Article: Adding a Webcam to your Telescope

[iceman]

Hi all

David Childs (uspl) has written a how-to article to Adding a Webcam to your Telescope.

You can read the article from the IceInSpace Projects & Articles (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/?projects) page, or directly by clicking on the link below:

Adding a Webcam to your Telescope (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=63,431,0,0,1,0)

Thanks to David for writing the article. If you'd like to submit an article or review, please Contact Me (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/?contact).

[iceman]

Article uploaded.

[programmer]

Thanks for this article. Might even be simple enough for me to follow! I'll use this in conjunction with Mike's older article on astrophotography with a dob. Now to eBay for a resonable CCD webcam...

[iceman]

I'd suggest getting a ToUcam - either the 840k or the 900nc (preferred). They're well suited for astro use.

[erick]

Programmer, do a bit of searching for threads on the site. Most webcams won't do the job, it would seem. It seems you want a CCD, not a CMOS and you need to try and get sufficient sensitivity - the "lux" figure, which isn't always quoted. I cannot remember the specification you need, but it's in the threads.

[ballaratdragons]

Programmer, search for a Toucam. They are CCD's. Others might be CMOS, or often don't have the Lux rating for Astro work. Anything higher than <1Lux won't work. :thumbsup:

[programmer]

Thanks for the tips. Will look for a Toucam as first preference. I might be getting ahead of myself (and abilities), but cloudy conditions give you far too much time to think about these things!

[programmer]

Is $85 (plus $15 postage) a good price for a new ToUcam Pro II 840K? Plus about $25 (delivered) for a 1.25" adapter? Thanks.

[ballaratdragons]

:eyepop: Jump on it if it is not a rip-off ad. :thumbsup: That's a good price for a new 840k Pro II.

[mill]

That is fairly cheap for a toucam with adapter.

[programmer]

Just saw one of these (900nc) sold on eBay for $US30 last week :sadeyes:. Is the difference going up to the 900nc going to be noticed by a beginner such as myself, or will I later regret not getting one? I'll only be imaging moon/planets. I read the CCD in this model is the same as in the 840K anyway, so what are the improvements? There aren't too may around for sale that I can see, either. Thanks.

Edit: have seen a 900nc for $122 delivered. Sound reasonable?

[ballaratdragons]

Yes.

In answer to your other question, no, you wouldn't notice any difference. The SPC900NC has a slightly better improvement in the circuit board components and the way it downloads the data. Either one is fine.

Apparently the 900 is easier to modify if you ever go down that track.

[programmer]

I notice the 900nc is USB2.0 which would make a big difference to the speed it could stream data to the pc. For an extra $22, sounds like the go!

This guy (http://www.robertreeves.com/900NC.htm) seems to think there are some physical drawbacks (see last couple of photos) but presumably the appropriate adapter would be fine with it. Thanks again!

[programmer]

Well, I just bought a 900nc off eBay. Thanks for the feedback, and sorry for taking the thread off-topic.

[ballaratdragons]

Ahhh, yes the thread attached to the chip housing!!! That worried me too when they first came out.
If the camera is knocked it could snap the threaded piece off.

Both the 840k and the 900 are USB1.1 but both will run better on USB2

[iceman]

The 900nc has a different chipset - less noise! And a new codec meaning less compression.

[StevenA]

:bashcomp:There is a little green light on the webcam (Logitech 10) that comes on when activated. I have painted over it for the moment as it affects the images I capture; How does one disconnect this light safely. I do not wish to do anything that I will regret. I would like some info before I attempt this alteration to the webcam. Can anyone suggest how or better still send images or details on disconnection of the green light.

[iceman]

Does the green light interfere with your imaging?
If it doesn't get in the light path I wouldn't bother about it.

Otherwise put some black tape over it?

[RB]

You're getting internal stray light onto the chip.
If you're worried about disconnecting the LED and depending on how proficient you are at modding, maybe you could open the case and pull the LED through it's mounting hole to the outside of the case and leaving it connected and not affect the circuit.
Then block the hole so no stray light can enter and leave the LED painted if you wish.

[StevenA]

Thanks. Will pull the bloody thing out because of stray light on image. Although so far the images of Jupiter are fairly good. How do I get full images of moon. So far I can only get partials as I seem to be focused too close. Do I extend tube between scope and camera. Is it really this simple????

I do not have credit card so where in melbourne can I purchase a Toucam which I have heard so much praise about?.... Is there an electronics shop somewhere? Who makes it ? etc etc etc....

[erick]

They come up sometimes. You might have missed this one:-

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=36108

[erick]

Adelaide?

http://www.telescopes-astronomy.com.au/toucam_philips.htm

[mental4astro]

Hi all,

I've just completed this webcam adaptation with a Logictech camera.

My question follows on from that of StevenA: How do you increase the field of view of this setup. I had first light with it last night on Jupiter. The image was like an eyepiece view at 350X & with all the damn hassel of nudging the dob at that power & doing so through the monitor. Way too much grunt. And there I was thinking of adding a barlow!

IS there a way? Prime focus with an old fashioned film camera gave wide fields of view. Why is this image so narrow!

I was able to get a wider view, but only by reinserting the webcam's lens & adding an eyepiece to the scope for afocal photography. Not quite what I had in mind.

I was using my 17.5" dob, focal length 2000mm.

Am I missing something?

Alex.

[Terry B]

Compare the actual size of the sensor vs a 35mm film frame. This is why the field is so small.

[mental4astro]

:doh::doh::doh:Of cause!!!

So the only solution is using a chip with a larger area?

Other than that its using afocal with this webcam.

[mithrandir]

Or a focal reducer.

[mswhin63]

I have a similar situation, although was advised to consider Mosaic. I have a reducer but not yet got to use it.

[04Stefan07]

Fantastic article!

Just wanted to ask if there are any newer cameras with higher megapixels that I can use?

Also that is compatible with a Mac.

Thanks!

[mswhin63]

The camera I use, well it is now used as a guide camera is the aGent V5 - http://agent.liquiddigital.com.au/. It is compatible with MAC although can be a struggle to pull off the cover.

It says CCD technology but still have my concerns. It does perform well though as seen in a couple of moon images:
http://mswhin63.waelect.com.au/Moon%20-%20Wide%20View/index.html#Copernicus%2017_11_2010% 209_44_34%20PM.png

Along with Jupiter - http://mswhin63.waelect.com.au/Jupiter/index.html#2010_10_03%20Seq2.png
and others.

I am currently trialling an interesting stacking software but is best suited for Mono but am trying it out on some images past completed. So far the software looks promising but haven't completed the tests.

I noticed the V6 is coming soon. Still not sure of the full specs and whether there is any improvements to v5. You can get the v5 a bit cheaper on eBay.

I am not expecting to buy another one any more as I am learning that mono video is far superior than colour cameras. My next one will be a mono and filter wheel.

[Poita]

Your options are a bigger chip, or a focal reducer to focus the image down onto the smaller chip so that it doesn't 'hang over the edges'.

[ad602000]

If you use a toucam on a guide scope, does the toucam need modification? I have the adapter to fit 1.25

cheers
pete