drumacat
journeyman
Reged: 10/31/09
Posts: 7
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Hey!
I'm a beginner and was just wondering if the Orion EQ-2 single axis clock drive would be able to take some semi-long exposure pics?
I have a Skywatcher 130mm f/5 and the clock drive on the EQ-2 mount. I know its not the best set up but hey, im just learning.
Thanks!
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WarrenS
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/04/08
Posts: 897
Loc: Orange County New York
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Welcome to CN! Use whatever you have to start. It's all part of the learning process. I started with a C8 on a wedge. Follow the forums and you'll improve your skills and have fun!
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Warren
Astro-Tech 127EDT
Celestron Onyx 80ED
Astro-Tech Field Flattener
C8 (circa 1983 Orange Tube)
Atlas EQ-G, Orion SSAG
Canon 135mm F2.8
Canon 40D, Astronomik CLS clip filter
Leica, Minolta binos
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drumacat
journeyman
Reged: 10/31/09
Posts: 7
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thanks WarrenS!
i have a stupid point and shoot kodak easyshare. if i use the video cam function, afocal and mounted on the scope and tracking, would stackin some frames work, say it I was shootin M31?
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varmint
I invite more abuse
Reged: 02/10/07
Posts: 1209
Loc: Pacifica, CA, USA
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I have no experience taking afocal deep sky object shots with a video camera. If I recall correctly even pointing at the image out of an eyepiece you're going to need a longer exposure than the frame rate you get for a video camera. See if you can "program" the exposure length on your point-and-shoot(PAS) then try taking multi-second exposures (if it allows, some PAS's don't).
That being said, you can definitely take some shots of the planets and moon with the video function (Jupiter is the evening planet, Mars is the morning one right now) and figure out if that works for you. Just remember that even through the EP the image will be somewhat small, and don't "digital" zoom in with your camera.
[edit] P.S. welcome to CN!
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Clear Skies,
Jim
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"Do, or do not. There is no try."-Jedi Master Yoda
Scopes: CGE925, 80ED, NP127is (w/ADM acc.)
EPs: Naglers: 31, 22, 17, 9, 3.5 Pans: 15
Misc: Telrad, 2x&4x Powermate, Sol/OIII/UHC/Var Pol. Filters
Imaging Gear: Pentax K100D, SPC900NC
Edited by varmint (11/01/09 09:04 PM)
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drumacat
journeyman
Reged: 10/31/09
Posts: 7
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ok cool. thanks for the info. I'll have to mess around with it.
the camera I have has a 4 sec exposure, would that be long enough if i was to take a bunch? what would you say a round-about number of shots I should take at 4sec for m31 or 42 or even some clusters?
Thanks again!
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Patrick
Postmaster
Reged: 05/16/03
Posts: 7810
Loc: Franklin, Ohio
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Hi Drumacat and welcome to CN!
Have you tried attaching your camera to your telescope and taken some pictures of distant objects in the daytime? That might be a good starting point to get a feel for your ability to image objects with a 650mm lense on the EQ2. If you can't reach focus, or if there's jitter in the mount during really short exposures, then even a 4 second exposure may be too long.
If you can get some decent daytime images, then you try 4 second exposures at night. I have to be honest, though, and say I would not expect too much. If you take some 4 second night time exposure, look at the histogram to see where the bulk of the data is located. If it's all the way to the left of the histogram, you may have a very hard time pulling out your signal from the noise, no matter how many frames you gather.
As noted above, give it a try and learn from it.
Regards,
Patrick
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10" f/6 Truss Tube Newtonian
Celestron C6S-GT SCT
AT66ED Refractor
Oberwerk Ultra 15x70 Binocular
475B Geared Tripod & 501HDV Head
Celestron Regal 8x42 Binocular
Canon XSi; Meade DSI;SPC900-NC
Vixen GP2 Photo Guider Mount
My Astronomy Pages
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Javier1978
sage
Reged: 02/12/09
Posts: 229
Loc: Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Hi, your mount can give you 15 seconds for DSOs with a good polar alignment. Afocal method can be done, not to get great results, but to learn basics issues. A Canon powershot with 15 sec exposure would do a great job.
This a stack of 15 sec subs of Eta Carina, with SW 150 f5 reflector in eq3 mount (have some friends who work with eq2 and take 15 seconds subs too) Not great for sure, but I enjoyed a lot!!
Four seconds is not that much, but if you are trying to learn go with them!
Edited by Javier1978 (11/04/09 11:24 PM)
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Javier1978
sage
Reged: 02/12/09
Posts: 229
Loc: Buenos Aires, Argentina
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And a video of the moon. Same equipment at 200 x.
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6" f5 Sky Watcher Reflector
Eq3 mount (Dual Axis)
Unmodded Canon 300 D
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drumacat
journeyman
Reged: 10/31/09
Posts: 7
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Sweet pics! if i could get them to look like that i'd be happy.
how many 15 sec subs are stacked in the first picture?
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Javier1978
sage
Reged: 02/12/09
Posts: 229
Loc: Buenos Aires, Argentina
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They might be something like 20 lights, 15 darks and 25 bias, but I donŽt remember exactly.
I will love to image for a while like this, then youŽll want to turn to prime focus imaging with a DSRL or a dedicated CCD. Do what you can with what you have, and have a lot of fun!!
Good luck.
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6" f5 Sky Watcher Reflector
Eq3 mount (Dual Axis)
Unmodded Canon 300 D
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Jimmy2K63
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/26/09
Posts: 1193
Loc: Kentucky
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Anything is worth a try. It will teach you the limits of your mount and camera if nothing else, and it wets your appetite for more. If it was well aligned you might be able to piggyback the camera on the scope and try some shots and stack them and go from there. A little time and a little battery power is worth the attempt to learn more.
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http://astronomyguy63.blogspot.com/
LXD75 SN6-UHTC
Cave Astrola 10" f/5
Garrett 15x70/FarSight
Canon XS (1000D)
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drumacat
journeyman
Reged: 10/31/09
Posts: 7
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awesome guys! thanks a lot
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