Reader Forums
Astronomy forums are FREE. If you wish to participate you must LOGIN | REGISTER.

CCD imaging

Beginner CCD
Last post 07-08-2009 11:30 PM by WABarry. 3 replies.
Sort Posts:
Page 1 of 1 (4 items)
  • 07-02-2009 08:40 AM

    Beginner CCD

    Well i have decided to try and do some CCD imaging.  I have been doing prime focus with my D40 for awhile and been pretty happy with the results.  I just purchased a 9.25" SCT and now would like to use my 100mm refractor for a guide scope.  Also would like to use the CCD for planetary imaging since the dSLR sucks for it.  I dont wanna go and spend top dollar on a premium CCD just yet i would like to test the waters alittle.  Anyone have any suggestions on a budget CCD?  I have thought about webcams but i wasnt sure what one that is still available would work.  Thanks guys.

    Signature
    Celestron 9.25" SCT
    Orion 100mm Refractor f/6 600mm Focal Length
    Celestron Advanced GT CG-5
    Nikon D40
    Starlight Xpress MX-516

    http://jlittlejr.com - Personal Astro Web page(under construction)
    http://company7.com - Favorite Astro Store
  • 07-02-2009 08:51 AM In reply to

    Re: Beginner CCD

    For planets you want to avoid the CCD and go with a webcam.

    You can still find the Philips SPC900NC on Astromart.

    Join the QCUIAG group on Yahoo for the latest news on planetary webcams.

    Another option is a Lumenera or a DMK/DBK USB camera. These are available in higher resolutions than the webcams and also produce video streams for use with programs like Registax.

    Another route is the NexImage from Celestron or the StarShoot from Orion.

    I use cameras from Astronomy Cameras dot com (formerly The Imaging Source) and webcams.

    You should check out this link and this link, to learn more about the DMK/DBK cameras. They can be used both as solar, lunar, and planetary imagers at high frame rates, and in long-exposure mode for DSOs.

    A good source for other cameras is Adirondack AstroVideo online here.

    And just about any sort of adapter you'd need is available here.

     

    Signature
    The universe is not only stranger than we imagine, it's stranger than we CAN imagine. --- JBS Haldane
  • 07-02-2009 11:41 AM In reply to

    Re: Beginner CCD

     Thank you!  I really wanna find that webcam.

    Signature
    Celestron 9.25" SCT
    Orion 100mm Refractor f/6 600mm Focal Length
    Celestron Advanced GT CG-5
    Nikon D40
    Starlight Xpress MX-516

    http://jlittlejr.com - Personal Astro Web page(under construction)
    http://company7.com - Favorite Astro Store
  • 07-08-2009 11:30 PM In reply to

    • WABarry
    • Joined on 02-07-2008
    • Vancouver, WA
    • Posts 510

    Re: Beginner CCD

    For what it's worth, here is my advice:

    Use your 9.25" SCT for the moon and planets...........and use your 100mm for deep sky.   The 9.25" has a very long focal length......your field of view will be too small for most deep sky objects.   Conversely, the long focal length will be an advantage for solar system imaging......where you want to be up close and personal with the planets....they are tiny targets.

    Use the shorter focal length 100mm for deep sky....to give you a much wider field of view.  A wider field of view will also reduce the effect of tracking errors.

    Your DSLR will make a great deep sky camera.   NOTHING you can buy for anywhere near the same price will produce images as good!   Meade DSI's and Orion StarShoots are great guide cameras, but they will not come close to a DSLR in image quality!  

    You can certainly go for a high-end CCD, if the budget will allow, but a DSLR is VERY hard to beat.

    The secret of astro-photography (deep sky and solar system) is aligning and stacking multiple exposures!    Even the Hubble Space Telescope uses this method.    With a webcam, you are going to capture an approximate 1-3 minute video clip......about 2000 frames give or take.  With your DSLR, you are going to capture multiple exposures (depends on your tracking accuracy) of 15 to 300 seconds each.   The more the better, generally.   In both cases, software then aligns and stacks the individual frames to create a single image.

    Signature
    12 inch classic Dobsonian
    Orion 130mm ST f/5 reflector
    Celestron NexStar 4" Mak-Cass
    Orion 80mm short tube refractor
    Celestron CG5 GoTo mount
    ToUcam pro II 840k
    Orion Starshoot II color
    Orion 9x63 binoculars
Page 1 of 1 (4 items)
E-mail Address: Password:
Remember me?

Forgot your password » | Login help »

Not a member? Register » | Why join? »

My Profile

Copyright © 2009 Astronomy.com
Powered by Community Server (Commercial Edition), by Telligent Systems