Deep-SkyDeep-SkyVideo AstronomyVideo Astronomy

Dr. Helge BinderDr. Helge Binder

Presented atFrühjahrstagung of VdS in Würzburg 1999

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Principles:Principles:

Lens/Telescope

Image intensifier tube

Video camera with coupling lens Frame grabber card

AVI file

Single JPEG frames

Processed image

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Technical Details:Technical Details:Hardware:

1. Optics: Lens / Telescope

2. Cyclop 10A image intensifier (Russia, 2 Gen.)

3. Coupling lens: 55 mm F/1.4 photo lens (better is a longer focal length)

4. Video camera: Canon MV1 - MiniDV

5. Frame grabber card: Miro Video PCTV

6. Notebook: LION 120 P, 40 Mbyte RAM, 1 Gbyte HD with docking station

Software:1. Miro image acquisition software

2. Main Actor Editor (shareware)

3. Display 1.83 and CCD Camera software Ver. 1.68 (public domain)

4. Quantum Image Pro 3.5, Astra Image 1.5, Photoshop 5.0CorelPaint 8.0

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M42 - Great Orion nebulaM42 - Great Orion nebula

202 x 1/25s1/25s

1/6s122 x 1/6s

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y70 mm F/1.2 (No guiding - tripod)

500 mm F/5.6 (No guiding - tripod)

M42 and Flame nebulaM42 and Flame nebula

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NGT 18 F/4.5 (roughly aligned)Pra

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Pleiades / h & Pleiades / h & Persei Persei

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70 mm F/1.2 (No guiding - tripod)Pra

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M81 and M82M81 and M82

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117 x 1/6s

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300 mm F/4.5 (No guiding - tripod)

NGT 18 F/4.5 (roughly aligned)

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M82 and NGC 3628M82 and NGC 3628

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M51 and Rosette nebulaM51 and Rosette nebula

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1/6s590 x 1/6s

300 mm F/4.5 (No guiding - tripod)

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Problems:Problems:

760 x 1/6s

960 x 1/6s

1. The left image shows the effect of an unstable battery. The image intensifier changed the image scale constantly as the battery current dropped, producing a zoom effect.

2. The left image shows an accidental and unrecognized rotation of the video camera.

3. The image of Rosette nebula, on the previous page, has a very low S/N ratio . To obtain an image with a good contrast one should increase the number of single frames to at least 2000-3000, depending on the image intensifier tube used.

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Conclusions:Conclusions:1. Video astronomy allows not only images of solar system 1. Video astronomy allows not only images of solar system objects, but also deep sky imaging of low light objects as objects, but also deep sky imaging of low light objects as galaxies and nebulas.galaxies and nebulas.

2. Video imaging can be done with simple tripods, Dobsons 2. Video imaging can be done with simple tripods, Dobsons and of course with parallactical mountings.and of course with parallactical mountings.

3. Take your desired object “online“, out of real deep sky 3. Take your desired object “online“, out of real deep sky session, without disturbing visual astronomers. session, without disturbing visual astronomers.

4. RGB images should be possible. Also high resolution 4. RGB images should be possible. Also high resolution imaging should be possible with the help of mosaic imaging should be possible with the help of mosaic techniques.techniques.

5. One may video lots of objects in a particular session - 5. One may video lots of objects in a particular session - performing image processing during the many rainy nights performing image processing during the many rainy nights and days in Europeand days in Europe..

6. Record weak stars and minor planets without 6. Record weak stars and minor planets without tracking.tracking.

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