My first webcam moon shots- dont laugh!

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Hi all

I have finally taken and posted my first moon shots 27.9.2006.

ToUcam, RT Platform stacking in K3CCD Tools3.

Still lots to learn - but must start somewhere!

Cheers Petra

[Lester]

Hi Petra,

image looks very good. Could you please post it as a jpg so we can see a larger image of it.

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Not a problem

My Jupiter is way to scary to post more work needed.



Cheers Petra

[netwolf]

Well done Petra, thats a great shot for a first attempt. Keep it up.

[iceman (Mike)]

Nice start Petra, well done!

How do you find the platform? How accurate is it for you?

Did you use a barlow for this one, or was it at prime focus in your 12"?

[ving (David)]

hey nice start petra
looks pretty sharp

what resolution do yuo capture at?

[h0ughy (David)]

nice start - your on the path to the dark side

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Hi all

Many thanks all - realise that I need more practice with the platform and software settings.

Mike I am still working out the tracking, my first attempt at the platform was a bit sad as it did not track correctly until I figured out that I was about 11-12 degrees out on my compass direction. Once that was sorted - the platform tracked for about 10 minutes beautifully and then I had to do some tweeking with the speed to maintain position. No barlow -webcam straight into the focuser. Will have a play using the barlow over the weekend - moon is a good practice target.

Cheers all

[RB (Andrew)]

That's a super start Petra.
Gotta love that 12" LB on a platform ah?
Awesome.

[gbeal]

Nothing wrong with that.
Try a barlow, but not too much, about 2x.
Try to eliminate the dark section of "nothing", and also try to keep the frame in the area with similar brightness. The difference between terminator, and bright section is way more than what the camera will allow, the eye adapts very well.
Best of all, shoot and take notes, that way you can repeat whatever works. A program like WcCtrl helps.

[iceman (Mike)]

Good advice from Gary, there.

Try using k3ccdtools, set to 640x480 and use the YUY2 codec.

The 10-11deg might have been magnetic deviation from the compass setting.

You'll also find that as you increase focal length (using a barlow), the tracking errors and inaccuracies become much more evident. If you're aligned well, and your tracking plate is nice and smooth (no bumps and dents) you might find it tracks very accurately, but you may need to adjust the speed using the speed control knob.

Try orienting the webcam so that any drift is in the horizontal direction (on the laptop screen), and the speed up/down simply moves the object to the left/right. Much easier with planets, when you get to them!

[acropolite (Phil)]

Very nice effort Petra

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Hi all

Will take all advice I can get - I have been studying Mike's Tutorial, and searching through the threads noting all tips and tricks. Could not squeeze Antares in the shot - did try though.

More moon less sky this time and I agree I need to change the position of the webcam.



Cheers Petra

[John K]

Excellent start! well done!

[iceman (Mike)]

Great 2nd result there Petra!

[spacezebra (Petra)]

Hi Mike

Yes getting a bit better.

I found out why the platform was not tracking after 10-12 minutes. There is a material taped to the motor side of the metal plate - assists resistance. The plastic type tape had a bubble in it - so it stalled at that part of the cycle. Sent Brian some pics of it last night and he suggested that I unscrew - retape it down and should be okay. He will be sending a replacement tape. Excellent service.



He wants to give me a call to discuss.

Cheers Petra