Jupiter with the new
10" f/3.9 Orion Astrograph
and Orion Planetary imaging filter set.
January 16, 2016
Uploaded 1/16/16
 Here
            are a few first test shot using the Orion Planetary imaging filter
            set for your evaluation. This totally new set of three interference
            filters includes a UV (Ultra Violet), IR (Infrared), and a CH4
            (Methane band) wavelengths, for enhanced imaging of planetary
            details unseen in visual wavelengths. At 2am, Jupiter rides high
            in the sky and is the perfect target for tests because its cloud
            bands show a host of different details with different wavelengths.
            I was out this morning shooting Comet Catalina anyway and the
            opportunity was perfect. Seeing was real bad - a front moved
            in only hours later and completely clouded the sky all the rest
            of the weekend! With 2/5 seeing, the details are not too clear,
            but I could tell the new 10" was providing sharper images
            than the seeing. So here are some results. 




            
 It appears
            the sharpest view of the night was with the IR filter, not unexpected.
            UV is the worst seeing as the atmosphere is less stable in ultra
            violet and blues. The methane filter is VERY dark. The camera
            can barely see this wavelength too, despite the fact it is a
            full spectrum chip CCD with no filter window over the chip. This
            deep IR band took over 5 seconds and was very noisy using the
            Barlow, so I went back to prime focus and was able to do 1/4
            second but still max gain and the second methane shot has been
            enlarged to match in size. Finally, an RGB shot of Jupiter using
            standard Red, Blue and Green filters is the final frame.

            
Here is another
            comparison, the prime focus - no Barlow using the UV and CH4
            filters. This is the actual size on the chip, this is a 100%
            size file from the CCD, which is a 1/4" sensor from my DMK31
            camera. This camera rips out frames at 30fps and can capture
            moments of good seeing better than my larger chip DMK cameras.

            


            
Overall, the results
            are encouraging! While using UV filtration is best reserved for
            the Planet Venus to penetrate the cloud layers, the IR filter
            will be great on nights of less than perfect seeing. (all the
            time here in Rim Country!) The methane filter is for Jupiter
            and Saturn, I think Uranus and Neptune will be way to dim.



Processing:
            300/1000 best frames, alignment in Registax, Wavelets in Registax,
            Levels and Contrast Masking In Photoshop CS2,
Instrument:  10" f/3.9 Orion Astrograph
Platform:  Astrophysics AP1200
CCD Camera:  Image Source DMK 31 (1024 x 768)
Filter:  Custom Scientific RGB, Orion Planetary filter set
Exposure:  1/100 sec  to 5s
Location:  Payson, Arizona
Elevation:  5150 ft.
Sky:  Seeing 2/5, Transparency 7/10
Outside Temperature:  25F