ccd camera help

Just my 2 cents. But I had the same issue a few months ago and went with colour instead of mono for two reasons

1/ Ease of use during capture
2/ Weather. I imagine that alot of sessions would be ruined by clouds coming in before you get all colours captured. As it is I've only had the Sac10 out a couple of times because of clouds. If I'd the mono version I would have had even less success.

Two other reasons were that those interference filters are expensive and I as I since found out I would not be able to come into focus if I had a filter wheel in the optical train on my refractor.

I had no previous experience with CCD so this was just decided from reseaching on the web.

That said, weather the last few months has put the kabosh on any imaging.

Trev

hi all some very interesting points. my set up is a 14'' cge telescope piggybacked 80ed normally i webcam the planets but i really want to get into ccd imaging, of course i want to image galaxies but what i really want to do is scientific work. i want to locate new asteroids,comets and supernova, this is the main reason i got into astronomy. all your advice is greatly received but you all know astronomy is 99% learning and 1% doing.

carl obeirnes.

I've been trying to talk Carl into getting the colour version, here's the reasons why I think the colour version is best for Carl.

I know Carls wants to see colour images. Carl is a complete beginner to deep sky astrophotography. Now we all know that DS photography can be an utter nightmare for beginners and even experienced people for that matter!! There's enough to be worrying about (guiding, focus, framing etc etc etc) without having to introduce the complication of filter wheels, and the associated quadrupling of the workload (capture and processing).

This leads me to another point, I have the mono version of the Atik 16HR, only once since I got it have I managed to get a complete LRGB set, most nights I either run out of time or the cloud rolls in.

As mentioned the colour version is less sensitive but that can be compensated for by a longer exposure. Agreed resolution suffers too, but lets face it, the seeing in this country rarely permits the theoretical resolution limit of a setup to be acheived anyway.

Then there is another point, Carl lives very close to me and is a very good friend. I have the mono version, so it carl fancies having a crack at LRGB imaging we can always swap cameras for a bit anyway.

What I'm saying in short is that on paper the mono camera will always win but in practice it can be a completely different matter.

Well then, considering the unique situation, I think it might be the best choice. If he really wants colour images it's probably the best way to go. It's not everybody who can get their hands on someone else's CCD astro gear. I've been trying to "borrow" Dave Mc's AP1200 for a few months now and for some reason he's always a little hesitant. It's not like as if I'd advertise it on Astromart or anything...

Funnily enough, there's a brand new Gemini mount for sale in Monastrevin....

Can't wait to get a second one then....it'll go well with the AP1200. Jeepers, three mounts, won't know myself!

Carl - that's good information to go on and you are in the same space as me!

As it happens, I'm currently sourcing a 14" SCT so I can give you the benefit of the research I've done.

For the science you want to do, a mono CCD is what you need. You don't need the filter wheel/filter at all. But if you ever fancied photometry, you can add those at a later date.

With the typical seeing we have here in Ireland, with a 14" SCT you want a CCD with no less than 13 micron pixels, preferably 20 micron pixels. Smaller pixel sizes than that and you are wasting valuable silicon real estate.

I don't know how your mount performs but if you can expose for a minute or two with no trailing, you'll be grand. Of course, you can always use the 80ed for autoguiding. But I'd imagine you should be able to tune the mount to the necessary accuracy.

I think your first step should be to get your hands on a cheap CCD imager and spend 3 to 6 months learning the ropes. Don't forget, CCD's hold their value well. You can sell it on again later when upgrading.

As well as learning the ropes in imaging, you should consider going for an observatory code. This will introduce you to the rigours of real science (you will be reporting to the International Astronomical Union) as well as allow you to submit the kind of data you propose to collect (asteroids, comets, supernovae).

Finally, your timing is good. We are about to kick of the IFAS Advanced Observing prgoram at Whirlpool. If you are there, hunt me down and we'll chat. Try and get to the presentation (we still don't have a time/date). If you won't be at Birr, keep an eye on these boards. We will publish all the details in the next week or two. I think the AOP will suit you and we could sure do with you volunteering!

All the best

Dave