WebCam Imaging - Full Moon Shot ???

[Stu Ward]

Looking at a few methods of doing this with a webcam.

Is it possible to get a full image of the Moon ?
All I have read suggests that the moon will always be bigger than the FOV on a webcam

Seems a shame as i would love to get a Full Moon Shot

Thanks

Stu

[irwjager]

Hi Stu,

You can definitely get some great results from using a Webcam. The trick is to make a mosaic from the individual frames.

It's something that people with even a Dobsonian can do; simply let the moon drift through the view and collate all the frames.

Have a look here (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=66081) (last post) for an example I just did yesterday.

Hope this helps,

[mithrandir]

This (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showpost.php?p=474406&postcount=1) wasn't done with a webcam, but the Atik 16ic has only a few more pixels. The moon is bright enough that the lesser sensitivity of the webcam isn't an issue.

As noted it took about 180 frames to get the whole moon. That gave good overlap so I could maximise the stacking in AutoPano Pro (it's not cheap but is excellent). I'll try repeating it with my webcam if this weather clears.

Andrew

[[1ponders]]

Another option Stu is to get an adapter for a camera lens. That's the only reason you can't fit the whole moon on the chip, the focal length of your optics is too long.

Attached image: ToUcam + WO 72 & 0.6 FR = FL 259mm

[Stu Ward]

Thanks for that guys, i can take images with a Digital Camera and adapter. so i may stick to that for Moon shots, i reckon the detail is better

[[1ponders]]

It sure will. For example if using an 8 mp camera (Eg 20d just for the example) you will have a resolution of aprox 0.9 arc sec /pixel using an f/5 300mm scope. Using my first example you will only get a resolution of around 4.45 arcsec/pixel. If your camera has a HD movie mode you are on a winner :D