colour camera. High-frame-rate cameras, with their ability to overcome some
of the limitations imposed by seeing conditions, are the best instruments to use
for Jupiter, with a bias once again going towards mono cameras using RGB
imaging filters. The techniques to employ are similar to those listed for Mars
and, once again, it is possible to utilize the synthetic green channel technique,
conveniently cutting RGB imaging time down by a third.
High-frame-rate colour cameras can also work well with Jupiter,
allowing you to capture everything in a single and, more importantly, shorter
sequence. Here, atmospheric dispersion – an effect which makes the colour
from Jupiter spread out as if the planet’s light is passing through a prism –
plays an important part in trying to ruin the image. The effect is worse theImaging Jupiter
Jupiter is a wonderful planet to image because it presents a large disc, and is
very bright and very detailed. It also rotates quickly, completing one rotation
on its axis in less than 10 hours. Consequently, over the course of a night,
you can see quite a lot of the planet as features rotate into and out of view.
The fast rotation also presents some interesting problems for high-
resolution imagers because captures that take too long will blur detail.
The maximum imaging time for Jupiter should ideally be kept under a
minute per channel for RGB images at moderate focal lengths – 3 minutes
maximum if using a colour camera. For long focal lengths greater than 10m,
this should be reduced to 40s per RGB channel or to 2 minutes if using a[14] & [15] Jupiter imaged using a mono high-frame-rate camera and the RGB
technique described.[16] A DSLR shot of Jupiter and Uranus taken through a 5-inch short-focal-length reflector. Note the Galilean
moons close to Jupiter. Uranus is the bright dot above and left of centre.1614 15Astronomer Book