total beginner astrophotography question

[Gaz_sands]

Hi there folks....first time posting.

I have a Celestron 130SLT relfector scope....i recently bought a 2 x barlow T-Adpater and a T-ring for my nikon D40 SLR.

I attached it and tried to focus on Jupiter....it looks absolutely tiny in the field of view...even after zooming in and cropping it still looks tiny with almost no detail (only slight banding visable) how do i increase the magnification (btw the photo was taken at ISO 200)

thanks for any advice in advance,

Gaz.

[umadog]

Zooming won't help if it's digital zoom. You could try a 4x barlow? Possibly go afocal?

[cosmological]

What size eyepiece were you using?

[hemihaggis]

What size eyepiece were you using?

eh ? i dont think he would be using an eyepiece ....

webcams and barlows are a good way to snap the planets , possibly a x3 or x4 barlow ,

[ncjunk]

The best way is a webcam or camera specifically for the moon and planets. X4 or x5 barlow and a camera operating at ten to twenty frames a second. You then can shoot a two minute video clip and select the frames which had the best "seeing" for combining to produce a wonderfull pic.

Your picture could be improved by ensuring focus is correct and then taking as many photos as you can, at very quick shutter speeds, and then only select the photos where jupiter looks sharp and stack them in Registax or some other software.

So x4 barlow or two x2 barlows and lots of photos.

Saludos

Neil

[Gaz_sands]

Thanks for all the advice...my view of Jupiter through my 5mm eye piece along with my 2 X Barlow is pretty good, although lacking any real detail....

I made the huge assumption attaching a camera to my scope would allow me to take higher defination photographs...looks like it the opposite without some software manipulation and lots of photos.

might have to look into the webcam option...any recomendations ?

[Gaz_sands]

I am guessing that I can buy a CCD camera which connects directly to the scopes eye piece, obviously allowing you to take video / stills with the increased magnification.

[Gaz_sands]

I just tried doubling up 2 barlows and that seems to work )

I attached my 2 X and 2.5 X to my DSLR and managed to improve things.

Just need a clear night to give it another shot. Thanks all.