New Telescope Photo problem?!

[TheAstroChannel]

Hey everybody! I just received a 5 Inch reflector GOTO telescope for Christmas.
And i just took it out on Christmas night and did some observing through it and had a fiddle around with the controls and so forth. But when i got to the idea of imaging through this new telescope, the final long exposed image was looking quite different from a picture i would have taken on my other refractor. Can someone please help me identify what the problem is? :)

Thanks!
-Sean

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=386201308139937&set=a.206846202742116.48815.1762993 59130134&type=1&theater

[OICURMT]

You will need to tell us what your imaging train looks like.

[brian nordstrom]

:) Yes , we need to know all your gear , a few photos will help a lot .
The yellow tinge on your facebook photo is stray light getting into the light parth some where , but without us knowing what you are using , its hard to pin point the problem .
Keep at it tho .
Brian.

[TheAstroChannel]

Ahhhh i think i might know what the problem is!
There is a big street light on my corner and the unwanted light streaks may be from that! But anyway these are my specs.

[brian nordstrom]

:mad2: Yep that will do it ! dont you just hate street lights ??
I have one as well danm annoying .Good luck .
Brian .

[TheAstroChannel]

Thanks alot! :)

[doppler]

Hi Sean, Interesting camera adapter for your IXUS, I have`thought about trying that with mine but am worried that the battery might cut out and the lens would retract and the camera would fall off.

My street light has been out for months, but the neighbours have heaps of xmas lights on now...sigh :sadeyes:

[TheAstroChannel]

It doesn't fall off! Its really really stable!
And i would go to the backyard to observe but there is a huge tree blocking the north-eastern horizon :(

[doppler]

Is the camera attatched to an eyepiece or just a tube? I have taken some good shots of the moon, hand held and focused through a eyepiece.

[TheAstroChannel]

Here is a picture of it!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=380194875407247&set=a.380194805407254.94257.1762993 59130134&type=1&theater

[Shark Bait]

Here is a link to a youtube video Sean. I think you'll find it very helpful.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrLpII5ftxk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrLpII5ftxk)

If you can purchase or make a quality clamp to position your camera over the eyepiece, it will help to improve your images. This is just one example of the what I am referring to (mine is different).
www.bintel.com.au/Astrophotography/Adapters/Orion-SteadyPix-Deluxe/694/productview.aspx (http://www.bintel.com.au/Astrophotography/Adapters/Orion-SteadyPix-Deluxe/694/productview.aspx)

I use a compact camera for afocal photography (Panasonic DMC-FT1). Satisfactory results can be had on the bright objects like the Moon and Sun with suitable solar filters. With patience you can get reasonable images of Jupiter, Saturn and the bright nebula like M42.

I have a fixed lens on my happy snapper which is better for afocal photography as it a closer simulation of the human eye than a zoom lens. I let the camera attempt to focus and then use the telescopes focuser to achieve true focus. It is a bit tricky but that is the benefit of digital technology. Take a lot of images and you will find that some are better than others.

I noticed your images in the other astro photography section of IIS but thought the reply to your questions belonged here.

[brian nordstrom]

:) Hi Sean , here is the moon taken thru my Takahashi FS60C , 60 mm refractor with my HTC smart phone's camera hand held over the eyepiece , good results can be had but its hard to get it just right .
Happy new year mate , and keep it up .
There are 2 not bad , and 1 bad one to give you an idea of whats possible .
Your mate up north ,
Brian.

[alistairsam]

Hi Sean,

What focal length is your Eyepiece? most standard eyepieces have a "sweet spot" within with you have to keep your eyes, else you get the windowed sort of view that's in your pic.
this gets worse with shorter focal length eyepeieces. as long as its above 20mm, it should be ok.
centering the camera lens in the sweet spot is essential and the afocal adaptor like the one in bintel will help with that as you can adjust the cameras position in x and y.
I'd suggest starting with imaging the moon first to make sure the field of view is clear before trying nebulae as its hard to identify the issue with dso's.

also, have a look at sites like astrobin.com and photobucket to host images. they have some nice feaures

keep at it.
Cheers.