Benefits of a webcam.

[bokeh]

So, just last week I bought a cheap £5 webcam from B&M bargains to use as an astrocam. I removed the lens and attached a 35mm film holder with one end cut out of it so it would fit inside the slot on the telescope.

I couldn't actually understand how this method would work as 1, I wasn't going to be using an eyepeice and 2, the webcam wasn't going to have a lens. However, the results blew me away. I can't believe how well this very cheap method works.

I used the webcam on the Moon just the other night and got some great results, here is just 1:

I used the program SharpCap that allows me to take snapshots and video. Since I can't quite get to grips with Registax, I am unable to turn the footage into an image. If anyone can send some links to tutorials that goes through the Registax footage to image process simply, that would be appreciated.

- Bokeh

[rowan46]

That's an ok pic for a £5 webcam here is a link to a registax tutorial http://www.russsscope.net/staxtutorial.htm

[rowan46]

Here is the link That I have been looking for (I knew we had one here)

[themos]

I couldn't actually understand how this method would work as 1, I wasn't going to be using an eyepeice and 2, the webcam wasn't going to have a lens.

1.The eyepiece is used to magnify the image that is formed inside the telescope. As you are forming the image directly onto the webcam's sensor there's no need for an eyepiece.

2.The webcam has a lens, of sorts: the telescope's objective lens or mirror. That's what bends the light and forms an image on the sensor.

[JamesF]

When you put the webcam into the telescope, the telescope becomes the lens. That's how it works. it's perhaps easier to visualise if you're using a refractor. The original camera lens is just a refracting lens that focuses the incoming light on the camera sensor. All you're doing is replacing it with a bigger one. And a newt is just the same, but replacing the lens with a mirror. A Mak or SCT is just the same if you put the webcam in one, and in fact there are camera lenses that are of a similar design to achieve a far longer focal length than the physical size of the lens.

James

[Catweazel]

Quite a nice picture that! Which webcam did you do it with?

[bokeh]

Quite a nice picture that! Which webcam did you do it with?

Cheers mate! I was very pleased with the result. It's just a basic one from B&M bargains in the UK (unsure of your nationality) that only cost £5. Here is the link:

http://www.bmstores.co.uk/products/optimum-3-megapixel-webcam-251953

Everything is automated so there's no trouble with messing around with the settings trying to get the right brightness etc.

[VigdisVZ]

That's what I call "bang for the buck"!

[breezy]

looks pretty good mate, better than my attempts so far with webcam

[heathenwoods]

Nice one, that's really impressive. I'm playing with a B&M webcam at the moment (see here). I need to cut it down to size a little to get the chip closer in to the focusser so that's my next job when I grab a quiet hour or so - your post has spurred me to persevere