PHOTOGRAPHING MARS AT OPPOSITION - (14" TELESCOPE) ft. JUPITER & URANUS!

Here in this video I use my 14" dobsonian to attempt to capture my best photo of Mars. With it at opposition it gives me my best chance! I also point my telescope towards Jupiter & Uranus!
These are affiliate links below, it helps you support me at zero cost if you plan on buying any astro equipment. First Light Optics are one of the best in the world when it comes to buying astro equipment. Next day delivery in the UK, fast responsive customer service, international shipping!
Where I buy all my equipment -www.firstlight...
The telescope in this video - www.firstlight...
AstroZap Light Shroud - www.firstlight...
ZWO 585MC camera - www.firstlight...
TeleVue Barlows - www.firstlight...
ZWO ADC - www.firstlight...
The laser collimator I use - www.firstlight...
Skywatcher EQ6R Pro - www.firstlight...
TeleGizmo 365 cover (The best accessory I've ever bought!) - www.firstlight...
Software used:
PIPP
Autostakkert 4
AstroSurface
Follow me on my socials below!
Instagram - / @bbroastro
Bluesky - bsky.app/profi...
TikTok - / bbroastro
Chapters: TBC
#astronomy #space #cosmos #telescope #astrophotography #nightsky #planets #solarsystem #Mars #jupiter #uranus #planetalignment

[@bbroastro]

Hello fellow space cadets! ✨ I hope the clouds are staying at bay and you're enjoying many nights of clear skies 🙌 Photographing the planets has been really good fun and I hope you're all enjoying these adventures! My videos are now in 4K with proper subtitles (not auto generated), so hopefully this helps everyone to enjoy these videos even better! Links in the description to equipment if you're tempted to also catch some juicy planetary shots or just fancy some accessories for your astro rig 😎

[@mikeytrw]

I ordered an 8inch dob a few days ago, I'm also in UK, here's hoping I get clear skies when it arrives! Really enjoyed this. thanks

[@bbroastro]

Fingers crossed for clear skies! I hope you have a blast 🙌✨

[@AJs-Shutter]

GREAT video! And those skies look AMAZING, ben! THE PICTURES LOOK AWESOME!! You got ALOT Of potential man! Also, may i ask, what bortle you think/are in?? Those skies look worth stargazing and taking images after cloudy nights, haha!

[@bbroastro]

Thank you for the kind words, really appreciated 🙏 I'm low Bortle 4 / high bortle 3. It hugely depends on moisture levels though and I don't have an up to date SQM reading, but it's around 21.4

[@AJs-Shutter]

No problem!! That sounds awesome man, thank you for answering my question, lots of love, keep it up, love you're videos!! ❤ ​@@bbroastro

[@zeljkomrksic9687]

You have a Hollywood-level voice. Your videos are amazing. Thanks, man!

[@bbroastro]

Well, thank you!

[@Doesnotcare12]

Ben i think I've watched a few videos before of yours. Your videography, astrophotography, and most importantly, your personality are brilliant. At this moment, on the 29th of January 2025 I am one hour into the hoarsehead nebula with 10 second intervals. The moon is just an amazing subject even with the basic binoculars. Also I'm hearing about new software to me from you. Unfortunately Pip has a different and bad memories for me. Keep it up. This time I have subscribed so I don't have to wait until you randomly pop up again. Your whole production is sensible and natural presentation is top notch. Nice work.

[@bbroastro]

Thank you so much! This means a lot and I'm just so glad you enjoy the videos. I've had many years behind the camera, but this is the first time I've properly stepped in front of it, so it's a relief that people like the content 🙏 I hope the horse head imaging went well, a beautiful target! I still haven't properly captured it with how I'd like, but I've recently been capturing the flame nebula next door to it. Thanks again and clear skies!

[@ellynharries2548]

Thank YOU Ben for being YOU 🌟

[@georgebottarini1788]

Great video thank you. I have Celestron origin which is not good for planetary but I also have a cpc 1100. But it has been to cold In New Jersey and I’m a little to old to stand the cold. Again what a wonderful video.

[@mikehardy8247]

Exactly my story in Wisconsin. Finally warmer, with 40+ mph wind gusts😮

[@luboinchina3013]

In 2020 I've got similar results with 8inch.This year it was only half size of 2020. Really bad so I even didn't post it. It's amazing what you can capture with 14 inch.

[@bbroastro]

You know, I kept thinking that just before I setup to make this video. I would see 8" scope images with the same sort of detail as my 14" until I realised they were all shot in 2020 haha! Sadly I didn't have any sort of planetary setup in 2020, but the angular size looked amazing! We're unfortunately going to have to wait another 10 years from now for 2020 size again 🥲

[@MickysAquariums]

Have to say.....that was pretty interesting. I will be back for more! 😉

[@ScottCastrophotography]

Very cool video in all seriousness. I wish I had a telescope with the power yours has. It’d be amazing to see planets through the eyepiece on one of those monsters! Hope I will someday.

[@bbroastro]

Thanks Scott! A year ago I felt the exact same way. It's such a privilege to use one of these big dobs and I try to never take it for granted. Hopefully you'll get a view through one soon, maybe even something bigger! :D

[@andred.4664]

Dropping a comment here for the algorithm.. Massive respect from Brazil mate!

[@bbroastro]

Thanks man! Greatly appreciated - gotta boost that algo sometimes haha 🙌😎

[@ScottDavies]

Really enjoyed watching that Ben, you're getting good at this 👏😊👍

[@bbroastro]

Thank you Scott! Really appreciate it ✨🙏

[@Astro_Ash_Jeremy]

Dude you deserve much more views. I just got the same telescope but the 16’ inch

[@bbroastro]

Thanks man! 🙏 16" oh boy! I see so many good images out of the 16" scopes - must be amazing for visual too.

[@Astro_Ash_Jeremy]

@@bbroastro Yes bro I’m excited! I already have the 8 dob, 10 and the 12. So The 16 is where the rabbit hole 🕳️ ends haha 😂

[@ridetheliger4176]

Thank you!

[@johanwelgemoed6143]

Awesome video!

[@davidhenderson1073]

Really well done Ben, nice to see your procedures and of course your results, spectacular!

[@bbroastro]

Thank you David 🙏

[@Ankles]

forever grateful to the universe for making me search 14" dob on youtube and seeing your first video with the beast uploaded mere minutes ago. Great videos!!!

[@bbroastro]

Thank you sooo much! I'm so glad you are liking the videos 🙌 I'm also glad the algorithm worked out for you :D

[@vertix10]

really well made video🙌

[@robertbird915]

Cracking video 👍

[@bbroastro]

Thanks Robert!

[@craiglowery4427]

Excellent video Ben. Do you do a three star alignment on your dob? There is a wonderful upgrade to RS6 called waveSharp2. It was developed by the same team who developed RS6. Lastly are you using an UV/IR cut filter? Thanks so much. Awesome images

[@bbroastro]

Thanks Craig, I appreciate it and I'm glad you liked the images 🙌 Yes I do 2 star alignment - really I should do 3 star, in hindsight. I haven't tried WaveSharp or RS6 (I only know RS6 as a car to be honest haha) but I've just had a look and will definitely try it out! Yep, I'm using a UVIR, it's pretty much mandatory on nearly all the ZWO cameras, including the 585. I'm using an Astronomik L2 UVIR :) Hope this helps!

[@nicholasbunio]

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!!!!!!!

[@IgniteYourMonkhood]

Great content, you earned my subscription love from india brother

[@bbroastro]

Thanks man! ✨🙏

[@ellynharries2548]

I've elbowed my way to a front row seat.

[@bbroastro]

The early bird gets the worm! I hope you enjoy the video, it's got a little bit of everything this time round ✨🙏

[@ellynharries2548]

An Astro Buffet 🌟

[@ChrisB89071]

How well does the 14" track? Or how long? Ive been eyeing it for a while!

[@bbroastro]

It's tracks pretty darn good. The tracking quality hugely depends on how level you get the base and how well you star align. If you get those really solid, then it'll track at max magnification pretty well with only minor corrections needed. When I slap a 32mm eyepiece in it with a good setup, it'll track for aaaages, this is what makes it so good for imaging.

[@Astro_Ash_Jeremy]

Question 🙋‍♂️ did you used the syncscan app linked to sharpcap on this? like downloading the Ascom driver software and Ascom hand controller etc..to manage the telescope through sharpcap? Or did you do regular 2 star alignment with the hand controller and nothing else?

[@bbroastro]

I just do the regular 2 star alignment. I've tried many routes to connect the scope directly to the PC and using the Wifi App - but it has too many quirks to make it efficient for me to be honest! That said, I need to get it up and running for a future planned image / video.. 👀🛰

[@Astro_Ash_Jeremy]

@@bbroastro I know exactly what you mean, yea bro, is to be expected running it through WiFi. It does work through a usb and you can link everything through NiNa. But I’m not familiar with NiNa unless I want to give it a try

[@RIPSOE404]

The problem I have is if you're going to use a computer you might as well just go on Google. Unless I'm seeing the light hit my own eye, it's all fake to me :/ But obviously in the UK the results from that suck.

[@bbroastro]

I mean, that could apply to photography as a whole. The reason I do astrophotography is because I find it fun, but also because it allows me after the matter to look at details up close that my eyes couldn't see. Visual *is* great, but astrophotography lets us see deeper.

[@RIPSOE404]

@@bbroastro I agree with that though as if I go on holiday I wont take pictures of things on their own as they already exist, I'm taking pictures of people there to keep my memories. There isn't going to be anyone else with pictures of your pet either, it's memory building. However a nebular is a nebular and it will not change in our life time and there are already things like Hubble taking way better pictures than we ever could. There is a joy of seeing something with your own eyes. However if I'm going to see the same old picture of something on Google that never changes.... I get nothing from that. Looking at once in a life time events or documenting changes over time would be different. However I'm never going to say buy a smart telescope and then got "I'll look at Andromeda in several hours after bed after it's all processed" or whatever. That just doesn't excite me like being able to get an analogue telescope and looking at it in real time cause I can google photos of it right now and they'll be far better.

[@PatriotWatcher1]

I come from beyond Jupiter, beyond Venus and that's waaaaay past Uranus buddy!

[@ProcyonAlpha]

Looks like a beautiful place to live in the UK, which part of the country?

[@bbroastro]

West Midlands just outside of Wales - it is very beautiful here!

[@ProcyonAlpha]

Also the cover that you took off the 8 inch? Does that keep it safe from the uk weather outside? Would love to leave my 10" eq6 Orion optics scope outside but worried about the awful uk weather destroying it

[@bbroastro]

Yep! It's a fantastic cover and the best accessory I think anyone can buy. I've had it for over 2 years and it's perfect still. It has survived all the big storms and as long as you're sensible with moisture control and high winds, it'll be the best quality of life improvement you can add. If you're UK based, I truly cannot highly recommend them enough. I've had my setup outside nonstop for over a year and haven't had a polar alignment in a *really* long time. It means you can uncover the scope and get imaging for a brief 1-2 hour window you might have and not worry about rain if it suddenly comes in. They're heavy duty and have been tested in some pretty extreme climates (way more so than the UK's weather hah). You just need to make sure to air the scope out occasionally, run desiccant packs and use WD40 occasionally for rust prevention. My setup still looks new even though it's been outside for about 3 years. The main thing is keeping an eye on wind gusts and direction. I don't leave mine out with wind gusts forecast over 50mph coming from the west (for my location) but don't take this as gospel. It *has* survived over 65mph winds, but that wasn't planned and I had the mount weighed down with 40KG of extra weights to lower to centre of gravity. All that said, if you're even considering it, do it - it'll truly be the best thing you ever added to your setup and your quality of life for astro will sky rocket. This would be the one for your setup - www.firstlightoptics.com/telegizmos-telescope-covers/telegizmos-365-scope-cover-for-10-12-f5-eq-mounted-newtonians/ref/bbroastro The above is an affiliate link, but literally no pressure to use it or buy the cover! I just hope the above info helps 🙏

[@ProcyonAlpha]

@@bbroastro Thank you so much for that mate, lugging the eq6 pro out with the 10" , getting it polar aligned only to see the clouds roll in on what was predicted a clear night can be very frustrating! Thanks again definitely going to order one.

[@bbroastro]

@@ProcyonAlpha Totally know these feelings! Where I now live, isolated showers are a real issue and I on one night I had sudden rain hit 3 times. Setting up 4 times in one night was the catalyst to me finally getting a TeleGizmo cover haha. The one thing (and autofocus) I'd buy again in a heartbeat.