Imaging Planets with a Dobsonian and a Cell Phone

[@AstroEscape]

Live Q&A on January 17th at 8PM EST. If you have any questions for me to answer on stream, post them in the Q&A community post! kzbin.info/door/0zvtOF1BBPw6AsNZh5LnmQcommunity

[@RCFlyBoy314]

Screen recording while video recording was a fantastic example. Thank you! Haven't come across someone doing that yet

[@tuiastro]

Just got my GSO DOB 8". Thanks a lot for making this video available. It's useful and very inspiring. ❤

[@AstroEscape]

The 8 inch Dob is extremely useful! Not too heavy and has lots to offer!

[@TopNotchAviation738]

Do you have a recommended camera app for iPhone?

[@eriklehman3175]

very cool!!! do you have a video that shows how to do the stacking of the video? does it take the video and turn each frame into a single jpeg or raw image? i really wanna know! thanks

[@MountainFisher]

I know we need the rain, but what good are Bortle 4 to 2 skies if its cloudy every night all summer? Take a look at a Celestron Digital Camera Adaptor. You can put any small camera on it.

[@AstroEscape]

Hah, I hear you there, it's been pretty cloudy here. I'll take a look at it!

[@T.K.9]

Really interested on trying this out. My dob looks exactly like yours but its branded differently in the UK. Its a GSO as well but marketed as StellaLyra and mine is the 10" version. Although the planets looks crystal clear in person. With a camera it cannot be as clear. And I have not tried stacking stuff so far. I need to check some guides on how to do them! Also nice result, even the much smaller/farther saturn turned out great on the processed image.

[@AstroEscape]

Thanks for the compliment! Give it a try! Jupiter reaches opposition next month, it would be a great time to give it a shot.

[@stephanieo6252]

Yea, mine is a Zhumell

[@joaquinfabrega]

Hi, thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge. Months ago I got the same cellphone adapter, I have not being abled to align my iphone 11 with the eyepiece 🙁, any advice?

[@AstroEscape]

Play around with aligning without the eyepiece in the telescope, that way you have some light coming through. That once you see light coming through, that'll show the general area it needs to be in once on the telescope!

[@BETTYMOOBOO]

Thank you for making this video I have been trying for days to image Jupiter but couldn't get the settings right, using your smart phone settings and technique I've finally managed it tonight 🙌 Thanks again 😊

[@AstroEscape]

Glad I could help! It was cloudy where I was, hope your image turned out as great as I think it did!

[@csabakallai3830]

Wow your vids are very informative and great!

[@AstroEscape]

Thank you for the compliment ❤

[@hdemetri]

I know this is a one year old video, but I have a Galaxy S21 ultra phone and a 6 inch dob. I get decent stacked photos using very similar technique but I use 4k 60 FPS because I assume the higher frame rate will provide more data options for stacking and the higher resolution will provide a cleaner image when zooming in. You mention 1080 being better. I assume that newer smart phones use a true 4k sensor and the light gathering ability would be the same. Would I get more detail in 1080P resolution with my phone? I will probably test it out after this hurricane passes but I would love to know your thoughts on this.

[@AstroEscape]

The higher framerate will allow for more data, but the thing you want is a 1:1 pixel ratio, which I mentioned in this video. This helps in processing later. If you do a different ratio, it can produce artifacts that can mess with the overall image once it's stacked in Autostakkert or Registax. This is something that is mentioned not only for cell phones, but for dedicated planetary cams as well.

[@efulmer8675]

I have an Apertura AD12 with I think that exact same phone mount and I found noticeable streaking in my images if I went over 4 seconds at 50x magnification and like 1 second at 200x magnification, which is very different from all the methods that I had seen for calculating maximum exposure time. It's actually a big driver for me to buy an astrophotography camera so I can have more control over the imaging, although the taking a video isn't something I thought of so I'll definitely try that and check out your moon video on processing the footage.

[@AstroEscape]

Video makes a big difference, especially since the shutter speed can be quick based on the FPS you set it to.

[@hakksaw]

Curious if you’ve tried catching the Horsehead or Flame through your AD12… I have a 10 yr old AD10 but am hesitant to purchase a quality h beta if the aperture isn’t going to be enough to provide a view. This would be for visual use only of course, no tracking or imaging. Happy to see another Apertura owner lookin upwards. Cheers!

[@TopNotchAviation738]

What camera app is that and where can I get it?

[@Pandalorian1111]

i use open cam its basically the same

[@LarsAndersenFrihed]

The sound is fine. :)

[@AstroEscape]

Thanks! It sounded awful to me. Either way, I won't be relying on that camera for audio again!

[@techworld8961]

What’s a good phone mount fir a phone that has 3 camera lenses?

[@AstroEscape]

I'd still say the Celestron one. Most solid cell phone mount I've used and it should be fairly easy to line up whichever lens you want to use.

[@joeg6862]

What did you use in the way of eyepieces and Barlow?

[@AstroEscape]

I used the SVBONY 6mm 68 degree but no Barlow. Barlow would have been overkill and it would have been moving way too fast to keep it on target. On a night with great seeing, Jupiter and Saturn look amazing visually with that cheap little eyepiece!

[@AmatureAstronomer]

How might one get the photographs from the telephone into the computer?

[@AstroEscape]

USB cable connected to the computer and the phone is the easiest method :)

[@AmatureAstronomer]

@@AstroEscape Tried that. Failed. Called phone company. They said my phone was too old to do that. Bought new phone. Works fine. Thanks.

[@apollohill6733]

Wow those planets came out fantastic. I take pics through my refractor but not as good as yours.

[@AstroEscape]

Keep going, your pictures may pass mine one day :)

[@peacekeeperz81]

Amazing and entertaining video, subed.

[@AstroEscape]

Thanks, peacekeeper!

[@petset77]

Thanks for the walk through. Just wondering, would a better cellphone camera, such as on an iPhone, cause much issue with stacked images if zoomed at the device? I got great snapshots of the moon just hand holding my phone to the eyepiece... 1-1/4" 20mm with 2x Barlow, and some zoom on the phone. ...yeah, the moon, but pix were great... through an Orion 4.5EQ. It was our first scope, and those images and seeing cloud bands on Jupiter along with Saturn's rings prompted me to look for and buy an 8" Dobsonian for more aperture and deep sky viewing. I'm new at this, and don't even have a cellphone mount yet, but that's on the list. Any opinion/comment/suggestion will be greatly appreciated. ...Looking to get accessories that will work best on the Orion XT8. A 2" 2x Barlow is on my list, as well as UW (ultra wide) eyepieces. Thanks!

[@AstroEscape]

Yeah, a phone with a better sensor would make a difference. But I wouldn't chase the newest phone out there for the camera. The issue for iOS vs Android is that Android allows more manual control of the camera with the default app (which is what I used in this video), iOS requires third party apps for similar manual control. So while the sensor might be better on an iOS phone, the control might be better on Android. Until Apple allows more manual controls, I would sacrifice a little of the sensor for control. For that XT8, grab that Celestron cell phone mount I used, it's hands down the best cell phone mount I've ever used.

[@jragon321]

woooou, excelentes resultados, me sorprende lo que puedes logran solamente usando un telefono, saludos desde Chile

[@AstroEscape]

Tuve que usar el traductor de Google, pero, ¡gracias! Sí, es increíble lo que puedes hacer con un teléfono :)

[@strat1960s]

I am about a year late catching this video. What is the program you are looking at in the first few moments of this video??

[@AstroEscape]

ClearOutside, Astrospheric, and Clear Sky Chart. Those are the ones I use along with local weather and Windy.com to check the forecast.

[@strat1960s]

@@AstroEscape thank you

[@wake_flick4176]

What phone camera app are you using. Im on an iPhone and i cant change mye iso

[@AstroEscape]

Being on an iPhone is basically the reason. Apple locks down manual controls in the default app. It's been a while since I owned an iPhone, my recommendation is to find an app that can allow full camera control.

[@ryanfahrne5318]

Are you using a Barlow lens in the dobsonian?

[@AstroEscape]

Technically.... yes. The eyepiece has a barlow built in. I wasn't using a separate barlow though.

[@LxcasOnYT]

hello what phone mount do you use and where to buy? im going to get myself an 8 inch dobsonian because I need to go outside more.

[@AstroEscape]

I use the Celestron XYZ mount. There's a link to it on Amazon in the description. It's the best mount out there!

[@ianmacdonald2307]

Hi Daylon: I’m not at your level yet but enjoy your channel. Just a suggestion (if you don’t find a problem with the gearing on the SWSA). I have that Samyang lens and am very impressed with it so far. I’ve used it twice since I bought it this last summer. I have comfortably achieved 120 sec exposures with it. However, I mount the lens on a 3D printed bracket (2 rings and a Vixen plate) mounted to a Vixen clamp on the declination head. It allows me achieve perfect balance with it. The lens is as you know, pretty heavy and maybe out of balance in declination with the camera just mounted to the declination head. Just an observation on my part because I’ve never mounted it like you do.

[@AstroEscape]

I've seen the 135 both how I tried it and without the counterweight and the pictures that were made with it. But, I do think it's the gears AND the tripod. When I was at the Black Forest Star Party I put the Nifty Fifty lens on and it was still streaking stars at 10 seconds. Every time I aimed at my target polar alignment was knocked off. I've since bought the tripod built specifically for the SWSA, but I haven't gotten a chance to play with the wedge's gears yet (there's a lot of play in the dec gears). When I do I'm taking notes and will post my findings.

[@tizianobarilli3733]

What telescope have you used in this video ? Is possibile to see the planet like you with my Orion xt6? Thank you

[@AstroEscape]

I used a Zhumell Z8 in this. You'd be close with the same eyepiece, but it would be a little smaller and dimmer.

[@solid1096]

Can anyone explain me why you dont want to use 4k for this ? second: My iphone can do 12mp and 48mp, im correct 12mp is better for astrophotography with an phone and dobsonian?

[@horse._]

you want the fastest shutter speed you can get

[@AstroEscape]

Part of it is for the pixel ratio. You want it to be close to 1:1 so it helps with the sharpness when you process it.

[@Nottsboy24]

Nice results there 👌

[@AstroEscape]

Thank you. Have you done a planet shot with a cell phone?

[@Nottsboy24]

@@AstroEscape not yet but it's on my list of Astronomy things to do 👌

[@AstroEscape]

@@Nottsboy24 Nice! Have fun, when you give it a shot!

[@User-fq9lk]

hi, great video, just wondering what app you used to record on the iphone? cheers

[@AstroEscape]

I use Android, it has a built in screen recorder. I think iOS has one built in now too, at least on newer phones.

[@hifly1929]

I am considering an 8 or 10 dobsonian. More 8 though as per advice. Nice seeing some live views through a scope. Exactly what I was looking for on KZbin tonight. Btw you're video style and editing is worthy of a whole city subscribing to you 😊. So I'm doing just that cause I wanna see more of you👌

[@AstroEscape]

Thank you for your review! I have a related video coming out on Tuesday :)

[@darrensweet2124]

Awesome video 👍

[@AstroEscape]

Thank you Darren!

[@bubba_lynn_crude]

Awesome video! I'm really eager to try this myself! The hardest part for me will be the fact that I live right in the city. And it's a good long ways to go to escape it. For reference, what was the bortle class where this was taken?

[@AstroEscape]

Bortle 5-6 ish. For Jupiter and Saturn, Bortle scale doesn't really matter. Just need a calm atmosphere, it did this video on a pretty calm night. It's everything beyond our little Solar System neighborhood that the Bortle scale impacts for our hobby.

[@bubba_lynn_crude]

@@AstroEscape thank you for that helpful reply. I think I will try this method on a couple weeks at our next new moon. Do you have the video files up anywhere for processing practice?

[@astrox5063]

How exactly are you using the videos of Saturn and Jupiter to produce a clear image?

[@AstroEscape]

I used a process very similar to what I did in my Moon processing video. PIPP, Autostakkert, Registax, and Photoshop. Took a bunch of steps to pull it off, but it does work!

[@briankotak403]

Nice videos and shots of the two planets with your cell phone. Did you need to convert the videos from your cell phone first before processing or did the program(S) you used work with the native cell phone file format? The Celestron cell phone adapter looks nice and sturdy. Thanks as always for your videos. I always learn a lot and have a few chuckles at the same time. Dr B from Manitoba, 🇨🇦

[@AstroEscape]

The programs I used worked with the video file with no issue. I use Android, which records in .mp4 file format. PIPP now handles .mp4's with no issue, although I still converted it to uncompressed AVI just like in my Moon processing video. I'll be doing a guide in the coming weeks!

[@astronomiaacasa7237]

Excellent video material, well presented regarding the astronomical instruments used and accessories. I appreciate the work you put into making this clip. Congratulations, very useful and encouraging. I am still a beginner in astrophotography. Although I like making videos and not photos. Will I succeed? I tried on my channel and posted some clips taken at Moon. I made them with a smartphone, fixed with a corresponding accessory in two versions with the 127 mm CELESTRONE catadrioptic telescope and the 200 mm NEWTONIAN TS PHOTON telescope. Now I'm interested in making video clips of planets and then of DSO objects. What do you think I need to be successful in this project? I was thinking of buying a videoastro camera! Or can I make the clips for the planets and DSO even with the smartphone? Anticipated thanks for the answer.

[@AstroEscape]

Cell phone can always certainly work, as I showed in the video. But going with a dedicated setup will produce much better results. In either case, pay attention to astro weather charts and get your footage when the seeing is above average. It'll help with pulling out details :)

[@Dobviews]

I just saw Saturn last night through my new Dob10! So effing cool!

[@AstroEscape]

Love that first look through a new scope! Hopefully it looked at more since :)

[@Dobviews]

@@AstroEscape Proof on shorts! lol Still waiting on camera mount. Hover shots stink.

[@Twist-The-Friendly-Hunter]

So I don't know if you reply to new comments on your old videos... I've been looking into astrophotography since I was really young but could never get a good telescope and I had to hold my phone up to the lens to take images that weren't great. So I'm asking, what telescope, lens and phone mount would you recommend for a beginner as the one you show in the video seems to work very easily and very nice.

[@AstroEscape]

Definitely the Celestron one I mentioned for mounts. It is by far the easiest to use that I have seen. For telescope you'd want a Dobsonian, 8 inches or larger. Keep in mind though, that cell phones, while they are getting great for daytime photos, aren't the best for astrophotography. You'll really only be able to get the moon and the two planets I got in this video. Beyond that you'll want a DSLR or a dedicated astrophotography camera.

[@freebird889]

What camera program were you using on your phone?

[@AstroEscape]

The default one for the Galaxy S9. It has a lot of features!

[@rzrman5380]

Very cool video thank you for sharing .

[@AstroEscape]

Thank YOU for watching!

[@jackwojczynski8559]

What app/program were you using to record the videos of Saturn and Jupiter?

[@AstroEscape]

Just the default camera app on my phone.

[@AmatureAstronomer]

Just ordered the cell phone adapter. Better than mine.

[@AstroEscape]

I love that thing.

[@fjbsolutions2446]

I have a android. I will be trying it this weekend using a old school C8 from 1985. Shoyld be interesting!

[@AstroEscape]

I'm interested.... how did it go?

[@rayotoxi1509]

wait you dont want to use high Resolution well damm allways toke photos and videos wrong then i allways used highest settings avaible 4k

[@AstroEscape]

For planetary photos, that's correct. You want a 1:1 pixel correlation. You can do 4k on the Moon though.

[@AYUSHGaming-5555]

telescope name

[@AstroEscape]

Zhumell Z8 :)

[@gigglecon999]

Did you get a specific software on your computer to edit the photos?

[@AstroEscape]

Yes, I used pretty much the same process I did in my Moon processing video, using VirtualDub, PIPP, Autostakkert, and Registax. And of course, Photoshop. Those programs are the go to programs for most Solar System objects

[@FyreMunky69]

Great Video... It Has Me Putting Money Aside For The Phone Adapter I Will Be Using It On A Orion StarQuest 16XXg Dobsonian My Only Other Challenge Will be The Phone I Currently Have An LG G8x Which T-Mobile Wants Me To Trade In For One Of The Phones They Promote As Part Of Them Assuming Control Of My 16 Year Sprint Account So It Was Nice To See The Samsung 9 In This Is There A Specific Astro App On your Phone That You Used For The Pics Or Was That The Default Camera App...??

[@AstroEscape]

That was with the default camera app. Android allows more control over the camera than Apple does. I'm working on a full guide that won't have the same audio issues and I'll explain that there too!

[@FyreMunky69]

@@AstroEscape Awesome... Will look forward to it Thanks for the reply.

[@crystallily9437]

Funny guy but beautiful vids!

[@AstroEscape]

Thank you!

[@rauladdams5709]

Like and subscribed, thank you!

[@AstroEscape]

Thank you, Raul! I hope you enjoyed the video!

[@SimonsAstronomy]

Bruh 😂

[@stephanieo6252]

Toooooo many darn ads in your video. Can't even watch it

[@AstroEscape]

Even if I didn't have ads on, KZbin adds them to every video out there. I'm sorry that they interrupted!

[@horse._]

dont use the 2i? Dont worry i can take it off your hands 🤑🤑

[@AstroEscape]

Oh, I still use it. Not as often as I'd like, but I still use it :P

[@horse._]

@@AstroEscapeYeah i figured, i was just playing haha. Im probably gonna get an Az-GTI soon

[@uja1096]

You should reupload without the music if you want people to listen to you.

[@AstroEscape]

I'm going to redo the part where I did the planets as an actual guide in the coming weeks, but not use the action camera for it. A second upload of the same video without music YT will automatically delete, so I'll just do a new video entirely. I tried to balance the audio as best I could while lowering the music volume, I probably could have done more. Like I said though, lesson learned!

[@anandarochisha]

Fast forward to 6 minutes..if i wanted to hear something babbling to itself i would put a mirror in front of my budgie.

[@AstroEscape]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@anandarochisha]

@@AstroEscape it is meant for you to make better videos..time is important..we all weigh up whatever moments we have amongst millions of video timeshares..the ones I want to watch have something more than irrelevant internal dialogue..good luck

[@Bengal9063]

Your only friend is your budgie and even he feels like he's outgrown you. 6 minutes out of your life is nothing sad act.

[@anandarochisha]

@@Bengal9063 Happy Mothers Day,.