55 replies to this topic

[Alien Observatory]

Ohh My... Look at What Arrived Today....  Pat Utah  

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[Alien Observatory]

Read Quick Start Guide, Installed Battery and set up to Charge, off to the store to get a 32 GB Micro SD Card (max recommended) as I only have 64 GB at home.  

[PEterW]

OK... review time, how does it work for pottering about in urban and totally unlit areas? What does the sky look like compared to binoculars/dark shapes eye? What happens if you pop a hydrogen alpha filter on the front... will it show nebulae or just darkness? We’re counting on you!

Peter

[Kolchak357]

And since it is a camera, please post some sky pics or vids for us.  Saw some vids from this on youtube, but there isn't much in terms of night sky footage. 

[Alien Observatory]

OK... review time, how does it work for pottering about in urban and totally unlit areas? What does the sky look like compared to binoculars/dark shapes eye? What happens if you pop a hydrogen alpha filter on the front... will it show nebulae or just darkness? We’re counting on you!

Peter

Will do, may take a day or two to figure it out (images, video).  Did down load the iPhone app and tried live view, snapper a pic, but do not know how to access the image yet (patience grasshopper), the image when view on the built in screen and on the iPhone are very crisp and in full color (still daylight here)... Pat Utah

[PEterW]

Beat it hard, give it Night Level 5/6 and see where it wimps out... http://www.nightvisi....php?f=1&t=7213
Peter

[Alien Observatory]

Beat it hard, give it Night Level 5/6 and see where it wimps out... http://www.nightvisi....php?f=1&t=7213
Peter

I found it has a 1.5 second shutter (manual) and an EV range of -2 to +2 to brighten the screen view and looking for the F ratio (iris) settings now ... Pat Utah

[Ptarmigan]

It would interesting to see how it performs for astronomy. 

[Alien Observatory]

Just a few General Comments...  Pat Utah

 

This is Not a replacement for any ZWO (and all other makes) of todays Astro Cams

 

It is very close to a NV Device in its operation

 

It has a fixed 16mm F1.2 Lens (most likely not going to try to remove), but does have a Zoom Option

 

It might be used in the same fashion as an iPhone (spacing to an existing eyepiece) or in a Eye Piece Projection method

 

I easily saw many stars in the clouds tonight (not visible to the eye),  Looking into dark areas across the street was almost like Day Light (in color no less)

 

Output is 720 P in daylight and twilight modes (color) and 320 in night vision mode (mono)

 

Its sensitivity is at least 2X (or more) than my ZWO 178/183 Color cams (Bin 4, 100 ms, 200 gain)

 

It is fun as heck looking into the skies and in dark places, that said I will try to post some pics as the iPhone is not allowing me access to the images (?)

 

Battery life was about 2 hours using the WIFI connection to my iPhone, WIFI was weak, and ver 1.0 of the App will need some updates in the future

 

First Light and Much more to Learn....

 

Image of 183 Color cam on a 16 mm F4 lens, Aurora Cam and on the All View Mount for Testing:

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 

Edited by Alien Observatory, 05 September 2018 - 11:53 PM.

[Alien Observatory]

Was able to get connected to the Larger iPad today, much easier than viewing on the iPhone... this is a PLUS for Portability and Remote Viewing...Pat Utah

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 

[Alien Observatory]

Had a few minutes to try Aurora in Night mode, sky was poor a few clouds lurking, Haze and a little smoke...No so good, but learning how to use...both are hand held and Exposure was set to Auto, local time was 10:30 PM...Pat Utah

 

Image 1 Mars and Flicker link to a 10 second video (.mov file)...

 

https://www.flickr.c...in/photostream/

Attached Thumbnails

• 

Edited by Alien Observatory, 07 September 2018 - 03:17 PM.

[Alien Observatory]

and a view on the driveway across the street Iooking South into the SLC Metro Area...Exposure on Auto, hand held...Pat Utah

Attached Thumbnails

• 

Edited by Alien Observatory, 07 September 2018 - 03:42 PM.

[OleCuss]

That's looking like some pretty good tech!

[Alien Observatory]

That's looking like some pretty good tech!

Today I "Discovered" (re-read the quick start guide) it has Both Zoom and Gain Functions and I learned how to change them when viewing...

 

also bought a used 30mm 2" eyepiece and a cheap 2" SCT thread Diagonal... will try testing with the telescope late next week...

Edited by Alien Observatory, 08 September 2018 - 02:54 PM.

[Alien Observatory]

Tried a quick test today using my Stellarvue 50 mm scope with a 1.25" 40 mm eyepiece.  Hand held the Aurora cam to the eyepiece and it actually worked.  Waiting for a  2" 30mm eyepiece and a 2" Diagonal.  Will try the CPC 9.25 @F6.3 when the parts arrive later this week.  May be possible to "Live View" with this set up....  Pat Utah  

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[t_image]

Looks like a more reasonable price to enter the world of what I have been experiencing with the Sony a7s with a fifty-nifty (55 f/1.2) or 85 f/1.4....

Its smaller sensor/sensor pixels can give more resolution to a wider lens, so that is cool. (trade off with lower display resolution max ).

I imagine it will be similar (to a7s) with the pros/cons of use in EAA, as DSOs with lots of FL will be out of its sweet spot of "NV gain",

but use it with f/4 or better and its realtime (30fps) will be unrivaled.

A good pseudo-entry into IINV.

I do hope the tech becomes more ubiquitous and more people experience such realtime enhancement of the sky!!!

[Alien Observatory]

Looks like a more reasonable price to enter the world of what I have been experiencing with the Sony a7s with a fifty-nifty (55 f/1.2) or 85 f/1.4....

Its smaller sensor/sensor pixels can give more resolution to a wider lens, so that is cool. (trade off with lower display resolution max ).

I imagine it will be similar (to a7s) with the pros/cons of use in EAA, as DSOs with lots of FL will be out of its sweet spot of "NV gain",

but use it with f/4 or better and its realtime (30fps) will be unrivaled.

A good pseudo-entry into IINV.

I do hope the tech becomes more ubiquitous and more people experience such realtime enhancement of the sky!!!

 

I have no real expectations of how this may work out...just a experiment with some different technology, but Live View is my Goal...TY for your comments...Pat Utah

[nic35]

Interesting.  As a real owner, I wonder if you can ask the vendor about the following, Pat ?

 

Does it look like the lens might screw off and maybe be a c or cs mount threaded connection ?  Opens up prime focus opportunities !

 

And it looks like the "viewfinder" connects to the camera subsystem through a USB C connector.   I wonder if this is simply putting out a video signal such that it might be connected to some other form of a display ?

 

Looking forward to you afocal attempts - especialy if they can be in color.

 

john

Edited by nic35, 10 September 2018 - 10:12 PM.

[Alien Observatory]

Interesting.  As a real owner, I wonder if you can ask the vendor about the following, Pat ?

 

Does it look like the lens might screw off and maybe be a c or cs mount threaded connection ?  Opens up prime focus opportunities !

 

And it looks like the "viewfinder" connects to the camera subsystem through a USB C connector.   I wonder if this is simply putting out a video signal such that it might be connected to some other form of a display ?

 

Looking forward to you afocal attempts - especialy if they can be in color.

 

john

John.....Great Questions and I will ask the Vendor... QuickTime on a Mac would be awesome and allow for a Real Time Bcast...as I have the required cable and converter, I will give it a try (Video Signal View Finder) in the next day or two...Pat Utah

Edited by Alien Observatory, 10 September 2018 - 11:06 PM.

[Alien Observatory]

Tried a 30mm 2" eyepiece projection to get a feeling for the FOV last night.  Made an adapter using a 2" coupling and a small section of 2" pipe (both PVC). Used the iPad for viewing and control.  FOV is about the same as my Nikon D5500.  

 

CPC 9.25 telescope @F6.3 30mm eyepiece,  Aurora Cam on Auto Exposure, Gain to lowest setting.  Have a couple of other eyepieces to try next time (24mm and 15mm), but heavy smoke in the skies today....Pat Utah

 

Image 1:  PVC Adapter

Image 2: View of CPC 9.25 telescope and Moon

Image 3: iPad View (WIFI to Aurora cam)

Image 4: FOV of 30 mm Eyepiece Projection Mono

 

Link to Flicker 8 sec Mov File: 

https://www.flickr.c...ah/30826411848/

 

Link to Flicker 30 sec Mov File:

https://www.flickr.c.../in/dateposted/

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 
• 
• 

Edited by Alien Observatory, 15 September 2018 - 01:25 PM.

[PEterW]

For deep sky I would go afocal with a long focal length eyepiece to gain extra optical speed, we don’t know the native focal length of the objective so we don’t know the speed up we could obtain. Keep us posted, we’re waiting on your tests!

PEter

[Alien Observatory]

For deep sky I would go afocal with a long focal length eyepiece to gain extra optical speed, we don’t know the native focal length of the objective so we don’t know the speed up we could obtain. Keep us posted, we’re waiting on your tests!

PEter

PEter, My description of what I am doing is flawed.  I am doing Afocal imaging not Eyepiece Projection Imaging. Best guess specs for the eyepiece is 30 mm FL, as the eyepiece is obsolete. The Lens of the Aurora is not removable despite my best efforts to remove it did not work.  I stopped the effort as I do not want to damage the cam.  Thanks for the Advice...Pat Utah

 

TeleVue link to Imaging Methods....

http://www.televue.c..._page.asp?id=85

[PEterW]

Any more news about how this thing performs when the available light is really scarce? Cloudy, no moon , no light pollution, tree cover... when all those carrots you are can’t help.
Peter

[Alien Observatory]

Sorry Clouds, Smoke and using the Nikon for a couple of Moon videos...Maybe next week....only Mother Nature knows for sure... Pat Utah

[GeezerGazer]

PEter, My description of what I am doing is flawed.  I am doing Afocal imaging not Eyepiece Projection Imaging. Best guess specs for the eyepiece is 30 mm FL, as the eyepiece is obsolete. The Lens of the Aurora is not removable despite my best efforts to remove it did not work.  I stopped the effort as I do not want to damage the cam.  Thanks for the Advice...Pat Utah

 

TeleVue link to Imaging Methods....

http://www.televue.c..._page.asp?id=85

TeleVue uses the term Afocal Imaging or Digiscoping, (probably to prevent confusion) but this system is also correctly called Afocal Photography, or Afocal Projection Photography a method of photography where the camera with its own lens is mounted over another image forming optical system, like our telescope with an eyepiece.  Think of an afocal system as one complete optical system (camera with lens) looking into another optical system (scope with eyepiece).  Whatever you call it, it DOES work!  Eyepiece Projection Photography uses the telescope with its eyepiece and the camera WITHOUT its own objective lens, looking into the eyepiece of the telescope.  The terms Eyepiece Projection Photography and Afocal Projection Photography are easily confused, so I think for simplicity, the "projection" part of Afocal Photography or Afocal Imaging has been dropped.  Just a bit of history from an old photography buff.  

 

Pat, your review of the Aurora SiOnyx is fascinating and I look forward to more reports... when the weather cooperates.  It seems to present new, or at least, different technology for low light performance, opening some windows of opportunity.  I took some time to find as much information about the Aurora SiOnyx as possible, but your reports will be much more valuable to us than the marketing hype and non-astro YouTube evaluations.  Thanks for taking time to do this. 

Edited by GeezerGazer, 02 October 2018 - 12:49 PM.