Solar System

【Date】2025/05/03

【Pic Info】

定期會查看 spaceweather.live 網站，這幾天會有比較大的太陽黑子，因此花個半小時拍拍攝。照片中最大的黑子，編號為 AR4079，以下是這群黑子的詳細資訊：

• 編號：AR4079

• 強度：β-γ，意思為一個雙極太陽黑子群，但複雜到無法在相反極性的斑點之間劃出清晰的界線。

• 半球的百萬分之一：1,200，約為 36 億 5,200 萬 ㎞²，對應地表面積約為 5 億 1,000 萬 ㎞²。

太陽黑子是太陽光球上的臨時現象，它們在可見光下呈現比周圍區域黑暗的斑點。它們是由高密度的磁性活動抑制了對流的激烈活動造成的，在表面形成溫度降低的區域。雖然它們的溫度仍然大約有 3,000K - 4,500K，但是與周圍 5,780K 的物質對比之下，使它們清楚的顯視為黑點。

通常拍攝月表、太陽表面會用長焦段的鏡筒。我的鏡筒焦段是 1,300mm，若稍微有點風，望遠鏡會搖晃非常厲害，若是接上單眼，單拍一張比較難成圖，因此會用「錄影疊圖法」進行拍攝與後製。簡單來說，現在普遍的攝錄的影格速度（FPS）為 30fps / s，也就是一秒的影片可以拆成 30 張圖像，再用拆解的圖像疊圖起來讓畫面更為清晰，就會比單張晃動的影像更為清晰。

I regularly check the website spaceweather.live, and in recent days, larger sunspots have been visible, so I spent about half an hour capturing some images. The largest sunspot in the photos is numbered AR4079. Below are the detailed specifications of this sunspot group:

• Number: AR4079

• Magnetic Classification: β-γ, meaning it is a bipolar sunspot group but complex enough that no clear line can be drawn between regions of opposite magnetic polarity.

• Millionths of the Sun’s Visible Hemisphere: 1,200, which corresponds to approximately 3.652 billion km², and Earth’s surface is about 510 million km².

Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the Sun’s photosphere, appearing as dark spots in visible light compared to the surrounding areas. They arise due to intense magnetic activity that suppresses vigorous convective motion, creating localized zones of reduced surface temperature. Although their temperatures still range around 3,000K to 4,500K, they stand out as dark spots because of the contrast against the surrounding material, which is about 5,780K.

When photographing the lunar surface or the Sun’s surface, long focal-length telescope tubes are typically employed. My telescope has a focal length of 1,300mm, and even light winds can cause substantial shaking. When attaching a DSLR camera, capturing a single, sharp image is challenging. Therefore, I use the video stacking method for both imaging and post-processing. Simply put, the common frame rate (FPS) for video recording today is 30 fps, meaning one second of video can be split into 30 individual frames. By stacking these frames, the final image gains improved clarity, achieving a much sharper result than any single, shake-affected shot.

【Pic Info】

• Telescope：Kenko Sky Explorer SE-GT102M

• Camera：Nikon D750

• mp4 30s (912 frames, selecting the top 50%)

• ISO 640

• 1/100 s

• 1300 mm

【Post-production】

• Using PPIP to separate each frame of mp4 file

• Using AutoStakkert to stack 912 frames to TIF file

• Using LR to adjust contrast, sharpness, etc.

【Date】2024/10/17

【Pic Info】

這次彗星的拍攝行程終於結束了，這幾天非常充實，下班後就是扛著望遠鏡到處跑（雖然未來幾天還是可以拍，但北台灣的天氣實在讓人擔心 XD）。而根據最新的彗星軌道是微弱的雙曲線，還不確定會不會被彈出太陽系。

這次的成果選了兩張，雖然都是同一天拍攝的，但因為設定不同的 RGB 通道，因此結果也會大不相同。一個是較接近彗星實際顏色，另一個是降低藍色通道，提升綠色通道，讓彗星呈現螢光綠的樣子。

這也是我人生第一次追彗星，跟同好們互相分享資訊，以及享受用雙筒望遠鏡看彗星的過程。希望還有機會見到這麼明亮的彗星！

This comet shooting trip is finally over. The past few days have been very fulfilling. After work, I just ran around with the telescope (although I can still take pictures in the next few days, but The weather in northern Taiwan is really worrying XD). According to the latest comet‘s orbit, which is a weak hyperbola, it is not yet certain whether it will be ejected from the solar system.

This time I chose two results. Although they were both taken on the same day, the results will be very different because of the different RGB channel settings. One is closer to the actual color of the comet, and the other is to lower the blue channel and increase the green channel to make the comet appear fluorescent green.

This was also the first time in my life that I chased comets, shared information with fellow enthusiasts, and enjoyed watching comets with binoculars. I hope I will have another chance to see such a bright comet!

———

• iOptron GEM28

• William Optics REDCAT 51 WIFD

• ZWO ASI 2600MC Duo

• ZWO ASIAIR Mini

• Antlia RGB ULTRA

• 2024/10/17

• Dark: 10 * 60s (total 10 min)

• Flat: 40 * 50ms

• Light: 10 * 60s (total 10 min)

• ★★ PixInsight processing:

  • Script > Batch Procesing > Weigthed Batch Processing: Stack 10 pic

  • CometAlignment

  • ImageIntegration

  • StarNet

  • HistogramTransformation

  • ColorSaturation

  • PixMath: Recombine comet & stars

• ★★ Lightroom post production

• ★★ Photoshop crop & add logo

【拍攝時間】2024/08/22

【Pic Info】

土星與地球都繞著太陽公轉，也各自繞著各自的自轉軸旋轉，自轉軸與黃道面（行星公轉的軌道平面）間的傾角（obliquity）會緩慢變化。去年 2023 年土星與地球的傾角相差約 9 度，今年將減少到約 3.7 度，至 2025/05/09，土星與地球的傾角完全平行，屆時在地球上觀測到的土星環將等同消失的天文現象。因此記錄從 2021 年開始土星傾角的變化。

Saturn and the Earth both orbit the sun, and each rotates around its own axis of rotation. The obliquity between the axis of rotation and the ecliptic plane (the orbital plane of the planet’s revolution) will slowly change. Last year in 2023, the inclination angle of Saturn and the Earth was about 9 degrees. This year it will be reduced to about 3.7 degrees. By 2025/05/09, the inclination angle of Saturn and the Earth will be completely parallel. At that time, the rings of Saturn observed on the Earth will disappear. Therefore records changes in Saturn’s tilt starting in 2021.

【拍攝時間】2024/08/22

【Pic Info】

2024/08 土星。今年的土星衝將在 2024/09/08 登場。土星衝將是一年之中太陽、地球、土星連成一條線，土星最亮的時候，衝日前後兩個月都適合觀察。不過考量望遠鏡對焦方便，改為虧凸月的時候拍攝。（因為土星真的很小啊～1300 mm 望遠鏡的焦距，就算使用加倍鏡也只是小小一點）

This year’s Saturn opposition will appear on 2024/09/08. The Saturn opposition is the time of year when the Sun, Earth, and Saturn are aligned in a line. When Saturn is at its brightest, it is suitable for observation two months before and after the opposition. However, considering the convenience of focusing the telescope, the photo was taken during the waning gibbous moon. (Because Saturn is really small ~ the focal length of a 1300 mm telescope, even with a teleconverter, is only a little smaller)

【Pic Info】

• Kenko Sky Explorer SE-GT102M 

• ZWO ASI 462MC CMOS

• TeleVue POWERMATE 2.5X

• ZWO ADC

• Gain: 350

• Expore: 50 ms

• Brightness: 100

【Post-production】

• SharpCap

• AutoStakkert

• RegiStax

• Photoshop

【拍攝時間】2024/08/10

【Pic Info】

近期的太陽黑子又開始增加，趁著下雷雨前拍一波。

別小看太陽黑子佔太陽表面積這麼小，實際上黑子大小可以塞好幾個地球呢！

[Sunspots AR3780] Sunspots have begun to increase again recently. I took photos before the thunderstorm today.

Don’t underestimate the small area of ​​the sun’s surface that sunspots occupy. In fact, sunspots are so big that they can fill several Earths!

【Pic Info】

• Telescope：Kenko Sky Explorer SE-GT102M

• Camera：Nikon D750

• mp4 27s (883 frames)

• ISO 1500

• 1/250 s

• 1300 mm

【Post-production】

• Using PPIP to separate each frame of mp4 file

• Using AutoStakkert to stack 1,014 frames to TIF file

• Using LR to adjust contrast, sharpness, etc.

【拍攝時間】2024/04/08 UTC-5

【Pic Info】

• Telescope：Kenko Sky Explorer SE-GT102M

• Camera：Nikon D750

【拍攝時間】2024/04/08 UTC-5

【Pic Info】

• Telescope：Kenko Sky Explorer SE-GT102M

• Camera：Nikon D750

【拍攝時間】2024/02/12 16:30

【Az/Alt】246°11’47.6”　+15°43’45.7“  - 246°15’43.4”　+15°37’33.7“

【Pic Info】

• Telescope：Kenko Sky Explorer SE-GT102M

• Camera：Nikon D750

• mp4 30s (1,161 frames)

• ISO 640

• 1/50 s

• 1300 mm

【Post-production】

1. Using PPIP to separate each frame of mp4 file

2. Using AutoStakkert to stack 1,014 frames to TIF file

3. Using LR to adjust contrast, sharpness, etc.

【拍攝時間】2023/11/25 12:30

【Az/Alt】195°12’49.0”　+43°00’31.0“  - 195°22’05.1”　+42°58’43.1“

【Pic Info】

• Telescope：Kenko Sky Explorer SE-GT102M

• Camera：Nikon D750

• mp4 33s (1,014 frames)

• ISO 320

• 1/30 s

• 1300 mm

【Post-production】

1. Using PPIP to separate each frame of mp4 file

2. Using AutoStakkert to stack 1,014 frames to TIF file

3. Using LR to adjust contrast, sharpness, etc.

【拍攝時間】2023/11/03

【Az/Alt】

• 108°47’38.2”　+62°08’25.6“ - 159°11’45.8”　+78°00’21.2“

【相機參數】

• Telescope: Kenko Sky Explorer SE-GT102M

• Camera: ZWO ASI 462MC CMOS

• Barlow Lens: TeleVue POWERMATE 2.5X

• ZWO ADCCapture: SharpCap

• Stack: AutoStakkert

• Edit: RegiStax & Photoshop

【Pic Info - 木星】

• Gain: 250

• Expore: 25 ms

• Brightness: 113

• Take the first 50% of 6000 frames * 23 videos

【拍攝時間】2023/09/30

【相機參數】

• Telescope: Kenko Sky Explorer SE-GT102M

• Camera: ZWO ASI 462MC CMOS

• Barlow Lens: TeleVue POWERMATE 2.5X

• ZWO ADCCapture: SharpCap

• Stack: AutoStakkert

• Edit: RegiStax & Photoshop

【Pic Info - 土星】

• Gain: 300

• Expore: 25 ms

• Brightness: 100

• 40 Frames / s

【Pic Info - 木星】

• Gain: 250

• Expore: 25 ms

• Brightness: 113

• 40 Frames / s

【拍攝時間】2023/09/29

【相機參數】

• Telescope：Kenko Sky Explorer SE-GT102M

• Nikon D750

• 1300 mm

• ISO 800

• 1/640s

• mp4 30s

• PIPP capture 918 pics

• AutoStakkert to TIF file

• Use Photoshop to composite landscapes and the moon

【後製過程】

1. 疊完圖後，進 LR 調整曝光、對比、亮部、陰部、白色、黑色、紋理、清晰度、去朦朧、鮮豔度、飽和度、HSL、紅藍原色飽和度，廷調整銳利化。

2. 進 PS 疊月球和天景。

【拍攝時間】2023/08/31

【相機參數】

• Telescope：Kenko Sky Explorer SE-GT102M

• Nikon D750

• 1300 mm

• ISO 800

• 1/640s

• White Balance: 4550k 

• mp4 59s

• PIPP capture 1,794 pics

• AutoStakkert to TIF file

• Use Photoshop to composite landscapes and the moon

【拍攝時間】2023/08/26

【相機參數】

• Telescope：Kenko Sky Explorer SE-GT102M

• Nikon D750

• 1300 mm

• ISO 350

• mp4 302s

• PIPP capture 9,660 pics

• AutoStakkert to TIF file

• Use Photoshop to composite landscapes and the moon

【拍攝時間】2023/08/13

【相機參數】

• iOptron SkyGuider Pro

• Nikon D750 + MS 光害濾鏡

• 120 mm (cropped)

• ISO 1000

• f4

• 8s * 56 = 448 s (total exposure time)

• 平場 56 張、暗場 56 張

• Sequator 疊圖

• Lightroom 調色

• Photoshop 流星圖層疊合

【拍攝時間】2022/09/17　UTC+8 20:17

【相機參數】

• Telescope: Kenko Sky Explorer SE-GT102M

• Camera: ZWO ASI 462MC CMOS

• Barlow Lens: TeleVue POWERMATE 2.5X

• ZWO ADC

• Gain: 150

• Expore: 45 ms

• Brightness: 113

• 30 Frames / s

• Capture: SharpCap

• Stack: AutoStakkert

• Edit: RegiStax & Photoshop

【拍攝時間】2022/08/13　UTC+8 22:36

【相機參數】

• Telescope: Kenko Sky Explorer SE-GT102M

• Camera: ZWO ASI 462MC CMOS

• Barlow Lens: TeleVue POWERMATE 2.5X

• ZWO ADC

• Gain: 350

• Expore: 25 ms

• Brightness: 113

• 30 Frames / s

• Capture: SharpCap

• Stack: AutoStakkert

• Edit: RegiStax & Photoshop

【拍攝時間】2021/08/27　Saturn：UTC+8 21:13　Jupiter：UTC+8 20:56

【相機參數】

• Kenko Sky Explorer SE-GT102M + TeleVue Powermate 2.5Z + ZWO ADC + ZWO ASI 462MC CMOS

• Jupiter：Exposure 80 ms／Gain 75／Frame Rate 30 fps

• Saturn：Exposure 80 ms／Gain 220／Frame Rate 30 fps

• Edited with SharpCap、AutoStakkert、RegiStax、Photoshop

【拍攝時間】2021/08/16　Saturn：UTC+8 20:37　Jupiter：UTC+8 21:08

【相機參數】

• Kenko Sky Explorer SE-GT102M + TeleVue Powermate 2.5Z + ZWO ADC + ZWO ASI 462MC CMOS

• Edited with SharpCap、AutoStakkert、RegiStax、Photoshop

【拍攝日期】2021/06/28 UTC+8 14:49 - 17:24

【相機參數】

• Kenko Sky Explorer SE-GT102M & iPhone 7 Camera

• Edited with Photoshop