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How to Set Up an X10 Camera to a Telescope
click for enlarged photo
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One of our most
popular XZone feature stories was the article we did on Tomm Aldridge, and
his "MoonCam." We had more response from you the readers to that article,
than any other article so far (with the exception of the "RocketCam"). And all
of you wanted to know how he set up his MoonCam, so that you, too, could take your own
pictures of the Moon using your telescopes and NightWatch. Well here’s your chance.
We’re going to tell you how Tomm did it and how you can do it. So let’s get
started. |
- The first thing Tomm did was to take his NightWatch camera, and remove its lens.
- Then he coupled the camera to the rear lens cap from a 35mm K mount lens. He did this
by:
- Drilling a hole in the lens cover to match the "nose" of the NightWatch.
- Using hot melt glue to hold the NightWatch to the lens cover.
- At this point, your assembly should emulate a 35mm K mount camera.
- Next, Tomm coupled the assembly to the telescope with a variable camera adapter
- A variable camera adapter is a sliding tube with telescope threads on one end and a k
mount bayonet mount on the other end. This is typically used to couple a 35mm camera to
the back of an SCT telescope.
Now that this is completed, it’s time to locate the Moon. If you know anything
about the Moon, you’ll want to find a specific location. Perhaps the craters of Tyco,
or Copernicus, or the Oceanus Procellarum, the Sea of Tranquility, or any of the other
seas, or "maria."
Tomm located the shot he was looking for in the finder of the scope, but then while
watching a TV monitor, adjusted the focus control on the scope to achieve a sharpest
image.
Now he’s got the picture he’s looking for.
Once he had the picture, he started the videotape. With the tape rolling, he can take as
many different pictures of the Moon, and leave them up there as long as he wants.
See Tomm's photos of the Moon
taken with Telescope and NightWatch
So there you have it. You’re now ready to set up your own
little planetarium with your NightWatch, and your telescope. As usual, we have to put a
warning on this so you don’t go out there and hurt yourself. So here’s our
warning.
Warning: Objects in telescope are much further away than they appear.
If you have any questions regarding this article, then
send us an email at xzone@x10.com
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