Webcam Mods

[Anonymous]

Hi All,
   I am new to astronomy but have long had an interest since being given a home made scope way back in the 60's. As I am about to be kicked out of my job on early retirement (in 42days 23hours and 28mins time), I decided to buy a Meade ETX125 and various trimmings. It will get it's first outing this weekend (up t'North) if the weather allows. (By the way, Meade have extended their eye piece offer yet again!!)

While not wishing to run before I can walk, I want to get into astrophotography and I'm looking at the Starlight Express range (expensive aren't they!). Doing some reading, I see that it is popular to use modified webcams. This would be a cheap introduction I thought. Does anybody have any info or web links that can give me details of mods.

With any luck I will get to one of your meetings and find out what all the fuss is about.

Now, if only I can work out how to get this ETX mount level and pointing North...

[Alan]

I don't know what happened there! I am not Anonymous and I am registered.

[Rocket Pooch]

Hi Alan,

Nice to see you have joined the forum.  

I think the best people to talk to about modified web cams would probably be Ian and John, they both have modified ToUCam Pro's.  

Paul used a Starlight Express and I have a SAC8.  

If you could get along to the next meeting grab hold of us and have a chat.  

There is loads of resources on the web relating to the use of web cameras.  The main resource everyone seems to be comfortable with is the http:\www.QCUIAG.co.uk web site and groups.yahoo.com/group/QCUIAG yahoo group.

These loads of free software available for image capture and processing, two of the most popular are: -

K3CCD tools available from http://www.pk3.org/Astro/index.htm?k3ccdtools_download.htm

This is a neat utility for capturing the raw images.

You could then process them using something like Registax, available from: -

http://aberrator.astronomy.net/registax/

I've only been doing this myself since December but I've already got some good results, so if you need any help, I'm just round the corner.

Regards



Chris

[JohnP]

Hi Alan,

Welcome to the forum. I second Chris's comments - getting started with a webcam is very easy & inexpensive. All you need is a webcam (need to make sure you get the correct type - must have ccd detector & not cmos) & an adapter to connect it to the eyepiece of your telescope. Total cost approx £80. Then all you need is to download free s/w (K3CCDTools & Registax). You will of course need a laptop as well. Beats spending hundreds if not thousands on commercial camera's.

I've been imaging for about 1 1/2 years from Bromley. My results are here:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.punnett/

Chris's images with an ETX 125 earlier this week were excellent (I'm sure you've seen the posts).

Hope to see you at one of the next OAS meetings,

John.

[Whitters]

Hi Alan,
The webcam is a great, and cheap way to get into astronomical imaging. With plenty of targets for the webcam, with Jupiter and Saturn the show stoppers. The Moon has so much to offer, Venus is putting on a good show in the evening at the moment.( Talking of which John and Chris I havent seen any images of Venus from  this apperition, anyone up for it?). With the transit of Venus coming in July, with the use of the proper full apature filters the transit will be a great target.

There are safety issues when observing the Sun here are a few sites chosen at random with info on filters and their use.
http://www.petevasey.btinternet.co.uk/SolFilt.htm
http://www.thousandoaksoptical.com/solar.html
http://www.telescopesales.co.uk/kensol.htm
http://www.telescopesales.co.uk/solfilinst.htm

[Whitters]

Another chap to talk to is Ian, he is the surgeon, cutting legs off of defensless CCD chips and producing the long exposure web cam.

[Alan]

Thank you all for your replies. I've had a browse at some of the links. Plenty of info there. Hopefully my soldering skills are still up to it! It certainly seems that you guys have a wealth of experience which I will no doubt be thankful of later.
Those images look pretty good too. It's also nice to be able to see some taken with the ETX125 to give me a good indication of what it is capable of.

[Rick]

I think, if you rummage through the forum, you'll find some comments from Mike about soldering at the scale the webcam mods require....

(Unless they've been bleeped out?)

[Mike]

I don't wish to talk about it - the mental scars are still too deep.