I tips me hat

[erick (Eric)]

....to all you guys. After my initial effort, I have a much better idea of what you are achieving!

Clouds finally cleared late Sat night so I set up in the back yard to get my stunning photos of Jupiter with my 8" dob and Logitech webcam. A couple of hours later all I had to show were some out of focus avi's of a too bright or too dull Jupiter bouncing around in the field of view as I tried to get it well positioned to move through the FOV and brightness adjusted . With the webcam adapter I finally obtained, I couldn't get enough in travel on the focusser. With the 2x barlow in place I just couldn't position Jupiter to have enough time to focus and adjust camera controls so didn't capture a single avi with the barlowed webcam! I figure I need two more people - one on the electric focusser and one on the camera controls while I wrestle with directing the scope using the finder!

Time to back up, behave myself and pay attention to Mike's advice:-
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.p...63,201,0,0,1,0

Going to afocal and start with the Moon. Oh well! Cannot bypass the apprenticeship, it seems, rightfully so I guess! Be patient, Eric!

ps. seeing was very poor - but Io's shadow during the transit was readily visible through eyepiece. I had hoped to capture that in an image.

pps. time to start work on that home made equatorial platform

[bluescope]

I'd have to agree with you Erick, I have had similar results trying to do imaging of Jupiter/Saturn with a webcam. The damn planet jumps around all over the place. Ah well at least we know it must work judging from the examples posted by other guys ay ! If we keep at it we must get it right one day ..... or die trying

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

I'm glad I'm into Deep Sky Imaging coz I just can't get the Planets to come out any good!

I suppose if I was 'into' planets I'd probably try harder, whereas I will put in several long nights until almost sunrise to get one good DSO image.

There's something about Planetary imaging that is hard.

[iceman (Mike)]

Apprecenticeship cannot be skipped, young padawan learner

Definitely start with afocal of the moon, however I don't know why your webcam can't come to focus at prime focus!??

Maybe it's because an f/6 scope, but I'd be surprised. What adapter are you using?

Webcam imaging at prime focus is infinitely easier (well, at least 2x easier) than with a 2x barlow..

[Dennis]

I am in awe of anyone who images the Moon and Planets either with a dob – whether tracking or not, afocal camera, video camera, etc.

I find it challenging enough with a driven German Equatorial Mount and a set up that makes it as easy as it can get, from an equipment point of view.

Well done to all the apprentices!

Cheers

Dennis

[erick (Eric)]

The Bwana Makuba speaks the truth! I shall be patient and start at the beginning of the journey!

I bought this one, Mike:-

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-25-adapter-Log...QQcmdZViewItem

It seems to almost come to focus. I'll set up at daytime on a distant TV antenna and work on it. The adapter is screwed in as far as it will go. If all else fails, I can trim off the flange which is sitting against the 1.25"-->2" adapter in the focusser. That will get me another mm or two which may well be enough. But it was going to come to focus easily with the 2x Barlow.

ps. What if I buy Bintel's focal reducer ( https://secure.attl.com.au/bintelshop/Stock/7458X.jpg ) and put that with the webcam - will I be able to come to focus? I'm suspecting not without some other changes?

Thanks
Eric