2 nights I faced cold weather (-8C° and lower) and winds to do some more Mars imaging. I also did one Saturn RGB serie which turned out pretty well with as result my finest Saturn image yet. Mars is still getting closer and some nice details can be seen now, in these images clouds can be even seen hanging around Olympus Mons.

On 2 february the seeing was much worse than the night before that but I still managed some detail with again the Olympus Mons area.

Equipment used was C 9.25, DMK 21AU618.AS and Astronomik RGB filters. Processing with Castrator, Registax and Autostakkert 2 and finally Photoshop CS3.

Edwin Pottillius, Belgium

MARS, 2012-01-31 19:56 UT CM 107.2°

Jupiter, 11:19 UT, CM I 173.0° CM II 310.8° CM III 289.4°, C 9.25 F/30 DBK 21AF04.AS, 1,500 frames stacked.

Daniel Chang

Back in 2008 we wrote a 10-pages test concerning The Imaging Source cameras DMK 21AF04.AS, DBK 21AF04.AS and DMK 41AF02.AS which was published in "Sterne und Weltraum" No. 6/2008. We had much fun working with these cameras, and really good results. So we were very interested how much better the new generation DMK/DBK 21AU618.AS utilizing ICX618 chips would be compared with the previous DMK/DBK 21AF04.AS models. We did a through test (9 pages) on this, which was published in "Sterne und Weltraum" No. 12/2011.

One of the results was, that the new DMK 21AU618.AS has drastically improved IR-sensitivity. Living in a region with bad seeing conditions this is a big advantage, because IrRGB composites will deliver better results in bad seeing. Though IR theoretically has lower resolution, it is less affected by atmospheric turbulence. Of course IrRGB will not reach the level of best amateur Images, but is better than no picture at all. So we decided to publish an example to show what is possible under moderate seeing conditions, even if this is not perfect.

All four Jupiter images in the picture were taken with DMK/DBK 21 cameras, the upper two images dating 2011/10/03 with the new 618-chips. Ir was taken using Baader Ir-passfilter 2458385 on DMK 21AU618.AS, RGB was taken in one Video using Baader Ir-blocking Filter 2459207A on DBK 21AU618.AS. Luminance and colour were added in Photoshop. Videos were processed and sharpened using Giotto, 70% of 3000 frames were selected by sharpness an stacked, Mexican Hat filter was applied to the results. Giotto did the job in 10 minutes, and delivered results not significantly worse then other "not easy to use" software produced in 2 hours. Optics was a 30cm SC with Celestron 2x Barlow. We took care that no light was spoiled, an matched exposure time an framerate to 1/30s 30fps (colour) and 1/60s 60fps (monochrome). Seeing was moderate, the RGB-image was of poor quality and unusable without the Ir-Luminance, the IrRGB result is "better than nothing" still acceptable.

Peter Wellmann

The solar image is a white light image taken on 29/9/2011 using my DMK 41AU02.AS, Meade AR6 150mm refractor, 2x barlow, 2" Herschel wedge, Baader Solar Continuum & an ND filter. The seeing on that day was the best I've ever had for solar observing.

David Mason, Maidenhead, UK

I am delighted to announce that we will be attending AstroFest 2011 at the Kensington Conference and Events Centre in London, UK. The two day event runs between Februrary 10, 2012 and Februrary 11, 2012.

A representative from The Imaging Source will be available at the stand of our UK reseller The Widescreen Centre.

We will be running a free prize draw to win some of our cameras, so be sure to call round at The Widescreen Centre stand, fill in the entry card and cross your fingers. It may be your lucky day!

See you there.

Last nights clear skies finally allowed me to do some Mars imaging again. The seeing wasn't very good but I still managed to capture quite some detail.

These were my 2 best RGB series. It also allowed me to test my new IR742 filter.

Edwin Pottillius, Belgium

Over the last year or so, we have gathered quite a following on
Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you all for your ongoing support on these platforms!

Today, I would like to announce the new Google+ Page for
The Imaging Source Astronomy Cameras:

http://www.astronomycameras.com/google+

We will be posting content that is unique to the Google+ Page, so add the Page to your circles today!

I've been enjoying your cameras for a couple of years now. I have two DBKs and one DFK and hope to buy a DMK soon.

The image is Saturn, taken with a Celestron C9.25 telescope, DBK 21AU04.AS, TeleVue 1.8X barlow, CG-5 mount, Registax 6.

Ed Ting, http://www.scopereviews.com/

Here are two Mars images from Bundaberg QLD Australia. One from December 30th 2011 and one from 3rd January 2012. C11/DBK 21AU618.AS @ F30.

John Earl

For once a calm atmosphere allowed me to do some decent imaging in a long time. This will probably my last Jupiter of the season, the planet is rapidly getting smaller now. Taken around 18.00 UT on January, 6th. DMK 21AU618.AS used and Astronomik RGB filters. This was one of my first image sessions with filters. The seeing also allowed me to do some moon shots and capture Schroter's Valley and others.

Edwin Pottilius