I picked up a NexImage 5 last year, figuring that the unusually small (2.2 micron pixels) would deliver a decent image scale for planets without having to Barlow up so much. With no Barlow, it would be comparable to 3X with cameras I’ve used in the past (WAY in the past). I’ve never had much luck on planets; urban seeing conditions aren’t favorable to high resolution work.
I finally had a chance to play with it the other night and it was VERY encouraging. In the 12″ Meade with no Barlow, it delivered a decent image scale – even at the shorter F/8 focal length compared to the F/10 and F/11 SCTs I’ve used previously. About the same (as expected) as in unsuccessful efforts with 3X Barlows, but with a significantly better result. Pretty sorry compared to what the big guns do, but the best I’ve managed. Next time I’ll try 2X; that will give me greater resolution than I have ever attempted from here. That’s IO at the limb, by the way.
The attached image is the best 800 frames from a 30 second 1000 frame capture, processed in Registax and Photoshop. If I had realized that the result of this quick test would be so favorable, I’d have waited for dark (and better cooldown) and shot longer, making a real run at it.
Thanks for the kind words!
I’ve edited the post to include a full size image instead of the smaller one I accidentally installed initially.
Nice Jupiter John! Nice new look to your site as well. Looking forward to more of your images. Have fun at NEAF and don’t forget the lunar eclipse Tuesday late night.
It really is amazing what these cameras do these days. They just keep getting better and better!
Oh, Excellent shot by the way!