Hooking a Cam upto a telescope

[Astral]

I have a plan I'd like to try out.

I'd like to hook my Vista laptop up to my Celestron powerseeker. I have an old cam (Which I don't think is up to the job really so willing to invest in a new one) and I'd like to connect it to the scope for taking photos and just general ease of viewing. I wear contact lenses and find staring through an eye piece can give me dry eye! (anyone else get that?)

If anyone here has done this already could you help me with a good cam suggestion and also the mechanisam of how to fit it to my telescope. I may also need a program to for the laptop?

I have a little bit of money to spend on this but would like to DIY it as much as possible!

Thanks

[Psychobilly]

What type of Cam are you after Astral.

Webcam, DSLR etc...

Peter...

[Astral]

Which ever is better Psycho. My plan is to get the best picture I can as I'd like to take photos. Can you tell me the difference? I'd assume a webcam would be lower in quality?

[Psychobilly]

and much lower in cost...

What are you interested in taking pics of... the easiest way to start would be a webcam with a 1.25" noespiece adaptor and use it for lunar and planetary....

Right got to go back to work...

Peter...

[Astral]

I'd like to get some semi decent photos of Saturn and Jupiter... If I could do that with a webcam that would be great.

[Psychobilly]

Would be fine for that...

[roundycat]

I used to wear contact lenses so I know what you mean. Stephen James O'Meara, possibly the world's leading observer says that you should keep your eye moving and keep blinking whilst at the telescope. It keeps the eye better fed with its various nutrients!

Dennis

[Astral]

It can be a right pain. I get really frustrated after awhile. I'd like to hook it upto my laptop so I could see clearly and also snap a few pics. So I've had a cam suggested to me, would I need any programs?

[Psychobilly]

A minitron is another alternative....

[Scuba]

Hi Astral.

Just as a taster, alhough it is a complete tutorial, try here:

Webcam Astrophotography Tutorial for Planets

Although dated 2005 the methods haven't changed, the equipment may have. It will give you an overall feel for what you can do.

Dave.

[Psychobilly]

The Minitron will give you the same sort of views as you might see at the EP but will allow you to "see" fainter objects as it integrates the image over a period of time...

http://www.telescopeplanet.co.uk/ViewProdDetails.asp?prod_code=PON08F000023