13 replies to this topic

[RVA_Chris]

After seeing all the great NV pictures that have been posted recently I started researching if there was a camera app for android with similar functionality to nightcap on iOS.

 

Unfortunately I still haven't found anything that will do image stacking but was happy to learn that the newer Samsung phones do have what they call "pro mode" which allows full control of the camera settings and can do up to 10 second exposures.  I purchased a cheap eyepiece phone adapter off amazon and the clouds finally cleared tonight and am definitely encouraged with the results.

 

I live directly north of a light bubble in a red zone and these images were captured through the worst of that.  Transparency was pretty decent tonight until light clouds rolled in again a couple hours ago which forced me to come in.

 

All images were captured using a mod3-c with an omni VII tube at prime focus in an Orion xt10g with 7nm ha filter.  They are all 10 second captures with the iso set between 600-800 (except for m42 which was set at 100).  No post processing other than cropping/resizing the images to be upload friendly.

 

Crab

 

Monkey head

 

Rosette

 

More rosette

 

Horsehead

 

Flame

 

Orion

 

Edited by RVA_Chris, 18 February 2018 - 10:54 PM.

[moshen]

Wow Chris those are amazing! So much detailed you captured.

[outofsight]

Excellent. In the past few days I've seen the best NV phone pics ever. This is nice.

[Gavster]

Amazing! Best iPhone images of the flame and horsehead I’ve seen - image scale is great as well.

[RVA_Chris]

Thanks for the comments.

 

Moshen it was the pictures posted by you and geezergazer that motivated me to look into camera apps.  

 

For the first time i feel like the phone is actually letting me see more than i could at the mod 3 eyepiece.  I think this combination has a ton of potential for near real time observing and especially sharing those views with others.

[Clutch5150]

Excellent. In the past few days I've seen the best NV phone pics ever. This is nice.

Agreed here. Wow, very nice work Chris!

[Jeff Morgan]

I was going to push my iPhone 6s a bit farther (and I hate that ugly Notch on the X) ...

 

but you guys are making me think more about a mid-cycle upgrade just to get the better camera sensor.

Edited by Jeff Morgan, 20 February 2018 - 08:58 PM.

[The Ardent]

Chris 

I wish you’d help me out. 

[GeezerGazer]

Chris,

Really GREAT photos!  Your increased scale really helps to reveal the detail.  HH is fabulous.  

 

Phone photos are certainly going to be a part of the NV experience.  Everyone has a phone... most of us use Sky Safari or some other astro app already.  And, the cameras in our phones are better with each generation.  But it is still NV that allows our phone photos to look so good.  We are indeed fortunate to live at a time of such great technology.

 

About a week ago, I said that somebody was going to use a tracking mount to allow longer exposures for even greater detail... it sure didn't take long!  Gavster too uses tracking for longer exposures up to 15 sec. and to my eye, the difference is really huge.  Images are less grainy, nebula are smooth and look like clouds, the stars are pinpoint or close... they are just BETTER.  

 

Nice work. Now, we just need some tracking-mount-NV-phone-photos with a medium-large aperture from a dark site!  How long will that take? 

Ray

[highfnum]

how many seconds exposure

[RVA_Chris]

These were all 10 second exposures which is the maximum supported by the native samsung phone app. ISO varied but was about 650 for most of the captures and 100 for m42. Still havent figured out how to capture the core on camera.

While i think the long exposures improved the dim objects compared to visual orion is the exception. I would say there was 95% of the clarity in nebulosity at the eyepiece but the trapezium and surrounding area remains nicely resolved.

[GeezerGazer]

Chris,

In spite of the really bright core, your image of M42 is pretty darn good, with nice detail.  M42 is a difficult target for NV phone photos, because the core is so bright (because of NV) and the nebula so dim by comparison.  Our phone cameras rely on metering that cannot satisfactorily adjust for both the bright and dim parts of the image.  If you have ever tried taking a phone photo of the moon (with a glass eyepiece) in auto mode, it normally comes out like a blob.  I have not tried on M42, but reducing the ISO for phone photos of the moon does work well through a glass eyepiece.  You might try turning the ISO well below 100 for M-42 and giving it another try.  Since your Mod 3C has gain control, back off the gain to tone down the core as much as possible without losing the extent of the nebula.  M42 might be bright enough to photograph without NV, using a glass eyepiece and your Samsung's 10s exposure.  

 

M42 is one of the few nebulae that I prefer through a glass eyepiece with a clear, dark sky, rather than using NV.  Good luck.  I'm really looking forward to your next set of photos.  Thanks so much.

Ray

[KarlL]

Outstanding.

[highfnum]

Thx for answer
have a family of mixed phone
Types my son has s8
I will try to replicate