|
|
We
use a variety of instruments but predominantly a 90mm Maksutov f/15 built
by Peter on an non-driven alt-azimuth mount. Also a Questar 3.5"
f/14 on an non-driven alt-azimuth mount and an alt-azimuth 5" f/15 refractor
again built by Peter. For high magnification work we utilize a 2x
Barlow or 2x camera teleconverter. Our camera is a Samsung B&W
board camera built into an eyepiece by Peter. It has a sensitivity
of ~1Lux and 380 TV lines resolution. We have started experimenting
with a Maplins B&W surveillance camera rated at ~0.05 Lux and 420 TV
lines resolution. For our solar work we use a Baader Mylar filter.
To record video we use either a Ferguson VHS system or a JVC S-VHS recorder.
To capture images to a PC we use a SnapMagic frame grabber and typically
save as a .tif file. Images are processed with Photo Shop and NIH
Image on a Macintosh. We observe from often wet and cloudy Todmorden
on Yorks/Lancs border in the United Kingdom. Two other telescopes
will eventually be used for video imaging; a 6 inch two mirror TCT and
an 8 inch Slevogt.
 |
 |
| An example of what can be done with a 90mm scope
in turbulent conditions with a 1 Lux 380 TV line camera.
. |
 |
 |
| Peter made up a 450 TV line colour board camera into an eyepiece unit along the lines of the B&W we both use. This image is from video shot on the 14'th of March, when conditions were reasonably transparent, but a bit turbulent. |
 |
 |
 |
| Schroter's valley imaged in moderate seeing ( at twilight ) with a Questar 3.5", non-driven using a 2x Barlow and Samsung Camera. Video was recorded to a S-VHS and frame captured with a SnapMagic. |
| Mars imaged 17 June 99 by David with a Questar 3.5" at f/28 and Samsung camera to SVHS tape. Seeing conditions were poor, lots of wind and turbulence. |
| Clavius region imaged with the 90mm maksutov and Samsung surveillance camera~1 lux by David Dench. |
 |
Venus and Mars imaged by David with Questar 3.5" at f/28 and Samsung chip camera, 09 June 1999, 21:30 UT. Seeing was poor. 8 video frames were stacked and summed for Venus and 12 frames for Mars. Unsharp masking was applied to both in Photo Shop. |
 |
| Sunspot groups captured by David, June 5th ~9:30 UT, in less than favorable seeing conditions. He used a Samsung chip camera built by Peter Drew with a Questar 3.5" at F/14 and F/28, respectively, with a full aperture Baader Mylar filter. Images were recorded to sVHS tape then digitized with a PC SnapMagic. |
| This two frame image shows the relative size and distance between the two sunspot groups as per the photos above. |
| Sunspot group, using a Horace Dall ( long-time friend of Peter's ) refigured 5 inch f/15 Wray triplet. ( yesterday 01/06/99 ) I have captured off VHS tape ( very much our limitation ) I fancy. I have added 3 frames and done some unsharp masking ( 50% radius 3 pixels) in photoshop. |
| I resurrected some footage from 16/05/99 of mars ( I haven't had any luck at all lately with clear skies ). This is handheld footage using a JVC sVHS camcorder held to a Questar 3.5 using a 24 mm Brandon eyepiece. I have captured 5 frames and added them for interest. I have something, but would appreciate it if anyone can confirm if they are noise artifacts or real features. |
| Some old jupiter footage using the 90mm maksutov at f/30, so I used my Snapmagic to capture 6 frames and added them in photoshop. ( both of the above using the Samsung surveillance camera ~1 lux ) |
| Peter captured this white light sunspot image 25/5/99 using a 90mm Maksutov at f/13.5 with a Baader mylar type solar filter. Image was digitized with a SnapMagic from VHS tape. Post processing was with Photo Shop using unsharp mask (radius 3 pixels, amount 50%). Peter reports that seeing was only fair. |
| These sunspot images were acquired by David & Peter on May 20th 1999 using a surveillance camera with a Samsung chip (~1.0 LUX). The telescope was a 90mm Maksutov built by Peter working at f/30 (2x Barlow). The images were recorded on VHS tape, then a SnapMagic video frame grabber was used to digitize images. To increase the signal to noise ratio he sandwiched two frames per image, but reports that he did minimal image enhancing in Photoshop. |
| An early attempt to capture sunspot group images afocally using a JVC S-VHS camcorder and a 3.5" Questar telescope equipped with a 1" off-axis aperture/solar filter and a 24mm Brandon eyepiece. |
