Serena,

The adapter is needed so that the webcam will fit into the visual back of the
scope. The webcam has the lens removed exposing the CCD and then the adapter is
screwed in. I will try your suggestion tonight.

Thanks,

Casey


serena_aussie <no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:                              
Your description suggests that the wbcam CCD is too far from the focus
  plane, so your telescope hasn't enough adjustment to achieve focus at
  the plane of your CCD. I am surprised. Don't know what a Mogg adapter
  looks like (despite going to the web site) but I suggest removing that
  and find the focus plane with a piece of paper (move it back and forth
  until you get a focussed image). You can easily determine the limits
  of your focussing control and make sure your CCD is placed within that
  range. If you are using focal length adapter, use the same technique
  with that in place. There are some other possibilities, but do those
  checks first.

  --- In ccdimaging2@yahoogroups.com, "casey4965" <casey4965@...> wrote:
  >
  The problem I am having and I hope someone out
  > there can help me is that I can not get the webcam to focus. I see the
  > screen changing when I adjust the focus knob but it is just fuzzies.
  > If I am missing something please let me know.
  >






---------------------------------
Never miss a thing.   Make Yahoo your homepage.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Your description suggests that the wbcam CCD is too far from the focus
plane, so your telescope hasn't enough adjustment to achieve focus at
the plane of your CCD. I am surprised. Don't know what a Mogg adapter
looks like (despite going to the web site) but I suggest removing that
and find the focus plane with a piece of paper (move it back and forth
until you get a focussed image). You can easily determine the limits
of your focussing control and make sure your CCD is placed within that
range. If you are using focal length adapter, use the same technique
with that in place. There are some other possibilities, but do those
checks first.

--- In ccdimaging2@yahoogroups.com, "casey4965" <casey4965@...> wrote:
>
The problem I am having and I hope someone out
> there can help me is that I can not get the webcam to focus. I see the
> screen changing when I adjust the focus knob but it is just fuzzies.
> If I am missing something please let me know.
>

Hello all!! I am new to the group so let me tell you a little bit
about myself. I am a radio frequency shielding designer who is
interested in astronomy and astrophotography. I own a Celestron
Nexstar11 GPS and a Meade ETX-125EC. I have purchased a Philips
SPC900NC webcam and have modified it to fit on each of my telescopes
with a Mogg Adapter. The problem I am having and I hope someone out
there can help me is that I can not get the webcam to focus. I see the
screen changing when I adjust the focus knob but it is just fuzzies.
If I am missing something please let me know. I am also a member of
the Yahoo Toucam group and have asked the same question but it has not
made it through on two attempts.

Thanks in advance!

Casey

No, been quite cloudy here as well. Further north the drought has been
transmogrified into dangerous floods, but only drizzle here. Not good
for astronomy but we're pretty pleased with the rain.

Serena

--- In ccdimaging2@yahoogroups.com, ccd_freak <no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> Is anybody out there getting any images?
>
> Soggy in Texas....and @$&K^&$ tired of it!!!
>
> John  CCD-Freak
>

Is anybody out there getting any images?  It has been cloudy and
rainey here in Texas for the last 90 days.  We had a few almost clear
nights around full moon, of course.  Our 4 day imaging trip looks
threatened by the weather as well.  We will know, come Thursday.  I
have been attempting to keep busy by installing new encoders on my CI-
700 mount and such.

Soggy in Texas....and @$&K^&$ tired of it!!!

John  CCD-Freak

Welcome back John. Yes I'm trying to impede spammers, so we'll see how
that works. For some time I had cookie problems and couldn't do my job
on this site and things really got out of control.

Awwww - :-}  I'm honored Serena.
Richard - nice shots!  It is good to see this group active again. I
left for a while when the spammers hit hard and the messages ebbed. It
looks like things are back into high gear here, and that is great!

No real news here except that I have been away from clear skies so long
that I am losing my sanity. I am really hoping to get into dark clear
skies when the summer arrives here in New Hampshire. I have one trip to
make to AZ, which will also be fun.

~john


--- In ccdimaging2@yahoogroups.com, serena_aussie <no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> Richard, I wish I could select any of my images to go up against any
> of your randomly selected! I just don't put in enough time, and
> possibly enough money --- time and improving techniques is really what
> is needed. You probably know John Blackwell
> (http://www.regulusastro.com/) who has access to some great equipment
> and is similarly skilled.
>

Richard, I wish I could select any of my images to go up against any
of your randomly selected! I just don't put in enough time, and
possibly enough money --- time and improving techniques is really what
is needed. You probably know John Blackwell
(http://www.regulusastro.com/) who has access to some great equipment
and is similarly skilled.

I wanted to go to TSP but was not able to squeeze it into the work
schedule.  I have not been since 1995 and I want to go back. I
started going to the Davis mountians back in the mid 70s and went
almost every year until 1995.  I have been going to the Okie-Tex star
party the last few years and I like it due to the very dark skies
and "laid back" atmosphere.  I hope the weather holds for TSP since
it has been a strange year for weather.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


> > John
>
>
> I guess you will not make it to the Texas Star Party this week
then,
> huh John?
>
> Sounds like a nice site out there in west Texas....
>
> >
>

--- In ccdimaging2@yahoogroups.com, ccd_freak <no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> It is good to see some activity here again.  This group has been
> pretty quite for a while.  My name is John  aka CCD-Freak and I
> started out with a CB-245 then went to a MX-516 and I know image
with
> a HX-916 and a HX-516 for guiding. I also have an older SXL8p as
well.
> I image as often as I can which has not been much here lately due
to
> coulds her in North Texas.  I will post some images soon.  Our
local
> group is planning a 4 day imaging expedition out to a dark sky area
in
> June for some much needed "photon harvesting".
>
> John


I guess you will not make it to the Texas Star Party this week then,
huh John?

Sounds like a nice site out there in west Texas....

>

--- In ccdimaging2@yahoogroups.com, serena_aussie <no_reply@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi Richard, that's what this group is supposed to do and I guess
there
> are so many alternative sites that members graduated to those as
their
> expertise increased. I've been using a Starlight Xpress MX516 camera
> for several years (with AstroArt) and am about to add a Canon EOS 5D
> digital camera to my imaging tools. The large sensor of the 5D will
> make a nice change, but doesn't have the long exposure capabilities
of
> an astro camera and may not be useful; but I've seen interesting
shots
> in S&T so maybe OK when short exposures (30secs) are stacked. What
is
> your setup?


I have several different OTAs, cameras and a pair of AP1200GTO mounts
so I set up different configurations depending on the target of
interest. Mostly I am using a home built 18" f/12.6 classical
cassegrain with an FLI CM10 Maxcam and a focal reducer for a final
focal ratio of about f/7.1

Another setup I commonly use is an Astro-Physics AP180EDT f/9 with a
Finger Lakes IMG6303E camera.

But for widefield I use a home built setup that employs Pentax 6x7
medium format lenses.

here are photos and images from each:

18" classical cassegrain
http://www.narrowbandimaging.com/Stinger_gallery_page.htm

pentax medium format 6x7 lenses
http://www.narrowbandimaging.com/widefield_page.htm

random collection of images, many taken with AP180EDT
http://www.narrowbandimaging.com/Tricolor_page.htm

My interests are mostly in emission line color imaging, which I have
really been driving hard for several years (perhaps you saw my S&T
article from Aug 2005?) and also am very interested in the technology
side, particularly sensors and cameras (I'm an EE in the
semiconductor biz here in California's Silicon Valley).

I think the Canon 5D can take some really nice astroimages when used
on the right targets. the larger and brighter targets seem to give
really nice results: M31, M33, M42, NGC7000, IC1396 etc...

Hi John,

Be good to see your astro images. Sounds like you have a good set up.
I have to admit to being a little quiet on the astro front and am
aiming to get active again. Have my observatory about 100Km away and
it's just too easy to find other things getting priority. Here near
the CBD in Melbourne there is too much light for deep sky, although
not bad for planetary imaging when the air is quiet and clear. That
means winter only, when the ecliptic is at a high elevation.

Serena

It is good to see some activity here again.  This group has been
pretty quite for a while.  My name is John  aka CCD-Freak and I
started out with a CB-245 then went to a MX-516 and I know image with
a HX-916 and a HX-516 for guiding. I also have an older SXL8p as well.
I image as often as I can which has not been much here lately due to
coulds her in North Texas.  I will post some images soon.  Our local
group is planning a 4 day imaging expedition out to a dark sky area in
June for some much needed "photon harvesting".

John

Hi Richard, that's what this group is supposed to do and I guess there
are so many alternative sites that members graduated to those as their
expertise increased. I've been using a Starlight Xpress MX516 camera
for several years (with AstroArt) and am about to add a Canon EOS 5D
digital camera to my imaging tools. The large sensor of the 5D will
make a nice change, but doesn't have the long exposure capabilities of
an astro camera and may not be useful; but I've seen interesting shots
in S&T so maybe OK when short exposures (30secs) are stacked. What is
your setup?

--- In ccdimaging2@yahoogroups.com, serena_aussie <no_reply@...>
wrote:
>
> All new members must provide profiles if they wish to remain.
>


hello, is this group showing signs of life again?

I am Richard Crisp in California. Eager to discuss astro-imaging if
anyone wants to.
rdc

All new members must provide profiles if they wish to remain.

This group endeavors to prevent spam being posted and our observation
is that spammers have strange email addresses. So if you are actually
interested in astronomy your membership is more likely to be endorsed
if you join with something approximating a proper name.

I've added a small image of NGC3132 to the 2nd Nebula album. This
nebula is near the Vela constellation 10h07m and -40 deg 26'. This
planetary nebula measures 1.0 x 0.7 minutes. There is a fantastic image
of this  on the Hubble site.

Three images of the comet McNaught have been added to the comet album.
These were taken with a Sony HDR-FX1E high definition video camera
(only camera I had with me) and processed through Registax 4 to reduce
noise. Surprised me that I was able to get reasonable images with a
camera not intended for low light videography.
Location was Barwon Heads, Victoria, Australia on 22 Jan 2007, time
well after sunset.

Hi All,
Well, looks like there is more noise than signal to this group these
days. it's a sad thing, but that is the way of things. I will be
lurking about on other CCD groups, but will be unsubscribing from this
group to reduce spam. Feel free to reach me via email to stay in touch.
johnb@...

Clear skies,
~johnb

Here is my first attempt of the season to do a half decent job on M42.
Color with the Meade DSI, luminance with the DSI-Pro.

http://autostarsuite.net/photos/hoser/picture4020.aspx

    ...Neil

Here are a couple of Mars images. All were taken using a ToUCam,
stacked and sharpened in Registax. Scope: Tak CN-212 at f/12.4 with
2.5x barlow (so... f/31).

http://www.regulusastro.com/regulus/photos/text/mars_112505.html
http://www.regulusastro.com/regulus/photos/text/mars_112105.html

~johnb

Wow! Serena! How are you? I have not seen anything posted here is quite some
time. Maybe with Mars coming into an attractive spot,
we shall see some cool images. I just picked up a really inexpensive unit, the
ToUCam by Philips. People have been taking amazing
shots of planets with it using stacking and drizzling.
Cheers,
~john


--------------------------------------------------
John A. Blackwell - W1JAB, AAVSO: BKL
Northwood Ridge Observatory (MPC#225)
johnb@...
http://www.regulusastro.com/
Director of Grainger Observatory
Phillips Exeter Academy
http://observatory.exeter.edu/
--------------------------------------------------
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ccdimaging2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ccdimaging2@yahoogroups.com]
> Sent: Monday, October 31, 2005 7:06 AM
> To: ccdimaging2@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [ccdimaging] Digest Number 101
>
>
> There is 1 message in this issue.
>
> Topics in this digest:
>
>       1. site management
>            From: serena_aussie
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 1
>    Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 01:56:57 -0000
>    From: serena_aussie
> Subject: site management
>
> Well there is very little genuine activity on this site but now that a
> little problem with Yahoo and cookies seems to have gone away I'll be
> taking more action on spam and people who post it. Hopefully we'll be
> seeing more astronomy. Certainly Mars is again in a prime position and
> I'm looking forward to seeing your images.
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>

Well there is very little genuine activity on this site but now that a
little problem with Yahoo and cookies seems to have gone away I'll be
taking more action on spam and people who post it. Hopefully we'll be
seeing more astronomy. Certainly Mars is again in a prime position and
I'm looking forward to seeing your images.

Two new images from the past week. M42 (yeah, again), and the
Horsehead/Flame area. Both were my first shots at using H-Alpha for
color luminance portions of the stacked final image. I think it
worked pretty well with some help from Mr. Gendler ;-) The images are
online at:

http://www.regulusastro.com/regulus/photos/text/m42hargb.html

http://www.regulusastro.com/regulus/photos/text/b33hargb.html

The Horsehead was the tough one:
This was a real challenge. The bright star Aniltak provided enough
blooming to drive any sane person crazy. This is a color composite
using Hydrogen Alpha, Red, Green and Blue filters within the SBIG CFW-
8. The luminance later is a combination of Red and Hydrogen Alpha
images to fill out the layer a bit. The times are as follows:
Hydrogen Alpha: 60 minutes
Red for Luminance: 10 minutes
Red: 20 minutes
Green: 20 minutes
Blue: 32 minutes

The images all had darks, flats and biases used for calibration. The
images were then aligned in MaxImDL, then an RGB tiff file creates.
The H-Alpha and Red luminance files were then summed and saved as a
master luminance tiff file. Both tiff files were then brought into
Adobe Photoshop and stacked in the classic luminance layering method
with the H-alpha/Red luminance at 100% opacity. Blooms and blemishes,
including one jet aircraft trail, were then removed. The final image
was then saved as a jpeg for the web.


Clear skies,

~johnb

Hello,

Happy New Year!

Here is a new image of comet Machholz... which is naked eye now in
the southern sky and headed up to M-45. Check it out. The comet has
a thin faint tail with a wider anti-tail (its own tail seen around
the back side of the solar system).

These images are from last night (30 Dec) with 5 minutes each in
Lum, Red, Green, and Blue. I have incorporated some info on
processing. It is time consuming... more so than just taking the
images.

http://www.regulusastro.com/regulus/photos/text/c2004q2machholz.html

Clear Skies,

~johnb

This is an image from last night's efforts on a dozen or so variable
stars. I took a series of shots of M-33 and combined them in MaxImDL
and Photoshop to get this result:

http://www.regulusastro.com/regulus/photos/text/m33_lrgb_st8.html

The details:

Scope:  FSQ-106n f/5
CCD: ST-8XME with CFW-8 LRGB filters at -25C
Mount:  Losmandy G-11
Times: Luminance: 30 minutes
	 Red: 10 minutes
	 Green: 10 minutes
	 Blue: 16 minutes
Processing: Flats, bias and darks all used. RGB and luminance
masters were made in MaximDL, then they were brought into Photoshop
for luminance layering, a la Gendler. I am still working on the
levels a bit.

Clear Skies,

~johnb

Hi Serena,

Is it winter now, yet ;-)  We are in a heat wave here: 26.5C out now
and it is only 9:30 in the morning!

Thanks for the kind words on the Swan Nebula. I went for two 5
minute exposures for the red luminance. They bloomed rapidly, so I
just dealt with them in post processing. The issue becomes one of
discovery: are there any fainter stars within the boundaries of the
blooming spikes that I need to or want to reproduce? That can be a
difficult one.

The nebulosity detail is something that really shines through when
using the Adobe Photoshop Luminance Layering Technique. Other
softwares, like MaxImDL, just don't seem to get that faint detail
into view without overly harsh processing.

~john

Hello John,
I guess because of the blooming you stacked a number of < 60 sec
exposures. Or did you remove the blooming in post-processing.
Easy for me to casually remark "Oh yes, very pretty" without
realising the difficulties the subject presents. Until one tries the
same thing oneself! Well it is pretty and I also noted that the stars
are all sharp and round and the colour looks correct (all departments
that invariably cause me trouble!). What I like is the subtleties
your image reveals in the density of the nebulosity.

clear skies,
Serena

--- In ccdimaging2@yahoogroups.com, "John A. Blackwell" <johnb@r...>
wrote:
> Hi Serena,
>
> It is a neat subject. The open cluster is loose and not very well
> condensed, and there is a definite dark nebula visible strong in
the
> northern regions. What is most challenging about this object is
that
> there are bright stars in it. With my non-antiblooming imager, all
> of them bloom in less than a minute. Also there are interesting
blue
> fringes towards the edge of the gas cloud suggesting reflections
> from the nearby stars.
>
> ~john
>
> --- In ccdimaging2@yahoogroups.com, serena_aussie <no_reply@y...>
> wrote:
> > That is a nice image John. Interesting to have a diffuse nebula
in
> > the "middle" of an open cluster -- are these related objects or
> just
> > optical coincidences? In your image I see no evidence of the
> > periphery of the cluster, so presumably it is actually a bit
> larger
> > than my star chart states (nebula 12 x 12 mins, cluster 20 mins).
> > Perhaps there is some more nebulosity that was too faint to be
> > recorded in your excellent image. Of course not visible from here.
> >
> > Serena

Serena,
I have an older shot of the same nebula/cluster taken with the wider
field of view of the FSQ-106n at f/5. The camera was essentially the
same. The older image is at:
http://www.regulusastro.com/regulus/photos/text/ic5146_rgb.html
Note the reddening (if that is spelled right, it is a miracle) of
the stars that is prominent around the nebulosity. There is a lot of
dark material there. Fascinating stuff,

~john

New image:
http://www.regulusastro.com/regulus/photos/text/ic5146_lrgb.html