I'm saving up for an astrophotography rig, but can't wait so I've been doing some imaging with my 8" GSO Dob. The challenge: what's the best images I can get with a hand-guided dob and easy/cheap DIY imaging?
So, here's Saturn.
I used a $30 Microsoft Lifecam HD, ripped apart with very dusty CCD stuck on an old 0.965" to 1.25" plastic adapter.
I basically captured HD video of Saturn moving across the view (on an Apple Macbook Pro with quicktime 7, using some software called "webcam settings" to control exposure on the cam), and aligned, stacked and enhanced the resulting video frames in Registax.
I'm really amazed by the results - much better than I thought I could get with a dob and a cheap webcam.
Tried jupiter, too, but it's not at a great position in the sky ATM.
Thank you for the votes of confidence! Apart from Saturn it looks like planetary imaging might be a little average until March when Jupiter comes back.
Might see what I can do with a dob and some deep sky objects in the meantime...
Well done, that is very good for manual tracking. Sure does bring back memories of manual dob tracking and trying to image with a Toucam. If you want to pursue it you may want to consider a Equatorial Platform, will give you a bit of tracking so you can grab more frames you can DIY these as well.
