Beginer is very confused!! PLEASE help!

[CaptPaul]

Hi

Iam very new to astronamy let alone astrophotography so please bear with me.

To get used to my new scope i plan on trying to go through the lunar 100 and whilst im doing this take some photos of what im looking at (ive crated a log on excel and left space for the photos or sketches). i was thinking just for the moon to put my camera onto the scope (a focal - i think its called) but i have read lots about using a webcam. i have a laptop so would only need a web cam and the connector but ive hit my first stumbling block. I cant find a cheap ccd webcam (which is apparently what i need) they all seem to be CMOS. does anyone know the differance and could you tell me please?

[Merlin66]

Don't worry to much at this stage whether it's a CCD or CMOS chip.

The main issue is to find one where the lens can be removed and replaced with a 1.25" nosepiece.

The popular Philips ToUcam are no longer manufactured as is the SPC900nc. Check on ebay or buy and sell...

[CaptPaul]

Ok thats great.

Next question though (ill try make it my last...for now lol)

how do i know which will take the nosepiece is it a case of anything with a 1.25" threaded opening or is the actual lense a standard size of 1.25"? Thanks for your help.

[themos]

There are nosepieces available for some of the popular models. Once you unscrew the webcam's lens, the threads are exposed. Depending on the size and position of these threads on the body, you choose the nosepiece. The 1.25" refers not to the thread but to the width of the nosepiece and all the webcam nosepieces are 1.25" to fit standard focusers.

[themos]

I remember doing without a "proper" nosepiece for a while. I just rigged an old 35mm film cannister with sticky tape on to the webcam body. The cannister fits nicely into focusers, being 1.25" wide.

[CaptPaul]

Oh ok i will try that for the time being as i only want to do shots of the moon to start with then slowly work up. i have created logs in excel for the lunar 100 and the messier objects (its been cloudy lol) with spaces for sketches and pics.

THANKS FOR THE ADVICE!!!!

[CaptPaul]

Ive just ordered a webcam of ebay (hopefully it will be ok! ) its a phillips toucam 810B (theres some left it it interests anyone! i can send you a link. lol) Does anyone know where i can get the adapter from?? i looked on FLO but couldnt see any. Thanks again for your help.

[Merlin66]

The webcam nosepiece to suit the ToUcam C thread and 1.25" focuser is on page 2, middle page.

Adaptors

Just unscrew the lens from the camera, and screw in this adaptor.

Goes into the focuser just like an eyepiece.

[CaptPaul]

Thank you.

Think i gonna get the low profile one as its only a thin web cam by the look of the picture.

[alfi]

hi

a good replacement for the toucams are the celestron neximage, it uses the same chip, and i think it is the best cheap solarsystem imager you can get today. this saves you from looking all over the net to find a old toucam.

alfi

[CaptPaul]

Thanks i managed to get one of ebay for £10!

There was a few avaliable but i think the auction ended but i can send you the seller info if your interested incase they relist.

[dark knight]

Have you downloaded the great piece of free software called "Virtual Moon Atlas". it is brilliant and you can enter details in the ready made log plus add photo's and loads of other stuff,,you can even link it to you telescope..If you want to try it out here's the link

en:download [Virtual Moon Atlas]

[CaptPaul]

oooo no i sat in on a cloudy night and made an excel sheet for the lunar 100 ill check out that link though its prob going to be better than mine. Thanks

[DAVPPK]

hi

a good replacement for the toucams are the celestron neximage, it uses the same chip, and i think it is the best cheap solarsystem imager you can get today. this saves you from looking all over the net to find a old toucam.

alfi

True, and they're more specialised

[Bambi]

Ive just ordered a webcam of ebay (hopefully it will be ok! ) its a phillips toucam 810B

Have you had any success with this camera? I have been looking that them on e-bay too, a tenner seems a real bargain if you can remove the lens and replace it with a 1.25" adaptor.