Astro Photography

[LouisB]

Having had my CSC800 Celestron for four months or so and sorted out what's what regarding eyepieces etc I now wish for some advice/answers on what is required for planetry photography. Rather than the web camera type of kit I was thinking of the starter/midrange Atik or other make imager.

Once installed on the scope I presume that the software allows you to see on your laptop/pc monitor whatever the scope is pointing at? If taking a burst of photo's over a two second period, will the software align the shots if there is a frame shift due to rotation? What is the essential kit I would need to get started - although I am using my scope manually there is a goto system fitted and would I need a focuser when using a pc screen for viewing?

I know it's a lot of info I am after but enquiries so far have just encoraged the vendor to try and sell me their kit.

Thanks,

Louis.

[Black Knight]

For planetary photography what you need is basically two-fold:

- a high frame-rate camera, i.e. one that is essentially capable of capturing movies.

- software to "stack" individual frames from you captured movie to create an image.

Once the image is created, you can edit it in your graphics package of choice.

In terms of the camera, there are specialist cameras that will do what you want them to do, but this role can also fulfilled by the humble webcam, particularly if modded for astro use. The Atik Titan http://www.firstlightoptics.com/atik-cameras/atik-titan-dual-purpose-ccd-camera.html can do 15 frames per second, some of this Imaging Source cameras 30 or even 60 fps http://www.firstlightoptics.com/imaging-source-cameras.html.

The stacking software you would need is available on the internet and is free. Registax is widely used, and so is AVIstack. Give them both a go, and see how you get on with them.

You will want to keep movies shortish to avoid "smearing" planetary details, especially if you are imaging with a mono camera and need to change filters. Since you will capturing shortish movies, field rotation isn't too much of a problem and is sorted out by the stacking program.

My advice would be to try a suitable webcam-type device first, as they are relatively inexpensive - as long as you don't have to pay the silly recent prices for the now discontinued (and very poplular) Philips SPC900 of over £100! The DIY section is full of threads describing how various members have converted commercially available (and cheap-ish) webcams for astro use.

Hope this helps,

[Pete Presland]

i really would recommend a cheap webcam to start, and get some experience.the moon would also be a nice target just to get familiar with the process.

i started with a very cheap CMOS sensor cam, then a Philip's spc900, finally a mono imaging source+filters.there is no comparison between the first and last, but that said i still would not recommend a different route.

at least most of the software is free but be warned its extremely addictive

[LouisB]

Thanks guys for the replies - seems to be slowly slowly to start. That will be my way then - thanks.

LouisB

i really would recommend a cheap webcam to start, and get some experience.the moon would also be a nice target just to get familiar with the process.

i started with a very cheap CMOS sensor cam, then a Philip's spc900, finally a mono imaging source+filters.there is no comparison between the first and last, but that said i still would not recommend a different route.

at least most of the software is free but be warned its extremely addictive

[LouisB]

Thanks All.

LouisB