“Viewing a notebook display and trying to focus on a small black dot will be nigh impossible in full daylight, so shield the notebook computer from bright daylight. I plan to use my portable observing hutch which has a curtain, making the inside reasonably dark. You can use a deep cardboard box. Make sure the open end of the box is facing away from the Sun”.
“Viewing a notebook display and trying to focus on a small black dot will be nigh impossible in full daylight, so shield the notebook computer from bright daylight. I plan to use my portable observing hutch which has a curtain, making the inside reasonably dark. You can use a deep cardboard box. Make sure the open end of the box is facing away from the Sun”.
Cheers
Dennis
Thanks Dennis. I read your article with great interest, and found it very informative. Thanks! I did take notice of it too, because what you don't see in that photo of my little setup is the shaded area behind me under the roof of the pergola. I just had it sitting on the chair when I took the pic. Couldn't see didly-squat there! Besides... what sun? LOL!
What I am having problems with, however, is getting the ToUcam to fucus on-screen properly. Because I can't get its CCD array to line up with the focal point of any EP I have when sitting in the flip-mirror, I have no choice but to focus via the on-screen image. I just can't get good focus....at all. Am I doing something wrong (rhetorical question...)?
What I am having problems with, however, is getting the ToUcam to fucus on-screen properly. Because I can't get its CCD array to line up with the focal point of any EP I have when sitting in the flip-mirror, I have no choice but to focus via the on-screen image. I just can't get good focus....at all. Am I doing something wrong (rhetorical question...)?
Cheers
Chris
Hi Chris
You probably know this stuff already, but I’ll write it anyhow in case someone else stumbles on this discussion later on. To help with focusing the ToUcam, I use a parfocal ring like the one here http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_par1.htm
As a one off operation, using a bright star or the Moon, focus with the ToUcam in the focuser. Then remove the ToUcam and slide in a suitable eyepiece (I use a 20mm Plossl) until the image snaps into focus. Now your eyepiece and ToUcam are at the same point of focus. In my set up, this leaves the eyepiece not fully inserted. That is, part of the shiny 1.25” barrel is outside of the focuser and it is at this position I fit the parfocal ring.
So, when I set up for the Sun, (with a full aperture solar filter), I typically plug in the eyepiece and seat it down to the parfocal ring and focus on either the limb or a sunspot. Then, I know that when I remove the eyepiece and plug in the ToUcam, the limb or sunspot will be on the chip and in reasonable focus. I then touch up the focus using my JMI motorized focuser. I follow the same operation when using the x2.5 and x5 Powermates.
I haven’t yet tried the same operation through a flip mirror. It would be ideal if you had an eyepiece in the viewing port that was parfocal with the ToUcam in the imaging port.
Thanks Dennis! I'll give that a go! It never occurred to me that I don't have to have the EP fully inserted - but only engaged to a repeatable reference position as such....which is provided by the ring. Nice!
No go, mate. OPT stuffed my order up good and proper
I won't go into detail but suffice it to say the order was placed a month before the transit and it hadn't even left the store by the time the big event rolled around.
