the moon to night 29-12-11

[astropete]

taken at 1730pm

scope 127mm sky watcher camera samsung nv4 8mp e/p 25mm

afocal shot, with haze comming in.

[Uplooker]

astropete,

That image is really sharp. Quite strange by the fact that I was looking (no optics) at the moon when you said you captured it :-)

[astropete]

hi uplooker, thanks for your comments. the shoot started at around 1730, with jupiter to the left and venus to the right a very good sight to see, then my main front lens misted over, so after a quick clean i took the pic. some pics from the shoot were overexposed due to the lens misting, but the one posted was after editing the best on the night.

peter

[nightfisher]

Pete, that is a great image, i asumed it was taken with your dslr at first, then read capture details, very sharp image, i have a yet another new camera to try out, a Kodak M200 mini, it has all the features i need so it should be a good one for lunar

[astropete]

hi jules, thanks for your comments, and i look forward to seeing your pics. i have decided to keep the samsung camera for the 5" scope (for quick shots) and then use the canon 1000d for the 8", since with the 8" scope there should be more detail, well thats what i intend to do, but i do mess things around a bit.

[nightfisher]

I look forward to sharing some pics.....if we ever get some clear skies!!

[KevG]

Now that is a great image you have there, love the simplicity of a-focal compared to all the faffing around with webcams & processing etc. Do you use a digi-adaptor with the camera?

[astropete]

hi KevG, thanks for your comments, yesr i do use a digi mount for the camera, i will post a pic of my 5" scopes kit.

[astropete]

hi KevG here is the kit i use for my 5" scope.

[KevG]

Thanks Pete, that looks nice & compact. Looking at your results, think I will have to get one of those. I use a-focal to capture full disc solar, be more productive than trying to hold the camera at the EP.

Thanks again for the pic.. cheers Kev.

[astropete]

hi KevG, with the samsung camera, you dont have to change the eyepice, just use the cameras zoon, and you will get results. this kit will be u/s for deep sky objects as you cannot control the shutter, (you have a max of 10 seconds) then the shutter fires. make sure if you buy a compact digital that the main lens is not a pop out otherwise it will hit the e/p. by pop out i mean those lenses that actually move in and out (like a telephoto) when you press the shutter.

it takes practice to align the camera and e/p via the digi mount, but well worth it, another point is if you take a pictuire, you have the means to enlarge that picture after the camera is removed from the scope. thats why i chose the samsung nv4 8mp

[astropete]

hi KevG here is a close up of the camera, actually the camera in this pic is full size.

[KevG]

Thanks again for the info Pete, much appreciated. Have an LX modded SPC, but really like the idea of a-focal for Lunar/Solar, intend investing some time perfecting the method in readiness for the Venus transit, going to throw everything I have got at that one!