Would this work as an AstroCam

[blinky]

http://www.networkwebcams.com/product_info.php?cPath=94&products_id=450

I am getting one of these IP Camera's tomorrow. Although it is a CMOS sensor it says it operates as low as 0.3LUX. How do you folks think it would work in place of my ToUCam for planetery imaging? My thinking is as it outputs 1280X1024 at 15fps it would be ideal for stacking and zooming with Registax? It is coming with a good quality wide(ish) angle lens, should I remove the lens as in my ToUCam or as it's good quality just use it?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[geppetto]

Haven't a clue Blinky but it will be interesting to find out

Worth a try 8)

[Ambermile]

The ccd in the 1024x board (JG mod) is 0.001 lux...

Arthur

[blinky]

Whats that arthur?

[Ambermile]

What, the JG mod? Well, the SC mod is for webcams, the JG mod is for the security-cam types (i.e. the ones that stream the video direct via an AV lead).

Arthur

[blinky]

This is an IP Webcam. Just got it set up in the house tonight. The quality is outstanding. Maybe need to get sombody to make me an adapter to connect to the scope, I wonder who could make me one :D

[Ambermile]

Is it a C thread?

arthur

[Ambermile]

... and can you control the exp/gain/etc. ?

[blinky]

Not exactly sure Arthur, Need to have a good look at it. I have got PDF's with all the specs etc. I just wanted to have a wee play with it tonight!

[blinky]

I can control gain and exposure. The lens I have has manual focus and manual iric control as well. It says it will focus down to 30cm so might need quite a long extension tube if I want to try and use the lens.

[Ambermile]

Well, C mount to 1.25" is easy. Even to 2" also. CS I'm not so sure about...

Arthur

[blinky]

Just captured a quick snap. This is from in my living room pointing out through the double glazing. I can deff see some stars in the image. Can anybody play about with the image to see what they can get? I take it the red dots are hot pixels? Quite excited now, if it can pick up starlight without being in a scope, imagine what I can get when correctly set up with my 8" of aperature

[scotty365]

You could catch an avi sequence with K3CCD tools and and use Registax, try different settings and see if you can pull a clearer picture out. It would be interesting to see this worked thro and maybe get some Saturn pics on the forum!!

Scotty

[Kaptain Klevtsov]

Had a quick go but the image is seriously noisy. The dots don't line up between the channels so they might all be hot pixels. What settings did you do the snap at?

Captain Chaos

[Kaptain Klevtsov]

If its not a silly question, why one of those and not a Watec or Mintron which cost less and we know that they work?

Captain Chaos

[blinky]

The reason I am using this cam? I got it for free

The picture above was just me pointing it out the windows to see if it would pick up anything. I had a look at it last night and I tend to agree with you that it might just be hot pixels. It's pouring rain up here so I have not had a chance to stick it in the 'scope and try to reach focus. I have managed to squeeze the camera lens into the top of my extension tube, so all is set for a clear night with Saturn. I am thinking that I would be best to get the camera fitted without the lens, so I will give that a try as well, just by holdingit up and seeing if I can reach focus.

What would you think best? with or without lens? Bearing in mind this is not a cheap plastic lens that comes with the webcams!!

[Kaptain Klevtsov]

I expect you'll have to either do it without the lens, at prime focus, or with the lens through an eyepiece.

Captain Chaos

[blinky]

Ah, I never thought of doing it with a lens and an eyepiece. Thats 3 diffrent combinations to try.

[blinky]

Got it working today (First day without rain/wind) It reaches focus with no lens or eyepiece, just like a ToUCam. The quality is excellent (well on land based targets). Only problem is I need an adapter to connect it up to the scope, I had to hold it at the front. The magnification looks about 2-3 times that of a ToUCam so I cannot wait for a clear night (Or morning) to try it all out