| |
Main
Date: 09 May 2007 10:44:01
From:
Subject: Newbie wants advise
|
I was hoping this group could give me some advise.
I want to start doing some astronomical computer imaging and I
want some recommendations about equipment and books/publications. (I
am extremely impressed by the photos I have seen on the internet done
with amateur CCD's and webcams.) I would like to image deep sky
objects and planets. In the future I want to be able to image earth
orbiting satellites, but I'm willing to start with easier targets and
work my way up to that.
Right now I am considering a Philips ToUCam with scopetronix
adapter, a Meade DSI, or Atik CCD camera. Below I will summarize my
current experience level and equipment. I am leaning toward getting
the Atik because it is in stock at a near by dealer's place.
(Immediate Gratification!) If I enjoy imaging, I am willing to invest
up to $10K in a new telescope and/or other equipment.
Cheers,
Hein Hundal
My Current Equipment
I have a 30 year old 8 inch Celstron with a 30 year old polar mount
and built in clock drive. My clock drive controller has failed, but
even without the controller, the drive does a good job of keeping
objects from drifting out of the field of view. This telescope has
served me well, but I would eventually like to do satellite tracking
which would require a computer driven tracking system.
My Experience Level
I know a little about cameras. At one time I could figure out
exposure times with a light meter. I am just getting into astronomy.
When I was a kid, I took out this telescope and look for stuff, but I
could only find planets. In the last few weeks, I have had the
telescope out four or five times. Last night was my best night ever.
I found 7 Messier Objects (3 open clusters, 2 globular, and two
galaxies) over a three hour period using the manual RA and DC dials
(no computer driven controls) and I did some star hopping to find a
few of them. I took one astronomy class in college so I have some
general knowledge of astronomy (Eg. I can compute orbits,
magnification, signal to noise ratio, star relative and absolute
magnitudes, ...). I know a lot about numerical analysis and some
about machine learning, so I hope to invent some more image processing
techniques for amateur astronomy.
|
|
| |
Date: 11 May 2007 00:23:13
From: 8po
Subject: Re: Newbie wants advise
|
momentpos@yahoo.com wrote:
> I was hoping this group could give me some advise.
>
> I want to start doing some astronomical computer imaging and I
> want some recommendations about equipment and books/publications. (I
> am extremely impressed by the photos I have seen on the internet done
> with amateur CCD's and webcams.) I would like to image deep sky
> objects and planets. In the future I want to be able to image earth
> orbiting satellites, but I'm willing to start with easier targets and
> work my way up to that.
>
> Right now I am considering a Philips ToUCam with scopetronix
> adapter, a Meade DSI, or Atik CCD camera. Below I will summarize my
> current experience level and equipment. I am leaning toward getting
> the Atik because it is in stock at a near by dealer's place.
> (Immediate Gratification!) If I enjoy imaging, I am willing to invest
> up to $10K in a new telescope and/or other equipment.
>
> Cheers,
> Hein Hundal
Given your goals I wouldnt waste time or money on any webcam
but go straight to a good dslr or better, a ccd. You need to start
with a camera actually capable of good imaging and something
you can grow "in to" not out of. Buy something used from a reliable
seller. Consult some some astro photographers and get a very solid
idea of features the camera will have, and doesnt have you might weant and
need, and rely on the web for solid advice. Maybe start
with SBIG and get advice from there.
|
| |
Date: 09 May 2007 22:08:17
From: dogman
Subject: Re: Newbie wants advise
|
On May 9, 1:44 pm, moment...@yahoo.com wrote:
> I was hoping this group could give me some advise.
>
> I want to start doing some astronomical computer imaging and I
> want some recommendations about equipment and books/publications. (I
> am extremely impressed by the photos I have seen on the internet done
> with amateur CCD's and webcams.) I would like to image deep sky
> objects and planets. In the future I want to be able to image earth
> orbiting satellites, but I'm willing to start with easier targets and
> work my way up to that.
>
> Right now I am considering a Philips ToUCam with scopetronix
> adapter, a Meade DSI, or Atik CCD camera. Below I will summarize my
> current experience level and equipment. I am leaning toward getting
> the Atik because it is in stock at a near by dealer's place.
> (Immediate Gratification!) If I enjoy imaging, I am willing to invest
> up to $10K in a new telescope and/or other equipment.
>
> Cheers,
> Hein Hundal
>
> My Current Equipment
>
> I have a 30 year old 8 inch Celstron with a 30 year old polar mount
> and built in clock drive. My clock drive controller has failed, but
> even without the controller, the drive does a good job of keeping
> objects from drifting out of the field of view. This telescope has
> served me well, but I would eventually like to do satellite tracking
> which would require a computer driven tracking system.
>
> My Experience Level
>
> I know a little about cameras. At one time I could figure out
> exposure times with a light meter. I am just getting into astronomy.
> When I was a kid, I took out this telescope and look for stuff, but I
> could only find planets. In the last few weeks, I have had the
> telescope out four or five times. Last night was my best night ever.
> I found 7 Messier Objects (3 open clusters, 2 globular, and two
> galaxies) over a three hour period using the manual RA and DC dials
> (no computer driven controls) and I did some star hopping to find a
> few of them. I took one astronomy class in college so I have some
> general knowledge of astronomy (Eg. I can compute orbits,
> magnification, signal to noise ratio, star relative and absolute
> magnitudes, ...). I know a lot about numerical analysis and some
> about machine learning, so I hope to invent some more image processing
> techniques for amateur astronomy.
A good book to get is Astrophotography for the Amateur By Michael A.
Covington, he is a professor at the University of Georgia but his book
is widely available, learn collimation and get very good at it
http://legault.club.fr/collim.html and you could get away with less
than ten K on equipment.
|
|
