Astrophotography: Here's a picture of my son and I in my backyard (too many trees) but it's a nice place. Anyway we're both viewing Jupiter and 4 of it's moons. Our issue is finding...

stephen901 Loc: Leander, Texas

Here's a picture of my son and I in my backyard (too many trees) but it's a nice place.
Anyway we're both viewing Jupiter and 4 of it's moons. Our issue is finding information on the best ways to attach our telescopes to our cameras.

dglphoto Loc: Lynnwood, WA

I suggest you contact the telescope manufacturers for advice on how to attach a camera to their products.

stephen901 Loc: Leander, Texas

I have contacted Meade, they weren't very knowledgeable. In fact their manual for my telescope wasn't up to date. I had to explain the differences between what was on their website and the manual and the scope I have.
Thanks, Steve

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Please consider visiting the Astronomical Photography Section section and posting your question there:

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-109-1.html

bastro

stephen901 wrote:

Here's a picture of my son and I in my backyard (too many trees) but it's a nice place.
Anyway we're both viewing Jupiter and 4 of it's moons. Our issue is finding information on the best ways to attach our telescopes to our cameras.

Several commercial shops will be able to help if you provide your camera type and scope. Not promoting any of them, but Skies Unlimited, OPT, and Highpoint Scientific have all been very helpful and more than willing to help.
Good luck, but be warned, it's a slippery slope to better gear!

Michael Butler

I googled your question and found several “how to” videos.

jcs Loc: USA

stephen901 wrote:

I have contacted Meade, they weren't very knowledgeable. In fact their manual for my telescope wasn't up to date. I had to explain the differences between what was on their website and the manual and the scope I have.
Thanks, Steve

This shows how to connect a camera to a Telescope .
In this case, a Meade ETX but the basics are pretty much the same for all telescopes.

The main differences you need to be aware of is how the telescope is focused .
If it's internal ( such as the Meade ETX etc.) you just need a T2 (telescope) to your specific camera connector .
One end fits into your eyepiece inlet and the other has the bayonet mount that goes into your camera .
You can get one on E-Bay for usually less than $15 (prime focus connection)
Now the telescope is exactly as an equivalent camera lens ( same focal length ,f:stop etc.)
If you want greater magnifications , you can shoot THRU the eyepice (but you may have to up the ISO in your camera due to decreased light)
Meade makes an adapter into which you install the eyepiece and a T2- thread to which you attach your camera adapter .

If you have a telescope which has an external focuser , things get a bit more involved because the focal distances usually are farther away from the scope body and you may need extension tubes to get it to focus on your camera.
(see attachment for scope with external focus )

(Download)

Malco

You won't be able to photograph planets the way you see them in the eyepiece with prime focus. When looking through a telescope the eyepiece magnifies the image. You will have to do the same thing with the camera. You will need an eyepiece projection or Barlow setup to obtain anything like you see in the eyepiece. Prime focus is good for deep sky objects like galaxies or star clusters, which are very much larger than planets. You will also need a tracking mount, because exposures will be long.

stephen901 Loc: Leander, Texas

Thanks that's helpful.

Dale Evans - Amaetur Loc: Baton Rouge, La

Google both astrophotography and astrophotographers. You will receive more information that you can absorb in the next year. Also, search using a video camera. Many a good planetary photo was taken using a webcam.

Everything you are looking for can be found here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfb5ObB7SwA

I use the Vixin Polarie that I purchased around 7ears ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PO03y-kCRk

The following will explain better than I can why a camera attached to a small telescope makes such a lousy camera platform. It is just nor stable enough. This will happen on all small telescopes do not have a photo quality mount.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTxlZ4k_0yw

Software is the work around.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yUNMnIBOVM

What can be done using a star tracker and a camera.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfb5ObB7SwA

A complete guide
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbo9HIt40DMTlkWpEqZAIEQ

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

stephen901 wrote:

Here's a picture of my son and I in my backyard (too many trees) but it's a nice place.
Anyway we're both viewing Jupiter and 4 of it's moons. Our issue is finding information on the best ways to attach our telescopes to our cameras.

All depends upon the camera you're trying to use; smart phone thru fixed lens thru DSLR. All have their own methods of attachment. Contact your local astronomy store or club.

I've found https://agenaastro.com to be very helpful. If you're in Canada, contact Ken From at All-Star Telescope (https://www.all-startelescope.com).

bwa

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

For pics of the planets you use video and stack the frames with software like Registax, and post process with Registax and post processing software like Photoshop. You need a mount with a tracking motor as well. But it won't be as clear as what you see in the eyepiece.

(Download)

SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

stephen901 wrote:

Here's a picture of my son and I in my backyard (too many trees) but it's a nice place.
Anyway we're both viewing Jupiter and 4 of it's moons. Our issue is finding information on the best ways to attach our telescopes to our cameras.

...for planetary photos consider the ZWO ASI 224 COLOR CMOS TELESCOPE CAMERA ($250)...it hooks directly into your computer and makes things so much easier...the other one that is really popular is the CELESTRON SKYRIS 236C COOLED COLOR CMOS TELESCOPE CAMERA ($400)...these are what everybody seems to be using now...

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

SkyKing wrote:

...for planetary photos consider the ZWO ASI 224 COLOR CMOS TELESCOPE CAMERA ($250)...it hooks directly into your computer and makes things so much easier...the other one that is really popular is the CELESTRON SKYRIS 236C COOLED COLOR CMOS TELESCOPE CAMERA ($400)...these are what everybody seems to be using now...

They connect to a laptop and all the viewing and picture controls are via software on the laptop.

(Download)

stephen901 Loc: Leander, Texas

This is great info...Thank you. yes it's a Meade just like the one in the image. So I'll look for that kind of setup.
Thanks.