What results can I expect ?

[scottphillips]

Hey guys my new skywatcher 130m on an eq2 mount with motor tracking and I have an Xbox webcam which I am about to modify to use for video astrophotography

I was just wondering what I am limited to with this setup e.g can I image deep sky objects such as nebula and galaxies and then stack multiple images or am I limited to just planetary imaging.

Thanks

[TiTanecd]

I'm not sure if the xbox cam can be modded to increase the exposure time required for dso. Also the mount would also be a factor limiting the time you require.

WebCams are very good for local bodies. 

[scottphillips]

Ok so what could I do to allow half decent attempts at some DSO's

[JRWASTRO]

Ok so what could I do to allow half decent attempts at some DSO's

Greetings Scott,

Before you attempt photography point your 'scope at some of the brighter deep sky objects and see what you can see. In your winter you will see the constellations of Taurus and Orion. Explore these constellations and in Orion you will see the Orion Nebula. Some of the brighter DSO's will be the messier objects. You will find that a web cam will have difficulty in getting a passable image. But all is not lost. You can use an ordinary camera to obtain an image by taking pictures through the eyepiece.

A very good place is to start is to get a picture of the moon using a point and shoot camera via the eyepiece. Some nice pictures have een taken with smart phone cams. Think it is too easy? Try it !! It is not easy to get a good picture of the moon.

The other thing to try out is to place an object in the centre of your field of view and see how long it stays there.

Good luck,

Jeremy.

[scottphillips]

I've got amazing results with my iPhone 5 of the moon through my travelscope 70 so I'm guessing the new scope would get even better ones !! And I can pick out the orion nebulae without trouble with the travelscope also so I was hoping the new scope would allow some kind of imaging for that nebulae at least

[Astrogate]

Hey guys my new skywatcher 130m on an eq2 mount with motor tracking and I have an Xbox webcam which I am about to modify to use for video astrophotography

I was just wondering what I am limited to with this setup e.g can I image deep sky objects such as nebula and galaxies and then stack multiple images or am I limited to just planetary imaging.

Thanks

Scott your web cam would be extremely limited for DSO's even some of the brighter ones due too severe noise cause by the sensor and limited exposure. Here is a great solution that does not cost an arm and a leg Mallincam Micro EX. This little camera has everything to get you going and will be a great match for your Skywatcher 130 mm refractor with a reducer such as a cheap .5 x reducer.

Mallincam Micro EX

http://www.mallincam.net/micro-ex.html

Chris A

Astrogate

[scottphillips]

Thanks for that I will keep it in mind !! Even if I take multiple say 200 second exposures and stack them would I have half a chance of even a decent image of DSO's ?

[nytecam]

Thanks for that I will keep it in mind !! Even if I take multiple say 200 second exposures and stack them would I have half a chance of even a decent image of DSO's ?

Sorry to disappoint but the answer is still no - you'll need exposures in second [not fractions of a second as normal for webcams] to dig the image out of the camera noise.   I've used webcams to successfully record the sun/moon and brighter planets and double stars to mag 5 but nebulae never even with large/ fast optics. 

You can modify webcams for longer expoures and many [in the past] cut their astro teeth that route

[Dave In Vermont]

I'll second the MallinCam line. They're made for planetary and DSO capture. If you have the money to burn, these run $599 US:

http://www.mallincam.net/junior-pro.html

The major difference between Junior and the Xtreme model is a built-in cooling-system. But keeping exposures relatively short will make this a non-issue.

Clear Skies,

Dave

[uhb1966]

... or you could try to get a used canon eos body ...?

[JRWASTRO]

... or you could try to get a used canon eos body ...?

Excellent Idea.

May I suggest the EOS 350D. Run on iso 400 this camera is exceptionally good. I do not know why Canon Inc. discontinued the sensor.

Single exposure of the moon 1/250s

At the other end of the exposure scale:

Single exposure of M42 1082s @iso400

Jeremy

[JRWASTRO]

Sorry my mistake the nebula is not M42 but M45.

My terrible mistake.

Jeremy.

[JRWASTRO]

I've got amazing results with my iPhone 5 of the moon through my travelscope 70 so I'm guessing the new scope would get even better ones !! And I can pick out the orion nebulae without trouble with the travelscope also so I was hoping the new scope would allow some kind of imaging for that nebulae at least

You will be surprised as to how good your travel scope will be at obtaining pictures of some nebulae.

Jeremy.

[shirva]

hi ,,my 2p worth ..i have the microsoft webcam in my collection,its ok on the moon but not much more,,chris a is correct there is just too much noise from the cam to do much better,,it is just a webcam at the end of the day,there have been suggestions made for mallincam cameras and are very good cameras and rock is a great guy to deal with,there is also the astro video systems cameras to choose from as well,,and maurice and a good few of the other guys on here will tell you how good the lodestar camera is,,myself personaly i use the phil dyer camer and the samsung scb 2000,,it all depends on how serious you want to go with video astronomy,,you can pick up a scb2000 camera from ebay for around £40 on a good day this is a brilliant camera to have in your collection..davy