Hope someone can help

[Cam]

Ive also posted this in another forum yesterday and had a little feedback. Tried again lastnight playing with the gain and turning shutter speed up. Im really not sure wether Im supposed to be in "N" or "L" mode. Here is the original post...

Had my 1st try at jupiter tonight.. really disappointing!!! I dont know where the settings should be. I could see the cloud bands ok in the eyepiece but as soon as I put the camera in it was just a bright blob. I played with gain and brightness. I ended up putting a blue panetary filter on the camera which brought out some bands but I think thats why registax saw it as black and white.I know i was in the best possible focus because just a slight tweak in either direction really blured the image.. tried a star test and ooking at the pics there and what i saw in the eyepiece the "seeing" wasnt the best. The only other thing I can think of is if I mucked up collimation but I think I did it right. I used a cheshire and I think it looks ok.. Putting up a pic and hoping someone might be able to help with what settings I should try changing. I used wxAstroCapture with a modified philips SPC900NC in an 8" F6 reflector. Hope someone can help. Thanks Cam

Here are the specs for the camera:

Firmware modified from SPC880NC to SPC900NC and Enchanced CCD settings for astrophotography Modded with the Amp-on/off + Long exposure Frame transfer 1&2 (SC1.5) and built in serial to USB adapter (Silicon Labs cp2102), should fit any telescope with 1.25" eyepiece holder

The Amp on/off is same as the circuit used in SC2 mod, Frame transfer 1&2/LX pin = RTS and Amp on/off pin = DTR, markings next to small switch are N=Normal mode and L=Long Exposure mode.

The camera has a CCD chip that is very sensitive and thus ideal for low light situations, such as astrophotography.

Interface Type - 2x USB

Adaptor - Standard 1.25"
Sensor - SONY ICX098QB CCD
Still Image Capture Resolution - 1280 x 960
Video Capture Resolution - 640 x 480
Digital Video Capture Speed - 30 frames per second
Interpolated snapshot res. - 1.3 MP

And the pic.. Hope someone can help.. Thanks Cam

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Hi, Cam.

Have you tried with an aperture plate on the front of the scope? I have an 8" F/6 too, and have overcome the same problem as you. Just use a piece of card board cut to the outer diam of the tube. Then cut a 60mm hole to one side making sure it's between the tube wall and secondary mirror. Tape it in place, and give it a go.

Hope this helps.

Justin.

[[1ponders]]

Cam basic settings should be something like; Normal mode, exposure @ 1/25 sec, fr no faster than about 10-15 fps (you will get too many compression artifacts otherwise) and then adjust your gain to have a histogram reading around 210-220, don't burn the middle of Jupiter out. If you find Jupiter is still too 'hot' drop your exposure, don't increase your frame rate. Keep your resoloution to 640x480.

For more image scale whack a good barlow in

[Cam]

Thanks guys..Cant wait to try out your advice.