My two year progress shooting Jupiter, using the same $300 telescope!Submitted by theillini19 t3_11cw0e7 in space
InterstellarDiplomat t1_ja9f3hi wrote
Reply to comment by theillini19 in My two year progress shooting Jupiter, using the same $300 telescope! by theillini19
> My post history has the full equipment and processing details for the four pictures, taken in October 2020, July 2021, August 2022, and October 2022.
I was curious, so I went into OP's post history to dig it all up...
October 2020:
https://www.reddit.com/r/astrophotography/comments/jahtkd/planets_with_8inch_dobsonian/
> I’m just a beginner to AP and these shots aren’t much comparable to others on here, but I’m very proud of my first real pictures of Mars (10/11), Saturn (10/11), and Jupiter (10/10). > > Shot with Orion SkyQuest XT8 (no Barlow) and ZWO ASI120MC-S using SharpCap software. > Processed with Pipp, AutoStakkert! 3.1.4, and RegiStax 6. Combined with MS Paint. > > I have a 2x Barlow coming in today so hopefully I’ll be able to capture more detailed shots tonight!
> I got the telescope last summer and was finally able to capture some nice images after a lot of practice (and bad weather)! > I'm incredibly grateful to u/schorhr for all the guidance last year regarding scopes and eyepieces. > > Equipment: > > * Orion Skyquest XT8 8 inch Dobsonian > * ZWO ASI120MC-S camera > * Celestron Omni 2x Barlow > > Processing: > > * Shot about 5000 frames with Sharpcap (v3.2.6442.0) for each planet > * pre-processed with PIPP (v2.5.9) > * stacked 30% of frames and sharpened image with AutoStakkert! (v3.1.4) > * RegiStax 6: RGB alignment, RGB balance, histogram, and wavelets > * GIMP v2.10.24: contrast, saturation > > Edit: These videos were helpful for learning image processing: > > * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQagPJ8pM7Y > * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1xmiJ1dkE0
August 2022:
https://www.reddit.com/r/astrophotography/comments/wenamx/jupiter_and_saturn_with_8_dob_august_2_2022/
> Photographed the Gas Giants last night after a year hiatus. The skies were clear enough to get some nice shots with my 3x Barlow, including my personal best image of Jupiter! > > Equipment: > > * Orion Skyquest XT8 8 inch Dobsonian (manual tracking) > * ZWO ASI120MC-S camera > * Celestron 93428 X-Cel LX 3x Barlow > > Processing: > > * captured frames with Sharpcap > * Jupiter: 4826 frames, 2 min 40 sec > * Saturn: 5707 frames, 3 min 10 sec > * pre-processed with PIPP > * stacking/sharpening image with AutoStakkert (stacked best 30% frames for each planet) > * RegiStax: RGB alignment, RGB balance, histogram, and wavelets > * GIMP: contrast, saturation
October 2022:
https://www.reddit.com/r/astrophotography/comments/xz0gsa/jupiter_with_8_dob_october_7_2022/
> Equipment: > > * Orion Skyquest XT8 8 inch Dobsonian on equatorial platform > * ZWO ASI120MC-S camera > * Celestron 93428 X-Cel LX 3x Barlow > > Processing: > > * captured 2700 frames with Sharpcap over 90 seconds > * pre-processed with PIPP > * stacking/sharpening with AutoStakkert! (30% of frames, 1.5x drizzle) > * RegiStax: RGB balance, histogram, and wavelets > * Adobe Photoshop (camera raw filter): color correction (vibrance, saturation, etc.), sharpening, noise reduction > * Topaz DeNoise AI
StopSendingSteamKeys t1_ja9hzkl wrote
So a 300$ telescope + 170$ astro camera + 125$ barlow lens + 80$ AI denoiser + 20$/month photoshop
Still much cheaper than a telescope with a startracker.
ILoveShitRats t1_ja9imxz wrote
Which is nothing by astrophotography standards. Super expensive hobby. Not unusual at all for amateurs to have $5K - $10K setups.
StopSendingSteamKeys t1_ja9iuty wrote
I know, this is actually super cheap. Just to make sure no one is confused about the 300$ number. You're not gonna get pictures like that with your phone.
Jumbodrl t1_ja9m7yl wrote
I have always been interested with the idea of getting into this hobby… thank you for breaking it down for me. Future me will be glad I read this today.
YOU_SMELL t1_ja9ml7u wrote
Don't forget the 460 dollar equatorial platform made of birch wood for the final
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