Imaging the Moon, Planets & Sun with a Digital Camera

Imaging the Moon, Planets & Sunwith a Digital Camera

David Haworth, Copyright 2003

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Scope

Digital Cameras with

lens that do not remove

3

Lunar Imaging is a Good Starting Point

It is 2nd brightest objectThe Sun requires a expensive filter

Wide variety of equipmentCamera Mounted on TripodTelescope low, median and high resolution

Noticeable changes within hoursVery good learning for other imaging

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Camera Mounted on Tripod

Focus at infinity

Vary the exposure times

Vary the optical zoon

Use self timer or

Remote shutter


2002.05.15 22:04


Venus Mars

Jupiter Moon

2002.05.15 22:04

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2002.07.18 22:45

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Venus

2002.07.13 21:40

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Image 85 x 112 pixels1/250 sec.

2x Telephoto Lens

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2002.12.01 08:43

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Venus

2002.12.01 08:31

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Tips

Lens converts Manual focus distances are not correct

Remote release cableImproves productivity

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Imaging with TelescopesOrion ShortTube Orion Argonaut

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Orion ShortTube Telescope

Achromatic refractor80mm aperture400mm focal lengthf/5 f-ratio

Orion SVD mount

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Orion Argonaut Telescope

Maksutov-Cassegrain 150mm aperture1800mm focal lengthf/12 f-ratio

Orion EQ-3 Mount

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Tip: Use Vibration Suppression Pads

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Afocal Coupling

Camera withnon removable lens

Eyepiece

Camera is aimed into the eyepiece

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Afocal Coupling

Fc = Camerafocal length

Fep = Eyepiece focal lengthD = Telescope apertureFt = Telescope focal lengthf t = Telescope focal ratio = Ft / D

Magnification = Ft / FepProjection Magnification = Fc / FepEffective Focal Length = Ft x Projection Magnification Effective f-ratio = f t x Projection Magnification

Basic Formulas

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Projection Magnification = Fc / Fep

MMmmFc = 23.4 mm

0.900.32260.980.34241.170.41201.300.46181.670.59142.340.82102.460.869.5

Fc = 8.2 mmEp

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Orion ShortTube F =400mm, f = 5

f-ratioF mmf-ratioF mmmm

360390468520669936985

Zoon In

126137164182234328345

4.51.6264.91.7245.92.1206.52.3188.42.91411.74.11012.34.39.5

Zoon OutEp

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Orion Argonaut F =1800mm, f = 12

f-ratioF mmf-ratioF mmmm

1620175521062340300942124434

Zoon In

568615738820105414761554

10.83.82611.74.12414.04.92015.65.51820.17.01428.19.81029.610.49.5

Zoon OutEp

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Afocal Coupling

Camera is aimed into the eyepieceHold the camera over the eyepieceSet camera on tripod next to telescopeUse bracket attached to eyepieceUse camera adapterUse eyepiece with adapter

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Afocal Coupling

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Afocal CouplingAfocal Camera Adapter

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Nikon 990 Camera

CKC Power 28mm to T-mount adapterOrion 20mm eyepiece

Orion UniversalCamera adapter

Edmund Scientific48mm Barrel T-mountextension tubes

Afocal Camera Adapter

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Nikon 990 CameraAfocal Camera Adapter

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Afocal Coupling Telescope MountingEdmund Scientific48mm Barrel T-mountSplit ring mount

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Afocal CouplingEyepieces with Adapter or Threads

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Nikon 990 CameraAfocal Eyepiece with Adapter

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Nikon 990 Camera

18mmEyepiece

24mmEyepiece

28mmThreads

Afocal Eyepieces with 28mm Threads

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Nikon 990 CameraAfocal Eyepiece with 28mm Threads

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Vignetting when Zoom Out

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Imaging Setup

Polar alignmentPower

CameraDew heater

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Tip: Cool Down

Plan for cool down time

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Nikon Camera Settings

Manual modeManual focus at infinityWhite balance: sunnyImage sharpening: highAperture wide open

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Tip: Use Lowest ISO Setting

Take test imagesAt different ISO settings

More noise at higher ISO settings200 and 400

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Tip: Use Lowest ISO SettingSHUTTER : 1/125secSENSITIVITY : ISO400

SHUTTER : 1/60secSENSITIVITY : ISO200


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Tip: Use Lowest ISO SettingSHUTTER : 1/125secSENSITIVITY : ISO400



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Focusing

Manual focus at infinity

Image sharpening: high

Maximum digital zoom

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Tip: Electric Focuser

JMI NGF-S DRO Focuser

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Steps to a Good Sharp ExposureEverything is Dependent on Seeing Conditions

EyepieceCamera Zoom

Exposure TimeImage Exposure

Image Sharpness

SeeingTelescope

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Poor Seeing

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Good Seeing, No Image Processing

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Good Seeing, Image Sharpen

f-ratioF mm15.62340

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Exposure

1/8 sec 1/4 sec

Over Exposed

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Image Exposure

Take one image & check histogram

8 sec Image Exposure Problems

Achromatic RefractorFalse Color

Lens Flair

Camera Noise

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Shutter Release

Shutter-release button

Self-timer

Shutter Release Controller

Shutter Release Software with PC

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Remote Release Cable

Nikon MC-EU1 Remote Cord

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Shutter Release Controller

DigiSnap 2000http://www.harbortronics.com/digimain.htm

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Shutter Release Software

The Forcehttp://velatron.com/dca/TheForce/

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Shutter Release Software

Digital-Camera.dkhttp://www.digital-camera.dk/

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Partial Solar Eclipse Movie

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June 10, 2002130 images @ 1 minute apart

17:00 to 19:08Nikon 990 Digital CameraOrion 80mm ShortTube refractor

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Partial Solar Eclipse Movie Steps

Convert JPG image files to BMPIrfranView

AlignMaxIm DL

Resize from 2048 x 1536 to 640 x 480IrfranView

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Partial Solar Eclipse Movie Steps

SharpenIrfranView

Histogram adjustPaint Shop Pro

Create Windows Media Video WMV fileWindows XP Move Maker 2

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Planets

Real Small

Requires high magnification

Stacking is must

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Planet Stacking

One image

Stacked Images

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OSP 2003 Mars

29 Stacked Images 1/125 sec

Wednesday August 27, 3:11 am

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OSP 2003 Mars

Nikon 99029 Stacked Images 1/125 sec

Wednesday August 27, 3:11 am

ToUcam webcam660 Stacked Images 1/125 secThursday August 28, 11:10 pm

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More Information

Will post presentation & references on website by end of September

http://www.stargazing.net/david

Imaging the Moon, Planets & Sun with a Digital Camera

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