Does anyone have suggestions for Saturn pic?

[Daveskywill (David)]

Hello:

I took a picture a couple months ago of Saturn. Of course it shows the rings as edge-on nearly.

But since I'm using afocal (prime focus) photography it's kind of small in magnification. I've found that prime focus using my Pentax ist Ds DSLR makes the image of Saturn look almost as large as using my 32mm eyepiece (without camera).

I know that someday I'd like to try using the 2" eyepiece projection method. But this would be more expensive, require more equipment and a sturdy mount. Also I've heard that the greater magnification makes mount problem worse, and focusing harder.

I still haven't resolved that issue yet. I guess there's always a risk whenever a person uses a telescope (like to equipment or person, like it could get stolen or rained on). So I haven't decided to leave my telescope outside. Even when I suggested to my mom that I could leave it out the rest of one night, she told me it would make her feel safer if I'd put it back inside the garage before the night was over. I think she was afraid of our neighbor or someone doing vandalism or stealing something.

As for me, I just want to be honest here. I do have a disability. It's schizophrenia, but I'm on meds. and I think I function okay. And I know that my interest in astronomy, astrophotography, wanting to be a Christian and do good at what I do, will make a difference too.

But what I'm saying is, before if I wanted to show someone what it looked like to see the moon or Saturn, I could just show my parents and they'd be sort of impressed. My mom has seen the moon, Saturn, Jupiter and a few other stuff out there. And my dad has seen the moon (at low power). He was impressed, but he didn't want to take a look at Saturn.

But those days, at least for me might be (I think) nearly over. Partly because they'll be moving out of the house (to an apartment) soon and sell the place where I used to have clear skies. So I might have to even sell my own telescope (the 10"), use a smaller scope, and take advantage of a local astronomy club. Maybe in Kalamazoo, MI (KAS).

So here's my pictures of Saturn.

Saturn1.jpg is of the edge-on taken recently. And Saturn.jpg is an older (more yellow) Saturn because of a yellow filter I used. What filter should I use for the rings?

PS: Does anyone have suggestions for better focusing in prime focus, or eyepiece projection? Maybe I'll need to breakdown and get a camera with LiveView like the Canon Rebel or something, right?

David

[renormalised (Carl)]

Hi David

How are you doing your afocal pics...hand held or using a camera adapter??

If you're using an adapter it will be much easier to achieve focus as your hands wont be shaking whilst holding the camera up to the eyepiece.

In any case, you can use your viewscreen at the back of your camera to see how well you have your object of interest in focus. Then you can either adjust the focus through the eyepiece (using your focuser) or via the camera.

If I were you, I wouldn't sell my big scope because I was moving. Not unless you had absolutely no room to keep it in the apartment your family is moving into. Then, I would try and buy a smallish refractor (80-100mm) to replace it. Or, a smaller dob. But if I could get away with it, I wouldn't sell it. Clear skies or not.

[renormalised (Carl)]

That second shot of Saturn you did....with the blurry look and yellow cast from the filter you used....you know what I'd do??

I'd crop it out into a new piccie, make it a little larger then post it to one of these UFO forums, just for a joke. See how many of them think it's a real UFO, which for all they know it could be, before you tell them what it is

[LeeSMaz (Lee)]

Anyone use or know about these
Orion starshoot autoguiders from bintel?

Uses a 1/2" format 1.3MP CMOS chip, with 5.2 x 5.2 micron pixels for highly accurate guidin.

Have found a number of now cheap cmos type digital cameras as eyepieces
for telescopes??

Any ideas, they seem to be getting sensitivity down to 1v/lux.
Comparable to good ccd.

Cheers.
Lee.
ps. heres a pic I took thru my mak127
with 10mm eye piece. Cut down to upload.
using a samsung s860 cheap ccd camera.
Tried a 1 minute video and thru registax.
Think the timed exposures did better or maybe
a 10 minute vid next time. Video didnt offer iso sensitivity adjustments.
Looked brighter n better in the scope.

[Paul Haese]

David, I suggest you buy a colour webcam model such as the DBK or the DFK from Imaging Source. Using a barlow to increase focal length and use registax to stack the resultant frames.

I understand that this might be not possible with a limited budget but this is the best course of action.