Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Cloudy Nights - Official Forums of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu.... uh, User   You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Astrophotography and Sketching >> Beginning Imaging Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 ell newbie Reged: 08/21/08 Posts: 2 Alt/Az tracking & imaging?       #2596251 - 08/22/08 06:44 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hello everyone! This is my first post in CN forums and here is my first beginner question: Is it possible to effectively use a NexImage on an Alt/Az tracking mount? I have always read that an equatorial mount is essential for imaging, is it that Alt/Az, even while tracking does not provide a smooth motion equal to that of the object being tracked? Thanks for any help! Edgar Post Extras:       D_talley professor emeritus Reged: 07/07/05 Posts: 700 Loc: Richmond VA Re: Alt/Az tracking & imaging? [Re: ell]       #2596276 - 08/22/08 07:36 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Here is a link with a discussion on Alt/Az tracking. Tracking issues -------------------- Dwight TEC 140 APO Meade LX200 14 OTA Orion 12.5 DOB Celestron C8+ Celestron 102AZ Losmandy G11 Argo Navis Canon 10d Canon 350D Hyperstar ST-4 Guider STV Guider Post Extras:       Paul Rix Carpal Tunnel Reged: 11/06/04 Posts: 2905 Loc: Zanesville, Ohio,USA Re: Alt/Az tracking & imaging? [Re: D_talley]       #2596362 - 08/22/08 09:24 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Welcome to CN Edgar. For long exposure imaging you really want to be polar aligned, but for imaging the Moon and planets with the NexImage or similar webcam Alt/Az will still give good results (you will be using lots of very short exposures). I started out with a NexImage. You may be interested in reading an article I put together a while ago. Click on the 'Climbing the learning curve' link in my signature line below. -------------------- Climbing the Learning Curve Meade 10" LX200 Classic: WO 66SD. Philips SPC900NC, DMK21AU04.AS, Meade DSI Pro and DSI Pro II. Post Extras:       chutch44 sage Reged: 02/23/07 Posts: 316 Loc: Pontotoc, Ms Re: Alt/Az tracking & imaging? [Re: Paul Rix]       #2596809 - 08/22/08 02:36 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I spent my first year of imaging on an alt/az. You can do quite alot of imaging with it, I just took lots of short exposures up to about thirty seconds. Most stacking software will take care of any rotation you get. You will be suprised how much you can get on a short exposure when you stack alot of them together. -------------------- Hutch Celestron ASGT C8 William Optics Z66SD Meade 3.3 Focal Reducer Meade Dsi-c Meade Dsi-Pro II Plillips SPC900NC Post Extras:       ell newbie Reged: 08/21/08 Posts: 2 Re: Alt/Az tracking & imaging? [Re: chutch44]       #2597813 - 08/23/08 12:51 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hey guys, Thanks a lot for the information. It is certainly useful and encouraging. I started with the Neximage a few months ago and had a couple of not so good results, then work got more time consuming and left the scope for a while. Now things are more back to normal and I'm getting a renewed interest in observing and imaging. I should be posting some images soon (once the tropical storm Fay leaves the area and we get some clear skyes), hopefully better results than the initial. Dwight, thanks for the link, it gives a very good explanation on the subject. The NW, EW movement is what I was thinking could affect the images, but had not considered the rotation. The moon and planets should come out nice with the Alt/Az, just need to work on the finer details (exposure settings) Paul, reading your article will absolutely help reducing the things not to do and do more of the right things. Can't wait for the clouds to go away!!! Thank you! Edgar Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 5 registered and 9 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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