Night sky images?

[malc-c]

£14 will get you a Phillips SPC880 CCD webcam http://www.morgancomputers.co.uk/shop/d ... ategoryID=

It can then be flashed to a 900 by upgrading the firmware via a freeware application. Then it's a fairly simple task to modify it for long exposures and to turn the amp off to remove the glow you get when taking astro-images. As you probably won't need that long an exposure the amp mod is probably not required

Full details can be found on this useful site http://home.versatel.nl/m.m.j.meijer/D_I_Y/spc900nc.htm

However as explained, you do need to control the exposure setting via software (sharpcap) running on a PC that has a serial port or via uSB with a suitable adapter.

[Gina]

Hi Malcolm, I take it you're the same malc-c who's on StarGazers Lounge? I'm the same Gina

[fractonimbus]

Back to the night sky, the new all sky camera at Siding Spring is working. A rather large improvement on the old ones. If you get a chance to see it before moonrise tonight, take a look. Siding Spring (despite its relatively low altitude) has some of the darkest skies of any major observatory: http://150.203.153.131/~dbayliss/allsky ... _image.png (temporary URL - still being bedded in)

DN

[Gordon-Loomberah]

I see you are referring to a different new all-sky camera... that makes 3 now.

The anti-dew system on the AAO all-sky doesn't work all that well though, the protective dome seems to be fogged up reasonably often. I thought it was going to have some sort of heating arrangement, perhaps it needs a bit higher wattage. Every now and then you catch someone manually wiping the glass!

EDIT- hmm, I see there are some software problems, the image has the horizon down the through the middle in a sort of hourglass shape ATM.

[fractonimbus]

It's the new one at HAT South, Gordon. Dan Bayliss is developing it. But it can be a bit quirky. It's not working properly just yet, but the images are magnificent for an all-sky cam.

Comparative images are at http://150.203.153.131/~dbayliss/allskycam/ - click the top left, it's a large image.

DN

[Gordon-Loomberah]

Yes the image quality does look quite good, and it has a nice wide FOV I hope it has a good anti-dew system!

[fractonimbus]

EDIT- hmm, I see there are some software problems, the image has the horizon down the through the middle in a sort of hourglass shape ATM.

Yes, looks like the framing was off. I went back to the second, multi-image page and accessed the latest image from there. Seems OK at the moment.

DN

[fractonimbus]

I hope it has a good anti-dew system!

Not yet! At least, not last week. It was doing the usual trick of turning the moon into a 'giant globular cluster'

DN

[Gina]

Interesting I still have it in mind to pursue this for myself. ATM I'm concentrating on the other end of the focal length range - astronomy - in the form of a home built observatory. Of course, winter with the dark nights, is really the time to pursue all night sky matters

Actually, I might get another of those Philips webcams from Morgan before they sell out to use for an all-sky camera. I have several unmodified cameras I've tried but none were sensitive enough. It needs a webcam modified for long exposure. Also, I think I'd need to develop a mechanical shutter to cover the sensor in daytime to prevent burning by the sun. (I also think I take on too many projects! )

[nh4x4jeep]

One thing I'd like to do, but - at reasonable cost at least - the technology doesn't permit yet - is to set up a webcam that can also look at the stars at night.

Is this what you were looking to do?
http://sonotaco.com/e_index.html
It's somewhat on the costly side, but it looks really cool!

Perhaps there's something similar out there with a cheaper (Open Source?) price tag?

I have a Sony Camcorder with night vision and the image is absolutely incredible even in the lowest light! ONE DAY, I will get the thing hooked up through a capture card...

~ Jon G.

[fractonimbus]

Not so much a problem of the software as the hardware, which is expensive if it is sensitive enough to match the dark adapted eye.

Here's the sort of thing I want o do, but the component cost is some thousands of dollars:

http://150.203.153.131/~dbayliss/allsky ... _image.png ( a pretty close approximation to the naked eye view at Siding Spring)

DN

[The QCC]

Take a look at this site. It uses a $2,000 + colour All Sky image camera and two DSLR cameras with fish eye lens.
The All Sky Imager may be out of your desired price range, but using a DSLR with remote control and a fish eye lens might do what you want.

The site is hosted by the Canadian Space Agency. Yes, we do have a space programme.

http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronomy/ ... efault.asp

Carl