Astrophotography, believe it or not… …is not as hard as rocket science.
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Transcript of Astrophotography, believe it or not… …is not as hard as rocket science.
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Astrophotography,
believe it or not…
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…is not as hard as rocket science.
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It’s not rocket science.
• No Physics degree required• No Computer Science degree required• No Engineering degree required• Some computer skills can be useful• Some mechanical ability is useful• A basic understanding of electronics is useful• Some understanding of the underlying
science is a great plus• While equipment continues to improve, the
core technology itself is reasonably mature – it is highly unlikely that you will need to invent anything in order to be successful
• Patience and perseverance are absolutely mandatory!
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It’s not black magic, either.
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using practical and measurable considerations when making equipment choices will ultimately simplify the job
a little simple math can greatly assist in understanding how things work as well as what you might expect as a result
taking the time to develop a logical and tested workflow will improve your odds of repeatable results
It’s not black magic.
understanding the critical elements involved leads to better results
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How Solar System Imaging differs from Deep Sky Imaging
• most objects are generally much brighter than DSO’s
• good results can be achieved at relatively fast shutter speeds
• highly effective cameras are generally much less expensive than purpose-built astronomical CCD cameras
• accurate tracking is not as critical to success – guiding is completely unnecessary
• good results can be had using moderately priced telescopes and mountings with uncomplicated setups
• trips to dark sky are not required in order to get good results
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How Solar System Imaging differs from Deep Sky Imaging
• the details we are trying to capture are generally much smaller in apparent size than DSO’s
longer focal length instruments are useful for best results
telextenders (“powermate”, barlow and/or extension tubes) are very helpful in increasing image scale
• larger aperture instruments help overcome light loss due to the high focal ratios involved
• much more susceptible to poor seeing, focus and collimation
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Cameras
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Solar System Cameras
Philips ToUcam Pro 740K• No longer in production but widely available
used on the Web on eBay and AstroMart • Can be bought ready to go for astrophotos
for $50.00 or less• Uses Sony ICX098BQ CCD chip• Has 640x480 array with 5.6µm pixels• Works best at 5 to 15 frames per second
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Solar System Cameras
Phillips SPC-900NC• No longer in production but still
available brand new from eBay and used from eBay and AstroMart
• Cost to make this camera ready for astrophotos is generally under $75.00
• Uses Sony ICX098BQ CCD chip• Has 640x480 array with 5.6µm pixels• Works best at 5 to 15 frames per
second
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Solar System Cameras
Celestron NexImage • Commercially produced imager based
on the Phillips ToUcam design• Available at major astronomy and
photographic shops as well as on Amazon.com for under $100.00
• Uses Sony ICX098BQ CCD chip• Has 640x480 array with 5.6µm pixels• Works best at 5 to 15 frames per
second
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Solar System Cameras
StarShoot Solar System Imager III• Commercially produced imager using 1.3
megapixel CMOS chip• Priced at $189.95 at Orion Telescopes• Comes bundled with MaximDL Essentials
software• Uses Micron MT9M001 CMOS chip• Has 1280x1024 array with 5.2µm pixels• Maximum frame rate of 15 frames per
second
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Solar System Cameras
SAC Systems Model 7b Imager• Commercially produced modified webcam
with Peltier cooling and long exposure capability
• No longer in production, but available used on websites like AstroMart for generally less than $200.00
• Specs vary per production run but all imagers have 640x480 CCD chips
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Solar System Cameras
DV Camcorder (aka – the camera that you already have)
• Lower TCO by using a camera you already have
• Conversion for astro use is not permanent and can cost as little as $30.00
• Fixed lens requires that images be taken using afocal photography rather than prime focus photography
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Tips for Afocal Photography
• Use an eyepiece with long eye relief• Couple the end of the camera lens as close as
possible to the eye lens of the telescope eyepiece
• If possible, set the digital camera at macro mode rather than infinity
• Use full optical zoom, but do not use digital zoom
• If possible, use a camera lens with a focal length longer than the eyepiece focal length
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Solar System Cameras
Imaging Source DMK 21AU04.AS• Commercial camera originally designed for
industrial applications• monochrome but available in a color model• Suggested retail price $390.00 but can be
had for less at certain retailers• Uses Sony ICX098BL CCD chip• Has 640x480 array with 5.6µm pixels• Has a maximum frame rate of 60 frames
per second using firewire port, but this USB model performs better at 30 fps on my laptop
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Solar System Cameras
Luminera SkyNyx 2.0• Commercially produced camera specifically
for astrophotography, this is the entry level model for this line
• Monochome and color versions available• Retail price $995.00• Uses Sony ICX424 chip• Has 640x480 array with 7.4µm pixels• Maximum frame rate is > 100 frames per
second
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Solar System Cameras
Dragonfly ExpressBy Point Grey Research
• Industrial firewire camera – Point Grey is just beginning to cater to the astronomy market
• Monochrome and color versions available• Suggested Retail price is $1195.00• Uses Kodak KAI-0340DM/C CCD chip• Has 640x480 array with 7.4µm pixels• Has maximum frame rate of 350 frames
per second
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Software
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Image Scale
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3777mm efl @ f/18
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5846mm efl @ f/25
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6342mm efl @ f/23
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8416mm efl @ f/24
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13,149mm efl @f/40
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So – how does this work in practice?
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Image Scale – Prime Focus
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Image Scale – Prime Focus
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Image Scale – 2X Barlow
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Image Scale – 2X Barlow
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Hey, wait a minute…
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Hey, wait a minute…
• If the line is 72 pixels long at prime focus, shouldn’t the line be 144 pixels long with the 2X Barlow?
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Hey, wait a minute…
• If the line is 72 pixels long at prime focus, shouldn’t the line be 144 pixels long with the 2X Barlow?
• No. The actual magnification of a barlow is determined by how far the imaging chip is from the last lens in the barlow.
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Hey, wait a minute…
• If the line is 72 pixels long at prime focus, shouldn’t the line be 144 pixels long with the 2X Barlow?
• No. The actual magnification of a barlow is determined by how far the imaging chip is from the last lens in the barlow.
• This behavior gives us some interesting options for increasing the image scale in our Solar system images!
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Televue Barlow Magnification
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Image Scale – Barlow w/extension
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Image Scale – Barlow w/extension
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So – what did we get?
• 72 Pixels represents “1X” – baseline• With the “2X” barlow in place, the line went
to 176 pixels – in actuality, my “2X” barlow is really a “2.44…X” barlow – an over achiever to be sure
• Adding 36.76mm of extension to the optical train took the line to 228 pixels, giving us a total increase in scale of 3.2X over the native scale – increase this extension and you increase the scale!
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What’s Next?
How some easy math provides answers to questions you need to know:
• How big will Jupiter be on *my* telescope?• How long *was* my effective focal length?• What *was* the focal ratio of the system?• How long can I expose Jupiter before the
planet’s rotation causes smearing?• Yes, I will talk about capture and
processing too!