Basic Astrophotography
- sdbodin
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Basic Astrophotography
Basic Astrophotography
There are basically four ways to connect your camera to a telescope. The most obvious is to remove your camera lens and use the telescope as a telephoto lens, usually called Prime Focus or Direct Objective photography. The other three are a form of Projection lens photography. Diagram from Sam Brown...
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There are basically four ways to connect your camera to a telescope. The most obvious is to remove your camera lens and use the telescope as a telephoto lens, usually called Prime Focus or Direct Objective photography. The other three are a form of Projection lens photography. Diagram from Sam Brown...
Read more...
Scopes; Meade 16 LX200, AT80LE, plus bunch just sitting around gathering dust
Cameras; Atik 460ex mono, Zwo ASI1600MC-cool, QHY5L-II color and mono
Cameras; Atik 460ex mono, Zwo ASI1600MC-cool, QHY5L-II color and mono
- jrm_astro
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Re: Basic Astrophotography
Nice post!
I did a whole semester of optics and ray diagrams still make me shudder.
Cheers
I did a whole semester of optics and ray diagrams still make me shudder.
Cheers
Scope - Skywatcher ED80
Mount - Skywatcher HEQ5
Guiding - Orion 50mm guide with ZWO ASI120MM-S
Imaging - ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool, ZWO Filter wheel, LRGB, Ha Sii Oiii and Dark frame filters
Software - APT, PS2, ASPS, PHD2, BYE, ASCOM, Stellarium, PI, PS.
Sky - Bortle 5
Mount - Skywatcher HEQ5
Guiding - Orion 50mm guide with ZWO ASI120MM-S
Imaging - ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool, ZWO Filter wheel, LRGB, Ha Sii Oiii and Dark frame filters
Software - APT, PS2, ASPS, PHD2, BYE, ASCOM, Stellarium, PI, PS.
Sky - Bortle 5
- sdbodin
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Re: Basic Astrophotography
Thanks,
I think that everyone who is serious about this hobby needs to know some simple 'thin lens' ray tracing techniques. The quoted reference by Sam Brown introduces these and is quite useful to understanding that simply placing a lens here or there in the optical train will not produce the desired results. Barlows and focal reducers come to mind as do cameras.
I posted this Article to just introduce the beginner to the simple ways to put a camera on a telescope and actually get an image. All those pesky details of field curvature,
Clear skies,
Steve
Scopes; Meade 16 LX200, AT80LE, plus bunch just sitting around gathering dust
Cameras; Atik 460ex mono, Zwo ASI1600MC-cool, QHY5L-II color and mono
Cameras; Atik 460ex mono, Zwo ASI1600MC-cool, QHY5L-II color and mono
- Star Dad
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Re: Basic Astrophotography
The article says this "Type 4: Best for planetary photos, need great magnification to enlarge those tiny spheres. Varying the negative lens, Barlow, position by only an inch or two will change the enlargement from 1x to infinity."
I have (yet) to try and use this method for planets. Do I understand that you put a barlow (say a 2x) in the focuser and then all you need do is to vary the distance from the resultant focal point to enlarge the image on the camera sensor? Or do you vary the barlow distance in the focuser keeping the distance the same between barlow and camera?
This sounds very intriguing and I had never considered doing that. I had always thought that #2 was the way to go. I have an adjustable mounting frame to which I can attach a camera - sans lens.
I have (yet) to try and use this method for planets. Do I understand that you put a barlow (say a 2x) in the focuser and then all you need do is to vary the distance from the resultant focal point to enlarge the image on the camera sensor? Or do you vary the barlow distance in the focuser keeping the distance the same between barlow and camera?
This sounds very intriguing and I had never considered doing that. I had always thought that #2 was the way to go. I have an adjustable mounting frame to which I can attach a camera - sans lens.
"To be good is not enough when you dream of being great"
Orion 203mm/f4.9/1000mm, converted TASCO 114mm/f9/1000mm to steam punk, Meade 114mm/f9/1000, Coronado PST, Orion EQ-G, Ioptron Mini-Tower and iEQ30, Canon 70D, ASI120MM,ASI294MC, Ioptron SkyHunter
Orion 203mm/f4.9/1000mm, converted TASCO 114mm/f9/1000mm to steam punk, Meade 114mm/f9/1000, Coronado PST, Orion EQ-G, Ioptron Mini-Tower and iEQ30, Canon 70D, ASI120MM,ASI294MC, Ioptron SkyHunter
- sdbodin
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Re: Basic Astrophotography
Star Dad wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2020 5:52 pm The article says this "Type 4: Best for planetary photos, need great magnification to enlarge those tiny spheres. Varying the negative lens, Barlow, position by only an inch or two will change the enlargement from 1x to infinity."
I have (yet) to try and use this method for planets. Do I understand that you put a barlow (say a 2x) in the focuser and then all you need do is to vary the distance from the resultant focal point to enlarge the image on the camera sensor? Or do you vary the barlow distance in the focuser keeping the distance the same between barlow and camera?
This sounds very intriguing and I had never considered doing that. I had always thought that #2 was the way to go. I have an adjustable mounting frame to which I can attach a camera - sans lens.
The barlow to camera distance is varied, with extension tubes, to get a different magnification factor. Just like using a 2x barlow and then adding a star diagonal you get about 3x in an eyepiece view. Basic lens formula shows that the 1x is when the barlow is placed on the sensor, totally useless, and for infinity it is placed back at the barlow's focal length, usually a couple inches, also totally useless. So use a distance in between for an acceptable enlargement. But barlows are not spec'd with their focal length, so spacing is sort of a guessing game.
Using a #2 setup with a camera without its prime lens is just a #3, eyepiece projection, and I have a lot of reservation about this method as eyepieces are not designed to project images, barlow are so designed.
Clear skies,
Steve
Scopes; Meade 16 LX200, AT80LE, plus bunch just sitting around gathering dust
Cameras; Atik 460ex mono, Zwo ASI1600MC-cool, QHY5L-II color and mono
Cameras; Atik 460ex mono, Zwo ASI1600MC-cool, QHY5L-II color and mono
- jrm_astro
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Re: Basic Astrophotography
Definitely agree. It's obviously not essential, but the knowledge sure helps when things start to go wrong.sdbodin wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2020 4:18 pmThanks,
I think that everyone who is serious about this hobby needs to know some simple 'thin lens' ray tracing techniques. The quoted reference by Sam Brown introduces these and is quite useful to understanding that simply placing a lens here or there in the optical train will not produce the desired results. Barlows and focal reducers come to mind as do cameras.
I posted this Article to just introduce the beginner to the simple ways to put a camera on a telescope and actually get an image. All those pesky details of field curvature,coma , astigmatism, vignetting, and such are left for more advanced discussions.
Clear skies,
Steve
Thanks again for the post Steve.
Cheers
Scope - Skywatcher ED80
Mount - Skywatcher HEQ5
Guiding - Orion 50mm guide with ZWO ASI120MM-S
Imaging - ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool, ZWO Filter wheel, LRGB, Ha Sii Oiii and Dark frame filters
Software - APT, PS2, ASPS, PHD2, BYE, ASCOM, Stellarium, PI, PS.
Sky - Bortle 5
Mount - Skywatcher HEQ5
Guiding - Orion 50mm guide with ZWO ASI120MM-S
Imaging - ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool, ZWO Filter wheel, LRGB, Ha Sii Oiii and Dark frame filters
Software - APT, PS2, ASPS, PHD2, BYE, ASCOM, Stellarium, PI, PS.
Sky - Bortle 5
- helicon
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Re: Basic Astrophotography
Thanks very much. I am planning on getting into AP this year. (I am long in the tooth as a visual observer and need some new challenges!)
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
- sdbodin
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Re: Basic Astrophotography
Thanks Michael,
Imaging is a life long endeavor, I remember back 50+ years waiting for that film to come back from the store and see if the moon was actually there. Yes it was, I was hooked, a big crescent with craters on the terminator. Boy, how easy today, just hold up your cell phone to the eyepiece and duplicate that in seconds.
But, be prepared for a wallet emptying endeavor.
Steve
Scopes; Meade 16 LX200, AT80LE, plus bunch just sitting around gathering dust
Cameras; Atik 460ex mono, Zwo ASI1600MC-cool, QHY5L-II color and mono
Cameras; Atik 460ex mono, Zwo ASI1600MC-cool, QHY5L-II color and mono
- Altocumulus
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Re: Basic Astrophotography
As an aside to this topic....
I'm in the market for a replacement to my 120MM which has given up. There's a plethora of choice if one really digs in.
If one doesn't exist, would a table of cameras and their properties be useful. I've started a spreadsheet and could download it as a starter if anyone's likely to find it useful as a beginning process of choosing a suitable unit for their imaging 'scopes.
I'm in the market for a replacement to my 120MM which has given up. There's a plethora of choice if one really digs in.
If one doesn't exist, would a table of cameras and their properties be useful. I've started a spreadsheet and could download it as a starter if anyone's likely to find it useful as a beginning process of choosing a suitable unit for their imaging 'scopes.
Just call me Geoff....
I do what I do because I can, and because I want to.
It doesn't mean I know what I'm doing
I do what I do because I can, and because I want to.
It doesn't mean I know what I'm doing
- Altocumulus
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Re: Basic Astrophotography
But then I find "Agena Buyer's Guide to ZWO Astronomy Cameras" which shows way more information than I could provide, and in various tables.Altocumulus wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2020 9:37 am As an aside to this topic....
I'm in the market for a replacement to my 120MM which has given up. There's a plethora of choice if one really digs in.
If one doesn't exist, would a table of cameras and their properties be useful. I've started a spreadsheet and could download it as a starter if anyone's likely to find it useful as a beginning process of choosing a suitable unit for their imaging 'scopes.
Given many of the common chips are used across different manufacturers - makes my puny attempts somewhat superfluous.
Just call me Geoff....
I do what I do because I can, and because I want to.
It doesn't mean I know what I'm doing
I do what I do because I can, and because I want to.
It doesn't mean I know what I'm doing
- turonrambar
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Re: Basic Astrophotography
Thanks sdbodin,
Thanks for your article. It's good to have a refresher on Astrophotography.
Yet, for me their is so much more to learn and experiments to do.
Thanks again.
Clear Skies,
kip
Thanks for your article. It's good to have a refresher on Astrophotography.
Yet, for me their is so much more to learn and experiments to do.
Thanks again.
Clear Skies,
kip
Meade OTA f/8 12” on a CEM120 iOptron Mount,
G10 One Shot CMOS Color Camera, QHY 2” Filter Wheel, QHY OAG, SVBony SV305 guide camera
Canon T3i 60D Prime Focus and Eyepiece Projection,
ASCOM 6.5 SP1, Windows 10 Professional
LX850 Mount, ETX125, LX200 f/10 8” GPS, Meade 6” f/4 Newton Reflector on an Equatorial Mount
G10 One Shot CMOS Color Camera, QHY 2” Filter Wheel, QHY OAG, SVBony SV305 guide camera
Canon T3i 60D Prime Focus and Eyepiece Projection,
ASCOM 6.5 SP1, Windows 10 Professional
LX850 Mount, ETX125, LX200 f/10 8” GPS, Meade 6” f/4 Newton Reflector on an Equatorial Mount
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