Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Saturn NexStar 4SE RegiStax 6 NexImage Bahtinov mask and Vibration Suppression Pads

Saturn – April 21, 2011

This planetary image of Saturn was captured using a Celestron NexStar 4SE and NexImage planetary camera. Observing conditions were challenging — windy skies with intermittent clouds — so several techniques were used to maximize image stability and focus accuracy.

To reduce vibration from wind and mount movement, Celestron Vibration Suppression Pads were placed under the tripod. For precise focus, a Bahtinov focus mask was used before recording video.

Saturn astrophotography using Celestron NexStar 4SE and NexImage camera processed in RegiStax 6

Saturn, Celestron NexStar 4SE, NexImage, Vibration Suppression Pads, Bahtinov mask, Astrophotography

Video capture details:
Duration: 4 minutes (240 seconds)
Frame rate: 10 fps · Total frames: 2400

RegiStax 6 processing:
Align box: 3×3 · 10 alignment points
Drizzle optimization enabled
Wavelets: Gaussian · Initial Layer 3 · Linked layers 1 & 2
RGB shift correction

Photoshop post-processing:
Crop · Luminosity layer · Saturation · Contrast · Unsharp Mask · Save for Web (JPEG)

Saturn image processed in RegiStax 6 showing rings and planetary detail

Saturn, Celestron NexStar 4SE, NexImage, Astrophotography

Second capture session:
Duration: 4 minutes 30 seconds (270 seconds)
Frame rate: 10 fps · Total frames: 2700

RegiStax 6 processing:
Align box: 3×3 · 11 alignment points
Drizzle optimization enabled
Gaussian wavelets · Linked layers 1 & 2 · RGB shift

Photoshop post-processing:
Crop · Curves · Contrast · Unsharp Mask · Despeckle · Save for Web (JPEG)

Bahtinov mask used on Celestron NexStar 4SE for precise planetary focus

Bahtinov mask, Celestron 4SE, Brooklyn Astrophotography

Celestron Vibration Suppression Pads

Even with a small telescope like the Celestron NexStar 4SE, good planetary results are possible when focus, stability, and processing are handled correctly. Using a Bahtinov mask for precise focus, vibration suppression pads to reduce shake, and proper RegiStax 6 processing can make a bigger difference than aperture alone. In many cases, careful technique with a smaller scope can outperform a larger telescope used without attention to these details.