Looking for some help when viewing with a ZWO camera
Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2019 11:09 pm
Hi everyone,
It’s time once again to ask the experts being I am not. Thanks again for taking the time to read this and review my issues. First a little background about what I do and the equipment I’m using.
Equipment being used
1 Celestron 8SE scope
2 Celestron AVX mount
3 ZWO ASI 1600MC-cool camera
4 Celestron low magnification eyepiece (Not sure of the strength, numbers worn off)
5 LV High magnification LV9mm eyepiece
6 Laptop
7 Sony 40” large flat screen TV
So, what I do is volunteer my services at assisted living facilities and throw star parties. I get these people to go outside in the evening which they never do anymore and sit in front of my large flat screen TV either with the chairs we set up or their wheelchairs and talk about the stars and when it’s dark enough show them maybe Saturn and its rings. Oh, the reactions I get make it all worthwhile!
My setup is first pointing the scope to the viewing object and look at it through my low power eyepiece and center. Then put in my higher magnification eyepiece and center again for more accuracy before installing my camera. As you know the viewing object must be pinpoint centered or you will not see it and if it’s not there it’s a guessing game if you should go up, down, left or right. Not an easy thing to do and most of the time after putzing with it moving back and forth with the eyepiece and camera I can usually get it to appear on the TV which is hooked up to my laptop. It’s impossible to explain the joy and emotions coming out of the folks. Very rewarding and on a side note, give it a try!
But disaster set in for me last Thursday. I was not able to get Saturn centered enough and I never was able to show them the rings on the TV. Only the people that were able to walk up to the scope and look through the eyepiece got the thrill. I really failed for the folks in the wheelchairs. I felt so bad, I questioned if this is really a good thing for me to do.
Help!!! Here is where you folks can steer me in a BETTER direction. Maybe a setting on my ZWO color 1600 camera. Maybe a way to view on the camera what I’m seeing through the eyepiece and not just a percentage of the viewing window. Even if the clarity is poor, I can always move to the better setting once I get it centered or in view. Maybe some attachment I can add to help me with the beginning setup. I must admit I am far from an expert on the camera and settings. It’s complicated with tons of settings and features. I have the settings saved for Jupiter that work well for me and here is a list I have put together for you all.
1 Color Space RGB24
2 Capture Area 800X600
3 Binning 1
4 Exposure 1.1 ms
5 ROI Selection Pan 1928 Tilt 1460 (This very well could be my problem. Have yet to change any setting here but maybe could have something to do with what percentage of viewing area).
6 Frame Rate Maximum
7 Brightness 48
8 Cooler Off
Well, there you have it. Any suggestions I would really appreciate and let me know if you have questions about my setup.
Thanks AGAIN folks for taking the time to read this!! If I could only get over this hurtle life would be better for all!
Pete Schneider (Pete’s Star Parties)
It’s time once again to ask the experts being I am not. Thanks again for taking the time to read this and review my issues. First a little background about what I do and the equipment I’m using.
Equipment being used
1 Celestron 8SE scope
2 Celestron AVX mount
3 ZWO ASI 1600MC-cool camera
4 Celestron low magnification eyepiece (Not sure of the strength, numbers worn off)
5 LV High magnification LV9mm eyepiece
6 Laptop
7 Sony 40” large flat screen TV
So, what I do is volunteer my services at assisted living facilities and throw star parties. I get these people to go outside in the evening which they never do anymore and sit in front of my large flat screen TV either with the chairs we set up or their wheelchairs and talk about the stars and when it’s dark enough show them maybe Saturn and its rings. Oh, the reactions I get make it all worthwhile!
My setup is first pointing the scope to the viewing object and look at it through my low power eyepiece and center. Then put in my higher magnification eyepiece and center again for more accuracy before installing my camera. As you know the viewing object must be pinpoint centered or you will not see it and if it’s not there it’s a guessing game if you should go up, down, left or right. Not an easy thing to do and most of the time after putzing with it moving back and forth with the eyepiece and camera I can usually get it to appear on the TV which is hooked up to my laptop. It’s impossible to explain the joy and emotions coming out of the folks. Very rewarding and on a side note, give it a try!
But disaster set in for me last Thursday. I was not able to get Saturn centered enough and I never was able to show them the rings on the TV. Only the people that were able to walk up to the scope and look through the eyepiece got the thrill. I really failed for the folks in the wheelchairs. I felt so bad, I questioned if this is really a good thing for me to do.
Help!!! Here is where you folks can steer me in a BETTER direction. Maybe a setting on my ZWO color 1600 camera. Maybe a way to view on the camera what I’m seeing through the eyepiece and not just a percentage of the viewing window. Even if the clarity is poor, I can always move to the better setting once I get it centered or in view. Maybe some attachment I can add to help me with the beginning setup. I must admit I am far from an expert on the camera and settings. It’s complicated with tons of settings and features. I have the settings saved for Jupiter that work well for me and here is a list I have put together for you all.
1 Color Space RGB24
2 Capture Area 800X600
3 Binning 1
4 Exposure 1.1 ms
5 ROI Selection Pan 1928 Tilt 1460 (This very well could be my problem. Have yet to change any setting here but maybe could have something to do with what percentage of viewing area).
6 Frame Rate Maximum
7 Brightness 48
8 Cooler Off
Well, there you have it. Any suggestions I would really appreciate and let me know if you have questions about my setup.
Thanks AGAIN folks for taking the time to read this!! If I could only get over this hurtle life would be better for all!
Pete Schneider (Pete’s Star Parties)