Observing Log NGC104???

[davidpretorius]

Loc: 41'25"S, 147'07", UT +10
Apert: 10" Reflector
Mount: dob
Date: 5/08/2005
Time: 2:30
Cond: no cloud, very clear and still
Seeing: 8
FL: 1250
EP: 6mm with toucam
Mag:
Filters:
Object: NGC104???
Type: Globular Cluster
Const:
Magnit:
Size:
RA:
DEC:
Comments: Caught this at the last minute, very happy!
Avi sett: Toucam, prime focus, auto
Avi link: http://www.precons.com/iis/gallery/Movies/20050804-ngc104_0003.wmv
Image sett: Registax pretty much standard settings
Image link: http://www.precons.com/iis/gallery/Images/20050804-ngc104_0003.jpg

[asimov]

Hey Dave! That's a really good first effort! well done. I think you may need to just post these pics in the deep-space photography section? I admire your commitment to do up observing reports, dont get me wrong. alternatavely post more than one pic in your post. It makes it hard to keep up with all the separate threads you post. Not criticism, just a suggestion.

[davidpretorius]

cool, i am keeping a log of each object, but I reckon if do a summary like yours on conditions, what i looked at etc and then post the pic and link the summary to that.

It would be easier

[asimov]

Yes indeed, a lot less work for you.

[asimov]

I love the idea of AVI's But this buffering problem really give's me the 'U know what's'

[cristian abarca]

Hi David

Can you let me know how you modified your webcam or was that picture taken with the webcam on unmodified mode.

Regards Cristian

[davidpretorius]

at the moment, the toucam is operating as out of the box, I managed to get the movie capture as it slid by and then stacked in registax. The modified bit is that http://www.telescopes-astronomy.com.au/toucam_philips.htm put a switch in the front of the toucam (would prefer it to be at the back so that the adapter can fit properly into the focuser, i have subsequently cut the switch with some pliers! ). This switch basically sets up the toucam's exposure to be controlled thru the parallel port. A free imaging program http://www.precons.com/iis/downloads/toucam/Desire40.zip then can take as many images as you like at whatever exposure time you want.

I can not use this mod at the moment when the toucam is in prime focus (where you unscrew the toucam's lens, screw in a 1.25" adapter, remove any eyepieces from the focuser and put the 1.25" adapter into the focuser) it causes the telescope to act as a giant telephoto lens for the toucam. In prime focus, the toucam is viewing at aprox 6mm. The sky simply rushes by!! As i have an unmodified dob, i cannot track, therefore long exposure for me at the moment is not an option.

I knew this when i bought it. It is an investment in the future. When i can track with my scope either thru a eq mount or a http://www.roundtableplatforms.com/default.php

then i will employ the long exposure times.

[cristian abarca]

Thanks David I'll look into this as I already have a webcam and I was looking into modifying it but this seems like a simpler method. I'm in the process of finishing off a 10 inch homemade dob and I would like to motorise it. The platform looks good. there are plans for platforms like that on the web and mel bartels has a site that shows you how to motorise a dob through your laptop. I wonder if you can put all this together? Sounds like a new project coming on. I want to know if all this can work so that when I make my big one I can set it up completely and take some good pics.

Thanks david

[asimov]

Theres a guy called brian in this forum that sells motorised dob platforms. Lives in chicago, iceman bought his through Brian. If you want to read the article, it's in the buy & sell forum. You'll have to search back through the forum to find it though.

[davidpretorius]

yes i am thinking along these lines re stepper motors, one of the guys on the forum has come very close to motorized focus on the crayford.

lots of good things to play with

[davidpretorius]

Hi asimov,

http://www.roundtableplatforms.com/default.php i think is the website for it.


the only thing i can see a being a problem is if i take my scope to melb or sydney. the platforms are made to order for our latitude. maybe they can be adjusted?

[asimov]

If you want to just buy a motorised focuser? talk to RAJAH235. Laurie, where's my lectric focuser!? finished building it yet?? :poke: ;) :D