Starlog March 9th, 2026, 9:27 p.m. local time
In my last article on Jupiter, I showed my first attempt with my new ZWO ASI planetary camera. After nearly a year I was able to try out the camera again, with all the lessons from those initial sessions in March and April of 2025. The setup was effectively the same, but with a few key differences which, in my opinion, resulted in a far better final image. It’s nowhere near perfect, but progress.
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As far as the mechanical setup, it was nearly the same as 2025. I did get a new laptop, one with a lit keyboard, which made basic desktop navigation easier by a factor of 10. Even more important, I set up the laptop so that I could “remote control” it from my indoor office desktop. While I still needed to do the initial alignments and focus adjustments outdoors, once set I was able to complete the actual video captures indoors.
If you have never done an outdoor/indoor telescope setup, it is hard to appreciate how much better this is over fiddling with all the equipment in the dark. And this night, March 9th, was near-ideal, at nearly 80 degrees Fahrenheit, no wind, clear skies, and no bugs. I still very much preferred being inside for the main captures.
While inside at the comfort of my desk, I could control the mount and focuser with zero distractions and equipment worry. The only challenge was that sometimes the WiFi would cut out. I have attempted to rectify this by getting a separate USB adapter with a nine-foot extension cable, which will allow me to place the antenna much closer to my house. I will try this setup out on my next session, whenever the weather allows (the weeks since March 9th have been consistently miserable for stargazing; it’s like we had two good Spring preview days, then back to prolonged Winter).
Thanks to Celestron’s CPWI desktop control software, I was able to make very precise focuser adjustments, and recorded them in my journal. Again, this was squarely a benefit of being indoors and having the capability to multitask as if I was simply working my day job.
Removing the x5 Barlow from the imaging train was a huge plus, and contributed to being able to move the mount efficiently from the remote indoor/outdoor setup.
In another practical improvement, reducing the video capture area to 1280×720 seemed to remove a lot of distortions I found with higher resolutions. Perhaps counter intuitively, lower resolutions allow more precise sampling of the image sensor.
I spent considerable time on this image and all of the other video samples. Most of the effort was within WaveSharp 3, which I am still figuring out. In the end, for this stage of my learning, I am pleased with the result.
After the session, in addition to the new USB antenna setup, I made (purchased) a few other tweaks in an attempt to more automate the entire capture experience. More on this once I get a chance to try it all out.
Equipment Used:
- Celestron NexStar Evolution 9.25 Schmidt-Cassegrain
- ZWO ASI676MC planetary camera
- – Capture Area Size = 1280 * 720
- – Capture Limit = 90 s
- – Colour Format = RAW8
- – Debayer Preview = ON
- – Debayer Type = RGGB
- – Exposure = 8ms
- – Frame Count = 11156
- – Gain = 97
- – Temperature = 25.9 C
- – TimeZone = -5
- No Barlow, no filter
- Created from a 90s video, best 75% of frames via Autostakkert
- Software for post-processing:
- – PIPP
- – Autostakkert 4
- – WaveSharp 3
- PaintShop Pro for minor touch-ups
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A very good image, Paul. ZWO cameras are very popular here in Oz.
I use my laptop by the telescope. Using it indoors is not feasible because my telescope is set up on the front driveway.
Thank you, Roger.
My computer setup is telescope -> laptop -> WiFi -> router -> office desktop PC. I think the key for me is that my router is right by my yard’s class window pane, in relative proximity to my telescope.