15 replies to this topic

[Mike Phillips]

For those that don't know, Google Plus has a feature called hangout. It's a virtual, multiparty chatroom with voice and video. Kinda like Skype but with video conferencing. Fraser Cain from Universe Today had a great idea to hook up a webcam to a telescope and live stream views of the heavens from around the world. I've done a couple and it was LOTS of fun. Check it out: http://www.universet...onomers-needed/


Mike

[skyward_eyes]

Hmm, this is a cool idea. I will have to run this by an observatory I'm working with.

[George N]

Webcam? Chip's really small. Is there a way to dump the output from a CCD camera into this Google + thing?

[Mike Phillips]

Yeah, there are some programs that will take part or all of your screen and turn it into a webcam output. I've used Webcamstudio in Ubuntu and it seems to work with some success. I think there's some windows programs too...

Mike

[George N]

Yeah, there are some programs that will take part or all of your screen and turn it into a webcam output. I've used Webcamstudio in Ubuntu and it seems to work with some success. I think there's some windows programs too...

Mike

I’ll have to look into that! It might be fun to ‘live broadcast’ CCD sub-exposures while they are being taken. At least with the Luminance images they could be stretched to show a very good “live” view.

[Matthew Ota]

OMG! Somebody has to figure out how to do this with a SBIG or Apogee CCD imager....so they can show DSOs.

[Phil Cowell]

Could capture DSO's with my Mallincam Extreme.

[RobbW]

I guess I don't understand how this would be any different from NSN, other than the live video chat for everyone participating (not just the broadcaster).

[geminijk]

Instead of seeing 1 video, you will be seeing up to 9 at one time. Each broadcaster will be speaking about his or her object, and that object window will then be the primary window on screen. You will have a panel of people talking in a single room, with 9 video feeds as well. Its different then NSN, not necessarily competing, simply offering a different experience. I look forward to see what we can do on the virtual starparty, as I do look forward to many nights broadcasting on NSN as well.

John

[Mike Phillips]

I may have clear skies tomorrow, come find me on G+ in my sig below...

Mike

[RobbW]

So, do you have to have a camera and be broadcasting something to even be in the Hangout? As is pretty obvious on NSN, a lot of people like to just sit and watch in anonymity. If people are forced to have video of themselves to participate, I don't know how many people you're going to have in your rooms.

[Mike Phillips]

No the hangout will let you be in without mic or camera.

Mike

[RobbW]

Cool. I'll have to check this out sometime when someone is actually broadcasting. How do you know when someone is broadcasting?

[Mike Phillips]

Cool. I'll have to check this out sometime when someone is actually broadcasting. How do you know when someone is broadcasting?

Right now Google is sorting though that for a larger hangout format called, "On Air" I'd love to see an announced program guide or something like that, but for now it's ad-hoc, and VERY weather dependent.

I'm thinking of one tonight, after 10-11PM EST

Mike

[mmclure]

So, do you have to have a camera and be broadcasting something to even be in the Hangout? As is pretty obvious on NSN, a lot of people like to just

You have to have to be invited to be part of the hangout (voice chat and webcam) but once it's set up the live stream is available to one and all through a link on Frasier Cain's Google+ and viewers can ask questions of the people in the hangout by commenting on the Google+ post. Once the hangout is concluded, the video is (or at least has been until now) posted on Youtube.

[buddyjesus]

Instead of seeing 1 video, you will be seeing up to 9 at one time.
John

An astronomical Brady Bunch. Godda love it!