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[tomlee]

Class 2–June 7, 2011 8pm-11pm

Mounts & electronic setup

• The “Go To” GEM
  
• EQMOD
  
• Computer Alignment
  
• Precision Polar Alignment
  

Telescopes

• Types & History
  
• Suitability for imaging
  
• Mechanical considerations
  
• The telescope as a photographic lens
  

Hands On Lab – Precision Polar Alignment Using
the Modified Drift Method

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We have covered a lot in this week's class. First, we look at some pictures of the supernova in M51 that happens on the Sunday prior to the class taken by Chis. No close-up or anything but just the picture with an extra dot in M51 which was not there before. At any rate, the lecture on telescope types and history was good and thorough especially in the perspective of astrophotography. Chris was the owner of the telescope store in Dyer, no wonders.

The mounts and electronic set up is not too hard to learn but there is only one setup for the class so no hands on for me this time. Chris goes through the software list and shows a real-time/online remote control demonstration of the fully automated telescope which is very good but leaves a lot to downloading and setting up with the older ( I think dos) applications. Good luck with them if you want to try. They are as followed:

Again, for me this info is great, that's a saving of probably up to $500 for Goto mount control and easily $200-300 on gliding outfit, depends on how much you want to save. Building something solid for quality astrophotography for under $1000 has become a possibility after all. That is, of course, not counting the ultimately inevitable high cost imager because I will use my DSLR for now.

Next week ...




Class 3–June 14, 2011 8pm-11pm

Computer Programs I

• USB , Serial, and LAN interfaces
  
• Wireless protocols
  
• ASCOM
  
• Focuser control / Focusmax
  

Focusing

• Telescope focusers
  
• Manual focusing / focus aids
  
• Computerized focusing
  
• Fully automated focusing
  

Hands On Lab – Focusing

[-=CROMAN=-]

Tomlee that is very cool. Can you explain to me why you would need to use the software if you already have a highend GEM mount? Im a bit confused by this. I thought the gem were precise on their own. Is there a part of the GEM that you do not need to buy because you have the laptop and software?

Thanks!

[tomlee]

Rich,

That's the goto part of a goto GEM like a CGEM. It's like your virtual cd player and the actual cd player. You would have a controller on your screen instead. It also operates the camera too. Actually, it is much better visually and so you can set up to run the scope inside your house wirelessly if you like. Some makers are starting to not sell them separately. I hope not that soon otherwise I might be limited to used mounts.

I hope this help.

[-=CROMAN=-]

Ah ok, I understand now. Thanks for the clarification. One more question.... What about eyepieces? Do you need to swap them out or do you simply use the CCD and control the zoom from the laptop? It would be pretty cool to be able to sit in the house and have a view as if looking through an eyepiece.

Is it obvious I know ZERO about astro photography?

[tomlee]

Jun 9, 2011 18:25:43 GMT -6 -=CROMAN=- said:

Ah ok, I understand now. Thanks for the clarification. One more question.... What about eyepieces? Do you need to swap them out or do you simply use the CCD and control the zoom from the laptop? It would be pretty cool to be able to sit in the house and have a view as if looking through an eyepiece.

Is it obvious I know ZERO about astro photography?

Hey Rich, astrophotography is quite a different animal than photography. I didn't know a thing about it either. I have read or heard somewhere that one should have experience observing for about a year before thinking to purchasing equipment for astrophotography. I appreciate that more everyday.

First, you can definitely stargaze on a screen sitting in your cool or warm home. You need to have some computer connection. You can run long usb cable for a modified webcam to display video on a computer screen or you can run a wireless configuration. For displaying purpose you won't need the camera control. Naturally you want to set up the goto on the same computer unless you are looking at a fix location.

Secondly, there are many ways to attach different imager, whichever is your choice, all can be focused remotely as long as there is a driver that work for it. For zooming however, the only zoom would be on a point and shoot camera lens and that should clear thing up for you. There is no zoom in CCD or DSLR.

Lastly, not sure if you ask about this but there are telescopes that have a flip mirror for both eyepiece and camera attached at the same time. But that's a telescope thing.

Again, I hope that help.