Results from new Mallincam Xtreme AstroVideo camera

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #1 19-10-2011, 08:54 PM

I still have no idea what section to put my stuff from 'Video Astronomy' into as it isn't really imaging and it can't go in 'Observational' as most people wouldn't consider it as observing

Anyway,

here are some Screen Grabs from the last 2 nights using my new Mallincam Xtreme AstroVideo Camera whilst doing 'Live' Broadcasts on Night Skies Network. Watch the satellite travel through the 2nd pic.
Remember, these aren't 'Images', they are just Screenshots of Live Video

- Mallincam Xtreme, Saxon ED80, 0.6x Focal Reducer.

RickS (Rick) · #2 19-10-2011, 09:21 PM

That's pretty impressive, Ken!

joe_smith · #3 19-10-2011, 09:33 PM

Ken the video looked very good streaming on my screen, It was good to watch this live, and the interaction you have with the people watching is fantastic. It makes it more personal then just looking at it in a forum post

I look forwarded to the next one. I check every night when I get home from work, The new extreme looks like a good camera the detail it picks up is what most people want to see with there scopes. Kens astro video shows are very good if you haven't see one check it out

Also thank you Bert for making this camera available to Ken, its not only him you have made happy but the people who now get to see stuff "live" and its perfect for lazy people like me that hate setting up, now we let Ken and the other video Astronomers do it, and then we ask them what we want to see

also they have better skies than me.

Derek Klepp · #4 19-10-2011, 09:43 PM

Gday Ken I'm very impressed with the colour you've gotten with the 80mm.What was the intergration setting.I have the Gstar colour but have not tried it on a small aperture on larger it is quite good.

csb (Craig) · #5 19-10-2011, 11:01 PM

Very impressive!! Those views are what I am after.

The detail is great.

I have been considering video astronomy because I prefer to see things live and without having to do processing. Well those images are what I have been hoping can be achieved.

So, are those results easy/straightforward to achieve? Is video astronomy easier than astrophotography - both factors of time needed (not including processing time) and equipment quality/cost?

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #6 19-10-2011, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Klepp

Gday Ken I'm very impressed with the colour you've gotten with the 80mm.What was the intergration setting.I have the Gstar colour but have not tried it on a small aperture on larger it is quite good.

Hi Derek,

the integrations were all different.

The M42 was set at 20 seconds int, NGC 253 frames with the satellite were 30 seconds int, Helix was 26 seconds int, and the Horsehead and NGC253 were 120 seconds int.

Hey Joe, thanks mate.
Was good to see you in my Broadcast

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #7 19-10-2011, 11:17 PM

Video astronomy is awesome! Best of both worlds, visual/imaging combined.

Great pics Ken.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #8 19-10-2011, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csb

Very impressive!! Those views are what I am after.

The detail is great.

I have been considering video astronomy because I prefer to see things live and without having to do processing. Well those images are what I have been hoping can be achieved.

So, are those results easy/straightforward to achieve?

Craig, easy is relative

Yes, it is fairly easy, but so is DSLR Imaging, or CCD Imaging once you learn how to do that too (but without the Loooong hours of imaging, stacking, darks, and processing).

It is actually a nice & simple process, but it may take a while initially with trial and error and experimenting to discover what scope, Focal Reducer, Filters etc suit you and your skies.

Some people use large SCT's and Skyglow filters due to their heavy light pollution.
Others like me can get away with tiny scopes and just an IR filter due to our dark skies.

The best way to learn all this stuff, what will work for you, etc is to read through all the threads in the Video Astronomy section in 'Cloudy Nights' forum and join the Yahoo Mallincam group.

This aspect of Astronomy is really slow in the take-up in Australia, but huge everywhere else in the world.
As Light Pollution takes over, more and more people are turning to Video Astronomy.
It's also big with those who's sight is starting to fail for Visual.

I like it because I get to share my 'Live' viewing experience with the world and show off our fantastic Southern Hemisphere, plus the 'Live' interaction with the viewers.
I'm like thier own personal GoTo remote Telescope

They ask to see, I go to it and show

And it has been made even easier now to share views with the world thanks to the 'Night Skies Network'.

P.S. I forgot to mention, Video Astronomy shows objects even in heavy light pollution and through thin cloud! Try that with Eyepieces or Imaging

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #9 19-10-2011, 11:27 PM

Thanks Rick and JJ

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #10 20-10-2011, 06:22 AM

Awesome images Ken, the last few times I have tried looking I keep getting dropped off my internet connection, stupid modem issues

Great series of images, will definately be getting a video camera once I am setup again....

erick (Eric) · #11 20-10-2011, 09:13 AM

Great Ken! I look forward to seeing the camera in operation at camp.

I finally got to do some brief testing of my new zoom video lens (Kowa, 6.5-52mm f1.8) on my GSTAR-EX colour last night. Just on a tripod. Looking very promising. I could frame the Small Magellanic Cloud at full zoom. Who needs a telescope! Next move is get it onto my Alt-Azi mount with Argo Navis, so I actually point it at objects invisible in Sydney's light-polluted sky.

Poita (Peter) · #12 20-10-2011, 09:25 AM

Wow, amazing stuff. It would be great for use at the school here. What sort of money does the new Mallincam run at?

Can you use it with Hyperstar to get faster integration times?

taminga16 (Greg) · #13 20-10-2011, 09:30 AM

Hi Ken,
Thanks for the great images, I have just signed up and look forward to your next broadcast. It will be beaut on those nights where it is just too difficult for me to get the telescope out on my own.
Greg.
P.S. Good luck with the upcoming camp.

csb (Craig) · #14 20-10-2011, 09:56 AM

This seems the direction I want to go in with my astronomy viewing.

Poita, price starts at $1500 for the Mallincam Xtreme:

http://mallincam.tripod.com/id54.html Other Mallicams start at $1000.

Robh (Rob) · #15 20-10-2011, 11:17 AM

Ken,

Very impressive results for unedited images.
What a great observing tool to show the night sky in real time simultaneously to many onlookers.
I like that it is much more sensitive than the human eye and picks up detail you wouldn't otherwise see.

Thanks for posting.

Regards, Rob

Stu Ward · #16 20-10-2011, 11:41 AM

I gotta get me one of those !!!

Ric · #17 20-10-2011, 12:56 PM

Nice captures Ken.

Your doing some great work there.

Poita (Peter) · #18 20-10-2011, 01:01 PM

I'd love to see a 'Video Astronomy' section on this site.
How critical is alignment etc. to be able to do this? I'm impressed by those images coming through something as small as an ED80, it would make for a great portable teaching setup.

avandonk · #19 20-10-2011, 02:16 PM

That looks pretty good to me Ken. I cannot imagine what you will be producing when you really master your camera. I know you are a quick learner but it takes time to really tweak that last little bit out of your system.

What I find very rewarding is that we are no longer alone with our telescopes but part of a vibrant community with a common interest. This interest is of course only limited by our Universe.

Again well done and amazing images for 'real time'.

Bert

Stu Ward · #20 20-10-2011, 02:48 PM

I would love to see one of these in action

Stu