Newbie requires Photo Advice

[Trend07]

Hi and may i first say what a great site for a beginner like myself.

I am after some advice regarding Astrophotography.

I have recently bought a Explorer 150p and would now like to stat taking photos of the moon & Jupiter.

Reading other threads i think i will opt for the SPC880 webcam but i would like advice on what adaptors / mounts i require and also what filters to purchase.

Any advice greatly recieved.

Cheers Trend

[neilm]

A warm welcome to SGL.

Once you've sourced your cam you'll need a nose piece, have a look at these from FLO Adaptors

As regards filters, I just have a moon filter, for the moon! or a light pollution reduction filter.

If you haven't found a reliable source for the cam, these people get loads of recommendations Cheap Philips SPC880 webcam - 49269 - discounts & offers

Then you'll need some capture software, SharpCap or wxAstroCapture are fairly popular, both free downloads from the net. Finally, something to process the avi, Registax, again free off the internet.

Cheers

Neil

[brantuk]

Hi Trend - thanks for the compliment on the site

If you get the webcam from Morgans website - there is a suitable 1.25" adaptor on the same page - or alternatively you'll find one on FLO. Morgans also have links to the software for flashing it up to SPC900 and drivers.

You might want to try wxAstroCature to run the camera - it's free. There are other ones too that people will suggest.

If your scope is on the EQ3-2 mount then you'll want a right ascension tracking motor to keep planets in the eyepiece for longer frame grabbing. Again FLO do these:

http://firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=singlemotoreq32

Hope that helps

[Trend07]

Thanks for the quick reply, I will try and get something ordered this week.

[stevelcfc]

hi and welcome

i have the same scope you should have lots of fun with it i know i have

as for the spc880 try these

www.morgancomputers.co.uk

they sell the webcam /adapter / and flash it to spc900 for under 40 quid

good luck with the scope

[Trull]

...you can also get surprisingly good results by simply holding your camera phone up to the eyepiece.

Make sure you have a longer USB cable to attach to the cam, and watch out for snagging it.

[Woody]

...and of course there is 'Make every Photon Count'

Books - Making Every Photon Count - Steve Richards

A good read and answers alot of questions. Helped me out heaps.