You can focus on much dimmer stars too -- in fact, Antares might be so bright it overwhelms the chip even at the fastest speed. Often any star in the field will do, just not as fast to focus. (When you want to get ridiculous about it you can do what I did this recently -- I purchased a RoboFocus device for $475 that, combined with the FocusMax freeware, is supposed to automate it.) Until now I've been using masks I cut out of cardboard to help with focusing. Best wishs, Joe ________________________________ From: "erikhansen@thebluezone.net" <erikhansen@thebluezone.net> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 12:20 PM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] couple of questions regarding CCD imaging
There are focusing aides like knife edge focusers.
so if I wanted to image M22 I would focus on Antares then go to M22?
Thanks,
Debbie
On Tue, May 31, 2011 at 11:24 AM, Joe Bauman <josephmbauman@yahoo.com>wrote:
Hi Debbie, You do see the image on the screen -- it is live. Your computer screen shows exactly what the camera sees and can update it quickly. If you use a bright star the focus can have an exposure can be about as fast as the camera is capable of taking, say 1/1000 of a second, and it refreshes immediately. Best wishes, Joe
________________________________ From: Debbie <astrodeb@beyondbb.com> To: Utah Astronomy <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 11:19 AM Subject: [Utah-astronomy] couple of questions regarding CCD imaging
Here is my first question. How do you achieve focus with a CCD camera since there is no live focus mode? Does the software let you know when you are in focus?
How does the guide chip on the SBIG dual chip cameras or 237 chip work when finding a guide star? Is this easier than having a separate guidescope and autoguider?
I want to know what I'm getting into before I dive into CCD imaging?
Debbie _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php