wrong place then feel free to tell me off!

[theghettostylus]

Do any of your lovely forum people have any knowledge or even currently own or have owned the skywatcher 130 explorer 900mm version? And have you ever used said telescope to image via the webcam method? I am new and have been enjoying the views and images of the moon, but whenever I turn the scope onto Jupiter the planet will show but slightly blurred and only to fuzzy bands are noticeable, the views through the eye pieces I have are very nice and detailed.

I am using a tecknet 1080p full HD webcam video size of around 3 mins...

I would say focus was spot on or there about but still can't get the image very clear. Help!!!!

Please if you can.

I'm trying to get some OK images of Jupiter and the moon for my sons nursery as they are doing a bit on space and the solar system soon....

Admittedly the seeming isn't always good.

Thank you

Jason.

[ronin]

Really same suggestions as in the Imaging post.

If the image is sharp in an eyepiece you can reasonably expect it to be sharp on the web cam - you have modified the webcam haven't you ?????????

There is a thought - EXACTLY what are you doing?

Are you pointing scope at Jupiter, looking through eyepiece, sliding camera "over" eyepiece and getting an image therefore with eyepiece and unmodified camera?

[Northern Soul man]

HI Ya Ghetto - you say your taking a real time image of Jupiter and you have the image on screen, are you using any image capture software like SharpCap, this will "capture" the image (usually using taking a video of around a minute or two) ready for processing - in software like "Registax" - this software, aligns and stacks the image 1 frame on top of another frame to increase resolution - have a look on Youtube - there's a load of video's showing you the process.

I presume you have a 1.25 adapter in the place of the lens (you can screw the lens off the webcam and put the adaptor in its place) of the webcam to place into the focuser, then open up SharpCap to capture a 2 or 3 min video, save the file (usually an AVI) and select in Registax, align and stack, then adjust the Wavelets to bring the resolution of the image out.

The "raw" image through the webcam is very "soft" - looking like its out of focus, but when stacked the detail comes out.

Paul.

[theghettostylus]

Thanks for the detailed response, I do have the adapter to replace the lenses with It filter built in, I am actually using a USB webcam app on my phone as can't take the laptop out side because of a dead battery, when I do a star test the collimation looks pretty good, dark spot dead in the centre and everything.

Would the lack of controls on the webcam app be limiting the image? It has gamma, brightness and exposure and that's about it. I'm still getting to grips with registax at the moment, could it be that as it records from the webcam into phone as mp4 then converting to avi reduce quality?

Thank you.

[ronin]

Sorry but explain: Thanks for the detailed response, I do have the adapter to replace the lenses with It filter built in.

Have you removed the lens from the webcam?

Are you taking an image with the eyepiece in position?

In effect is it prime focus or afocal ?

[theghettostylus]

Basically, it goes webcam with 1.25" adapter in the focuser, then webcam is plugged into otg cable that Goes into my phone then webcam app records what the webcam can see, the app is just a very basic version on the image capturing software you would get with webcam for a computer or laptop. When I tested the webcam in the day with the telescope on a distant object the focus was lovely. But I just can't get Jupiter to not be blurred.

[ronin]

Still not said if the lens is in the webcam or if the webcam has been modified to remove it.

The setup should be:

Dismantle the webcam and remove the lens, reassemble without the lens but with the filter.

Webcam in adaptor ready to insert into focuser.

Remove eyepiece from the focuser.

Put the adaptor and webcam into the focuser.

Play with focus and position of the adaptor to get a good image. ** Problem is this.

Record a video of Jupiter for say 90 seconds - no more.

The video needs to be in .avi format (at least that seems to be the safe one).

Process the video in something like Registax.

The webcam has to have the lens removed - you focus the image direct onto the webcam sensor, the scope is your lens.

No idea if the phone can accept data at the rate, so you may be losing data/images.

What format does the phone store images as?

Do not go over 90 seconds as Jupiter rotates and things move too fast.

[Freddie]

With the FL of the 130 (650mm I believe) the image scale will be such that a 2-3 min AVI will not be a problem. 90 sec is too short.

[theghettostylus]

The webcam lens was removed and the adapter screwed in its place, I found the problem to be the recording app on my phone just didn't have the functionality, I took the laptop out on the 4th hand to tape shut the windows so I didn't get told off for letting the heating out and got this image. Think I need to invest in a laptop with a working battery.