Video Astronomy is growing and the technology is getting better.
It is pretty exciting seeing these objects appear 'live' in full colour in just a few seconds!
Great captures Ken, I completely forgot to pop in and say hi while you were doing the broadcast... Shame, sounds like it was a great hit. Spoke with another SCC-A2333 user today, images were great as you would expect, only difference was he was using a 14" SCT @ f6.3 Lots of photons...
Video Astronomy is more fun than I could have imagined!
I still do visual on club nights, and I haven't given up on imaging, but live video astronomy is sooo different.
You don't need to worry about exact focus (a viewer will tell you if it needs focussing ), no-one cares if you bump the mount coz it doesn't wreck any image, it is instant gratification
it is fantastic for the house-bound, the disabled, and those with failing eyesight.
I am yet to see a scope or eyepiece that gives views even half as good instantly, or in colour.
And the 'Wow' factors are even bigger than those you get from people looking in an EP!
Well, it is a sort of EP. An electronic EP
It is hardly effected by light pollution or Moon Glow, and can still see clearly through thin cloud.
A great outreach tool. Connect the camera to a projector and throw up a HUGE 'live' image on your garage door! That'll bring the neighbours
Great stuff Ken. Interesting to watch you work with these images and camera. A really interesting side to astrophotography with huge benefits for public outreach.
Thanks for Snake Valley again Ken. A great camp.
I reckon you can make a claim on first in Southern hemisphere!
I think you might be correct Eric.
I haven't heard of it being done before anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere.
Martin in South Africa hasn't done it and he is the only broadcaster in South Africa, and I don't know if Johneez1 from new Zealand has. I don't think so though.
Martin Ferlito in Sydney hasn't and Him and I are the only Oz broadcasters.
Monday nights broadcast was actually the most enjoyable broadcast I have done so far.
Apart from the usuals (yes, you get regulars in your audience ) in Oz, USA, and UK, there was a lot of French Canadians, English Canadians, Europeans, Spanish, a chap in Egypt, some that I don't know where they came from coz they couldn't speak English properly, etc.
There was a young girl (Crystal) in Canada that had me moving all over the place. She really knows the Southern Sky!
We all had a blast
9 hours later daylight was approaching and we couldn't see Centaurus 'A' any more so I signed off.
Heaps of folk at the Camp came and sat with me and enjoyed the broadcast too, and watched how it is done.