Help With Nightscape CCD Set Up

[ty myrick]

Hey all, I am currently pretty new to astronomy and wanted to get into some astrophotography. I currently have a Meade LX90 GPS and a Celestron Nightscape CCD however everytime I boot up the camera all I am getting is a black screen when I take the picture. Long and short exposures are both netting the same image. I have tried to take pictures of both M31 and M42 but have had no success. Anyone have any tips for me?

[michael8554]

Sounds like it's out of focus.

Go back to an eyepiece on the OTA and check that the finderscope is well aligned with the eyepiece image.

Then try the camera on the moon, in the focus mode you should get at least a white blob.

Then focus, be aware that SCTs have a focus range of many many twists of the focus knob.

Michael