Hi there!

When in England I bought myself a telescope and then I read online that some folks use modified webcam's for taking photographs of celestial objects. I bought myself a Philips SPC 900NC also known as the Toucam III. I sent the camera to Julian Palmer (user on QCUIAG) who did an excellent job in modifying it for me(2nd & 3rd attachment).
However because of the bad weather in the UK I shipped my telescope (and all subsequent accessories) straight back to SA and intended to pursue my new favorite hobby when I return. So I never knew of the heartache to follow...

Finally 18months later I returned to SA but soon realized I should have bought all the adapters and eyepieces I needed whilst I was in the UK because it's VERY difficult to get hold of Telescope accessories in South Africa

When I purchased my telescope I received a camera adapter as well but unfortunately this adapter only fits on a SLR camera(1st attachment). I tried to rearrange the adapter's pieces to accompany my modified webcam(6th attachment). I bought some PVC pipes at Builders Warehouse and came up with this solution(4th attachment). Thing is, I can get the adapter I need (known as a Mogg Adapter, 5th attachment) but I'll have to pay $20 for it in the states(excluding postage). That price is a bit hefty for someone in SA, especially for a piece of PVC!

The pictures I took with that setup, was not good at all. Just a blur if anything. I think its because the camera is way to far apart from the telescope's optics and the lens in the middle. Or is it because I left the webcam's lens intact? I mean I could see the photo was taken through a long tube lo! Can anyone please shed some light on this issue. How to modify my setup for better photo quality, OR should I just purchase the Mogg adapter, OR does any South African know where I can get one locally AND If anyone uses a mogg adapter, please tell me if one is able to use a lens with it as well? Because it doesn't look like the Mogg adapter can support one.

Thanks in advance!

Attached Images

	4 piece SLR camera adapter.JPG (14.5 KB, 21 views)
	Modified Philips webcam_1.JPG (57.1 KB, 21 views)
	Modified Philips webcam_2.JPG (12.6 KB, 16 views)
	My Setup.JPG (20.5 KB, 24 views)
	mogg adaptor.jpg (26.4 KB, 16 views)
	New 2 piece adapter2.JPG (17.5 KB, 19 views)

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I don't think I can help with the adapters, but for the web camera imaging I have done, I do not use the lens on the web camera. The adapter I have screws into the lens threads on the ToUCam Pro and that fits into a 1.25" eyepiece adapter.

HTH,

--Andy

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Observatorio de la Ballona

Steven,

I use the afocal imaging method whereby I simply position my digital camera in front of the eyepiece and take pics.
http://home.telkomsa.net/mybirding/Afocal.htm
But, from what I have read, most of the webcam users remove the lens from the webcam and use it like Andy does.
If you need any accesories, the best person to contact is Andrie van der Linde at Eridanus Optics in Pretoria. He is very helpful and I have aquired a few excellent accessories from him.

Andrie van der Linde
andrie@eridanusoptics.com

Hope you manage.

Phil

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If at first you fail, you're running average

Thanks Andy, so I assume you are using the 'Mogg adapter then. I just can't fathom how I can take photo's of let's say, a Galaxy, without any magnification?? Thanks again!

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Wow! I never knew that method could actually produce such great pictures.
Below is a photo I took of the moon with my camera mobile(Sony Ericsson k800i) a few weeks back.
I never thought I'd mention this because it seems so unconventional.
Thanks Phil, your help is also greatly appreciated.

Attached Images

Moon.JPG (61.2 KB, 20 views)

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Steven, your moon photo is excellent.
I took the liberty to enhaqnce it a bit by changing the brightness and contrast en sharpen the focus. Then I cleaned it with Noiseware and here is the result. The features on the full moon stand out quite nicely.

Phil

Attached Images

Moon_steven2_filtered.jpg (22.3 KB, 18 views)

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If at first you fail, you're running average

Cool stuff! I hope you don't mind I'm gonna edit my online
blog and substitute my old moon with the new enhanced one you made,
Thanks Phil!

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