First webcam moon!

[iceman (Mike)]

Well, if you've seen my oval blob saturn thread on CN, then you'll see my first attempt at planetary imaging using a 4yr old intel create&share webcam..

Here's my first moon picture taken using the webcam.. The first few avis were throwaways, because the software tried to adjust exposure as it was capturing, and so as the amount of black increased or decreased as the moon drifted through the FOV (i'm using a non-tracking dob), the area i was imaging got brighter and duller as well. Not good.

I managed to get the "exposure lock" setting working, so that eliminated that problem. Focussing was tough because of the small image (352x288 resolution) and I couldn't get a star in the FOV to use my crude cardboard hartman mask for focussing.

Anyway this is the best of the bad bunch..

10" dob (no tracking)
seeing: average
~100 frames stacked out of 350
"hard light" high-pass filter @ 30% opacity
unsharp mask




For comparison, here's the first frame from the original avi, no processing or stacking.




Can you help me identify the region? I think it's up in Mare Imbrium but I can't be sure :/

Anyway at least the webcam works.. i'll be much happier when I get the ToUcam.

[rumples riot]

Good stuff, a little sharper would be good, but as I found that the image of the moon can be difficult to get sharp, it tends to move in and out of focus quite a lot.

As for the region, it is mare Imbrium. The large crater is Archimedes and the smaller one with the rays surrounding it is Aristilles.

Bring some more on.

Paul

[Saturn%5 (Graeme)]

Nice shots iceman keep'em coming.I hope to take a few snaps tonight of the full moon thats if the smoke goes away.

[iceman (Mike)]

Thanks guys, i'm pleased that the webcam actually worked and that it produced an ok image.
But disappointed about saturn, but i'll try again next week maybe and see if I can't fiddle with the settings some more.

[gbeal]

Ice,
for a drift dob, it is very good, and given the smallish resolution again a good job. Can't help but think that a ToUcam would be better though. Then a tracking mount/platform, and the LOTS of practice. I started like that, and nearly gave up, glad I kept at it. You will be too.
Gary

[iceman (Mike)]

Well the ToUcam is on the shopping list, should be getting it this month.
The larger resolution will definitely help.. Saturn may stay in the FOV of the chip for longer than 5 seconds

The tracking mount/platform is a little way off yet.. wouldn't mind an Atlas EQ mount or something, but i'm looking at atleast $2k to put the 10" reflector on it.

Too many other priorities in my life (mortgage, wife and 3 kids) to go down that road at the moment One day, though..

[gbeal]

Ice,
yeah, but maybe as well.
I have the G-11, and yes you are correct it is very expensive.
But, maybe take a look at building a tracking platfrom for the dob. For webcamming this would be more than adequate.
The "Servo Cat" style alt/az would also work, and well, just not so well for long exposure times.
Gary