Focal reducer question

[04Stefan07]

I went to take a few shots of the Moon last night with my new NexImage 5 and I was unable to fit the entire Moon in the image.

I have a Newtonian scope. Would focal reducers (product below) help show the entire Moon??

http://www.bintel.com.au/Astrophotography/Reducers--Correctors--Flatteners/Bintel-Focal-Reducer-br--0-5x---25mm-extension--1-25--/672/productview.aspx

Thanks!

[mithrandir]

Stefan, any FR below 0.7 should fit the moon on your chip. You might have a bit of fun getting focus, but I can't say for sure as I don't have a Newt.

[04Stefan07]

OK cool. Would anyone with a Newtonian know for sure?

[04Stefan07]

Does anyone know a solution to this problem? I actually bought the reducer that is shown in the link below a while ago and tried it but the Moon still couldn't fit in the whole view so I had to take it back.

Thanks.

[gbeal]

Don't know the answer, and likely until you actually try it, you won't either. Too many variables. I have a newt, and have never used a focal reducer with it. Partly, the small amount of focus available, partly the fact that a newt doesn't reduce "easily". There are reducer/correctors available, but these tend to be priced more than what most newts cost. Try it and see. Or take a mosaic, this is what I do.
Gary

[Astroman]

If you do a mosaic, use a program called imerge it's simple to use and does a terrific job on lunar shots... The image below was a merge of 17 images through an 8" f6 telescope and Toucam840K.

Website Link:
http://jaggedplanet.com/iMerge.html

[LewisM]

Microsoft ICE does a marvelous, hassle free mosaic arrangement. It has always worked where a lot of other programs fail or render incorrect output. 32 and 64 bit versions available, all free and EASY to use.

http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/groups/ivm/ICE/

[04Stefan07]

Thanks for the software!