how to obtain lunar astrophotos
DESCRIPTION
Originally presented at the Local Group of Deep Sky Observers quarterly meeting 04/20/2011.Presentation on how to obtain Lunar (or Planetary) images, detailing equipment, software, process and procedures using your Telescope and an inexpensive Webcam. Enjoy!TRANSCRIPT
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How to Obtain Lunar Astrophotos
Using your Telescope and a Webcam
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The same techniques shown in this demonstration, can also be used for Planetary Imaging
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Yes, You Too, Can Make Pictures Like This!This is easy and inexpensive but, Mostly A Lot of Fun!
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Equipment
Software
Processing
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Equipment
• Telescope• Laptop Computer• Webcam• IR Filter• Telescope Adapter
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Telescope
• Just about any Telescope will do• Would be nice to have tracking motors to keep
your target centered but, hand tracking will do
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Laptop Computer
• A Laptop is needed to power the Webcam and provide storage for the images the Webcam captures
• Any old Laptop should suffice, so long as it has ample storage and usually a USB port for the Webcam
• A Means of powering the laptop in the field
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Webcam
• A Webcam capable of obtaining low light images
• Connectix - Quickcam• Philips - ToUcam Pro 840, SPC900NC• Meade - LPI• Imaging Source – DMK21AF04-AS
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My Webcam
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DescriptionPhilips SPC900NC
USB ConnectionNotice that the lens and lens bezel have been removed
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IR Filter
• An IR (Infrared) cutoff filter is needed to prevent “star bloat” or image bleed in the pixels of the webcam.
• Especially needed for refractors because they focus infrared and visible light at different points
• Webcams are very sensitive to UV/IR light
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UV/IR Cut Filter
Baader UV/IR Cut Filter
Standard 1-1/4 “ screw in filter
Used to prevent star bloating and image bleed between pixels
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Telescope Adapter
• An adapter to attach a Webcam to a Telescope• Usually a thread in/on adapter that basically
turns the Webcam into an eyepiece• Old film canisters• Moog adapters
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Telescope Adapter
Moog adapter
Special threads to screw intoWebcam
Other end is threaded forFilters
Outer barrel is standard 1-1/4” to fit in telescope like an eyepiece
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Additional Filters;Not necessary but, can assist in bringing out details in features on the Moon, Planets
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Complete Webcam
Webcam + Adapter + Filter
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Software
• K3CCDTools• WcCtrl• Craterlet• ICcapture• Registax• Virtual Moon Atlas• Envisage for LPI – Meade Software• VirtualDub
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SoftwareK3CCDTools V1 is free
Used for image captureAnd camera control
http://www.pk3.org/Astro/index.htm?k3ccdtools.htm
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SoftwareWcCtrl
Free
Camera control
http://www.burri-web.org/bm98/soft/wcctrl/index.htm
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SoftwareCraterlet
Free
Image capture
Minimal camera control
http://www.stark-labs.com/craterlet.html
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SoftwareIC Capture
Comes with Camera
Camera control forImaging Source cameras
http://www.theimagingsource.com/en_US/products/software/enduser/iccapturetis/
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Software
Registax
Free
Image processing software
http://www.astronomie.be/registax/
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SoftwareVirtual Moon Atlas
Free
Electronic encyclopedia of the Moon
Used to find targets on the Moon and find what you are looking for on the Moon
http://www.ap-i.net/avl/en/start
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SoftwareVirtualDub
Free
Video manipulation software
Used to convert video file formats.bmp to .avi.mpeg to .aviEtc.
Some Webcams produce videos in different formats. What we need is an AVI format file. This program converts other formats to AVI
http://www.virtualdub.org/
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SoftwareNot Really but, included here as an observing listA Target ListSky & Telescopes “The Lunar 100” A listing of 100 objects on the Moon arranged in an order from the easiest to the hardest to observe.http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/moon/3308811.html?page=1&c=y
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How to do it!
We’ve gathered our Equipment and all our Software
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The Process
Hang on tight cause here we go
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Set up telescopeDo alignmentFocus on the MoonPick a Target along or near the TerminatorInsert Webcam, Start SoftwareRefocus on targetCapture imagesProcess captured images
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Pick Target Along or near Terminator
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Actual Image through Software allows you to adjust Focus
Archimedes:
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Actual Video Capture
Archimedes:
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Previous capture lasted for only 120 secondsCaptured as an AVI file by Iccapture through a Imaging Source DMK21AF04-AS cameraAt a frame rate of 60fpsThat’s 3600 individual pictures that were takenOut of those 3600, 100-200 will be clear enough to use
At this point we are done with our imaging orWe can image other features on the moon or proceed on to the processing of our captured files
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Okay, we can now put the Telescope and other equipment away and move inside where it is warm and we have plenty of light
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Image Processing
We will use our software named Registax for the processing of our AVI
image file
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Start Registax and load your image file
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Pick Your AVI File
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Selected AVI to be Processed
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Select Features to Align On
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Stack & Optimize
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Stacking & Optimizing
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Stacked & Optimized before Wavelets
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Image w/Wavelets Applied
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Image Cropped
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Final JPG Image
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What to do with all your new Lunar Images!
• Join the Webcam Moon Imagers Yahoo Group• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Webcam_Moon_Imagers/
• Help with imaging the Moon• Help with Techniques• Help with Equipment, Software• Monthly Challenge Targets• Just More Fun
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Remember!
These same procedures can be used to image the Planets!
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The End
Questions??????