Troy Davidson wrote: I just saw this on ThinkGeek.com: http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/e19b/ It's a USB eyepiece. Here are the stats: * Attaches to any telescope * Adapter ring for 24.5mm and 31.7mm * Save 1280 x 1040 video or photos to your computer * Uses a 1/2 inch, 1.3 megapixel image sensor * Attaches via USB cable to your computer No, it's not amazing specs. But for $99, I might be willing to give it a try. Any thoughts, ideas, comments? This interests me. I have a Dob, and have never been able to take pictures through it. How does this device attach? Does it replace the eyepiece in the focus tube? Or does it fit over the top of the eyepiece? I assume it draws its power from the computer through the USB cord? Could its USB cord be attached to a digital camera, so that images could download to the camera media card? Has anyone ever used one on a Dob? Is it necessary to take long time exposures? Or does it capture the image immediately as seen by the human eye? Just some of my questions. Raeburn G. Kennard Kirton & McConkie 60 East South Temple, Suite 1800 Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (801) 321-4867 direct telephone (801) 328-3600 main switchboard (801) 550-6143 cell (801) 212-2075 fax rkennard@kmclaw.com
It replaces the eyepiece. You would focus, I assume, by looking at the computer screen. Because of how this attaches, I doubt you could connect it to a camera. I bought it and once it gets here, will report back on my findings. I also have a dob so it will be interesting to see how it turns out. But for $107 ($99 + $8 shipping) it's worth giving it a try. ++++++++++++++++++ Troy Davidson www.istroyworking.com On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:03 AM, Raeburn Kennard <rkennard@kmclaw.com> wrote:
This interests me. I have a Dob, and have never been able to take pictures through it. How does this device attach? Does it replace the eyepiece in the focus tube? Or does it fit over the top of the eyepiece? I assume it draws its power from the computer through the USB cord? Could its USB cord be attached to a digital camera, so that images could download to the camera media card? Has anyone ever used one on a Dob? Is it necessary to take long time exposures? Or does it capture the image immediately as seen by the human eye? Just some of my questions.
Raeburn G. Kennard Kirton & McConkie 60 East South Temple, Suite 1800 Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (801) 321-4867 direct telephone (801) 328-3600 main switchboard (801) 550-6143 cell (801) 212-2075 fax rkennard@kmclaw.com
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Ray: You ultimately run into the limits of you optical system, basically the aperture size and the focal ratio. I was out at Lakeside during the aurora watch last week and met a guy who seemed to have about the best rig I've ever seen. It was a C11 nexstar with a hyperstar attachment replacing the secondary. This gave him a speed of f/2. He was using a video camera which is usually too weak for deep sky work but he was getting integration times of less than a minute. He showed me "live" pictures of M8 and M20 where the color of the nebulae was obvious. But he needed a lot of gear to pull it off. Generator, Laptop, CRT Video monitor (LCD just wouldn't work with his rig) and a big pickup to haul it all. DT ---
On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:03 AM, Raeburn Kennard <rkennard@kmclaw.com> wrote:
This interests me. I have a Dob, and have never been
able to take pictures through it. How does this device attach? Does it replace the eyepiece in the focus tube? Or does it fit over the top of the eyepiece? I assume it draws its power from the computer through the USB cord? Could its USB cord be attached to a digital camera, so that images could download to the camera media card? Has anyone ever used one on a Dob? Is it necessary to take long time exposures? Or does it capture the image immediately as seen by the human eye? Just some of my questions.
Raeburn G. Kennard Kirton & McConkie 60 East South Temple, Suite 1800 Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (801) 321-4867 direct telephone (801) 328-3600 main switchboard (801) 550-6143 cell (801) 212-2075 fax rkennard@kmclaw.com
Daniel makes an excellent point. That's a lot of money and time needed to watch an object on a monitor out in the boonies. I can see any object I choose on my 24" LCD computer monitor in the comfort of my home. I'd rather put the money into a big Dob and see the objects through the eyepiece, if I'm going to take the time and effort to drive out to the sticks. On 8/11/10, daniel turner <outwest112@yahoo.com> wrote:
Ray:
You ultimately run into the limits of you optical system, basically the aperture size and the focal ratio. I was out at Lakeside during the aurora watch last week and met a guy who seemed to have about the best rig I've ever seen.
It was a C11 nexstar with a hyperstar attachment replacing the secondary. This gave him a speed of f/2. He was using a video camera which is usually too weak for deep sky work but he was getting integration times of less than a minute. He showed me "live" pictures of M8 and M20 where the color of the nebulae was obvious. But he needed a lot of gear to pull it off. Generator, Laptop, CRT Video monitor (LCD just wouldn't work with his rig) and a big pickup to haul it all.
participants (4)
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Chuck Hards -
daniel turner -
Raeburn Kennard -
Troy Davidson