Well, after 10 days of crap weather I finally got some clear skies to try out the modded Philips ToUcam pro II that I got recently.
After spending many hours fiddling and trying this and that and using about 2GB of memory storage, I had some files that I thought I could process and get some better results than with Afocal technique.
Focussing was very hard to do and it seemed I never was able to get it right. Add to that my confusion as to what to press and select in the K3CCDtools options and it was a confusing and cold effort. I tried to set the exposure for Jupiter to 1/30th sec and 15fps but couldnt find out how to set the shutter speed other than the slider in the camera options way down to the bottom?
I did try to capture using the "Desire" program sent to me by Grahame who sold me the camera but K3 seemed to do a better job and have more options, especially with the long exposure menus.
All in all, I have to treat it as a learning experience as I think the results are nowhere near what I think the setup is capable of, certainly there doesnt seem to be much of an improvement over some of the better afocal efforts I have turned out. It just was easier to set up and capture with the webcam.
Posted below is typical output of the Jupiter AVI's I captured using a 2.5X barlow only (focal length 2.5m + whatever the camera is). I even tried some LX exposures on the Jewel Box and Omega Centauri, but the only one that came out without too much star trailing from inaccurate alignment was the one below, even that is pretty sad and there are a few hot pixels as well but I am not too worried about those for now.
As for the resolution, I may have maxed out what my tiny little 5 inch scope is able to resolve, especially with the 2.5X barlow. Perhaps a bigger and better quality barlow may bring out more? I dunno.
Thanks for looking anyway, its only my first time but any tips would be appreciated.
Yes its tracked on the EQ2 and the Jupiter shots were on average 450 frames (30 sec capture @15fps) with the YUY2 setting. The LX captures of Jewel Box were also tracked but jumped around a bit because of the sad EQ2 gear drive. I had the SCP lined up perfectly but as you can see from the hot pixels track after stacking (10 images at 30 sec each) they moved around a bit. This could be OTA balance issues or just the crappy drive motor I have.
Anyway, without spending megabucks, its not a bad start. I just expected a bit more detail in Joop's face, but that could have been the seeing as well?
Cheers
Chris
Last edited by Screwdriverone; 22-06-2008 at 04:41 PM.
Yeah I am itching to get some more done, I am going to try and slow down and practice to avoid excitement burn out and try and do a better job by thinking rather than rushing and getting crappy results.
I have captured some more last night after some trial and error with drifting and getting my alignment right using the drift explorer in K3CCDtools (who needs an illuminated reticle now?) so I am hoping for some improvement in these ones which I will post in a new thread.
Thanks to everyone for the kind words of encouragement.
Good to see there is another dope out there who bought the SW135 too. he he he. Stephen. Let me know if you need any help or have any questions with it.
hey Chris i love your pic looks great for our baby scopes we have considering some of the monsters that i have seen around here
why can u see in color when i cant in my scope or does the photos u take bring the color out in them.
I would chew someones arm off just to get my own pic like that, i cant wait till i can get some more equipment and someone wif a bit of knowledge around me to get some cool pics myself
cheers
Jen
Jen, with planets you can see some colour because the light reflecting off them is intense enough to activate your eye's cones....the cells which see colour. With nebulae, galaxies etc, you don't get enough light off them to see colour (not intense enough)...except maybe a very dull green in bright nebulae like Orion and Eta Carina. Most of the rest look greyish.
If you want to take piccies of the planets and the Moon, you could get yourself either a Meade LPI or a Celestron NexStar camera. They'll set you back $150-$200. Or, if you'd like to move up a bit in resolution, you can get an Orion StarShoot Planetary Camera....they're $250. Bintel in Melbourne will have them, for sure. Here's the addy....
The reason there is colour in the camera images is that the camera can see colour in the dark (or very low light) and we cant. I have waffled on about this before in a different thread here if you want to have a read about the mechanics of dark adapted eyes. (check out post # 11)
Thank you Renormalised and Chris i guess that all makes sense so the bigger the scope the more light gets in the more colors you will see
jen puts camera on her shopping list i gotta get some pics of these planets
hey Chris i love your pic looks great for our baby scopes we have considering some of the monsters that i have seen around here 
in my scope or does the photos u take bring the color out in them.
i gotta get some pics of these planets 
