Eyepiece projection

[rusirius]

This is something of a newbie question, but is eyepiece projection worth a go? How does it fare agaist primary focus? What do you use to hold the camera/webcam/camcorder to the eyepiece? I'm told that if you can capture AVI files and process them through stacking software this gives some good results. Does it work on any objects (i.e. deep sky) or just planets, moon and other bright objects?

[Vega]

Hi Rusirius

I used to do all my moon shots via EP projection with my refractor.. here are some examples..

http://www.mattastro.com/gallery/Img_1110.jpg

http://www.mattastro.com/gallery/Plato_shadows.jpg

http://www.mattastro.com/gallery/Img_0907.jpg

And my setup was like this..

If you look closely there is a special L shaped adaptor that screws in to my Canon S30 'point and shoot' camera tripod thread that holds the camera firmly up to the eyepeice. Its called a Digi-T system but they are quite expensive (because they are custom built to each camera make/model). Its a great way of imaging large area's of the moon but does require focusing on two levels. You first focus the telescope, then focus the camera on to the eyepeice. I got the best results using the manual focus setting in conjunction with the macro option on my camera (but some point and shoot camera's dont have these options).

Matt

[rusirius]

Vega, thanks for your comments. Will have a look at the Digi-T. Was that photo of Jupiter taken with the EOS, Toucam or S30? Was it though the Skywatcher - thought I recognised it!

[Vega]

It was the Toucam / 2x Barlow / Evostar 120 combination. 700 of 2000 frames stacked in registax from an avi movie . I was well chuffed with the results and had the clean skies over the English Channel (South Devon) to thank for that

Matt

[rusirius]

Just shows what's possible with the Evostar and a webcam. Must get me a Toucam.