refers to Friday night here (Jan 20th UT)...it was -18C when I went to the observatory. I was surprised to see that the skies had cleared after supper and the forecast was only for a short clear period but I hadn't imaged Jupiter in some time so I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity.

The seeing was remarkably good considering the air temp, and I ran a series of RGB, IR and CH3 images over a 2 hour period. The better set of RGB, IRGB, and IR680nmm images are posted bellow. These were taken with the C14 @ f18 with the ASI462MM camera:

Jupiter_RGB_195834.jpg (97.56 KiB) Viewed 417 times

Jupiter_IRGB_195834.jpg (95.5 KiB) Viewed 417 times

Jupiter_IR680_200115.jpg (42.7 KiB) Viewed 417 times

I also set up the ASI432MM camera to do some lunar images since the clear skies continued on, but before moving to the moon I used that camera (same optical setup as used for Jupiter) and grabbed this IR image of Jupiter and its moons which were aligned to the east of the planet:

Jupiter_IR680_201920.jpg (36.12 KiB) Viewed 417 times

I used the ASI432MM camera (with the C14@f16 and IR680nm filter) to image some of the lunar features along the terminator. The live view almost looked as though I was flying over the moon

Moon_20Jan2024_Appenines.jpg (878.13 KiB) Viewed 417 times

Moon_20Jan2024_Str_Wall.jpg (594.7 KiB) Viewed 417 times

Moon_20Jan2024_Clavius.jpg (552.03 KiB) Viewed 417 times

Moon_20Jan2024_Aristoteles.jpg (321.07 KiB) Viewed 417 times

That's all for my Friday night session...hope you enjoy the views!

Brian

[KMH]

That's a great collection, Brian. I admire your dedication in going out in such cold!

Kevin

[cte]

The lunar images are very good. I think you can push the focal length on jupiter, maybe you can image at f30 on jupiter, or was the seeing not permitting it ?

[Montana]

I keep looking at Jupiter and the Moon and thinking I should get the telescope out but I get put off with the cold. However, now I laugh at myself, it's not that cold here!

Well done Brian, those pictures of the Moon are just incredible

Alexandra

[MapleRidge]

Kevin, cte, and Alexandra...

Thanks for your feedback on these images...very much appreciated

This was really the first truly 'cold' snap that we have had so far, but the wing back to warmer weather is starting again as it was above freezing today and rain forecast for the next few days.

I have not had great luck pushing the focal length much more than what I have adopted as a standard the past few years. In night with really good seeing I might squeeze more out of the scope but on this night it was good considering cold, but the IR details are not as good as other nights.

Brian

[Carbon60]

Awesome images, Brian. The Moon images are breathtaking.

Stu.

[MapleRidge]

Thanks Stuart, your feedback is always appreciated

Brian

[rigel123]

Great images Brian!

[MapleRidge]

Thanks Warren

The cold has passed and now well above normal...thanks to la Nina and climate change we go from one extreme to another

Brian

[pedro]

fantastic lunar images Brian. Your C14 is a great instrument. I had one a long time ago and I regret lending it to a friend...

[MapleRidge]

Thank for your comments Pedro...much appreciated

It doesn't sound like your 'loan' turned out very well ???

Brian

[Montana]

I was going to ask that too, did they run away with your loan? that's theft, they are a lot of money

Alexandra