The Moon Through My Telescope

No probs :)

Nice, I've bought a new mount 2 weeks ago, but there wasn't a single night without cloud since :-(

Hi 2012Portal

it's not a matter of zoom, it's a matter of exposure time.

Jupiter is much more brighter than the moons.
If you set the exposure to Jupiter, the camera can't catch enough light to see the moons.
If you set the exposure to the moons, Jupiter is overexposed and just a big bright dot with no details.

You can try to stack both kinds of photos, but the result isn't optimal.
To show the Jupiter system, most photographers just photoshop a good Jupiter image into the moon image.


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not possible now! but with the next generation of telescopes it might get possible.

at the time the only telescope that could at the moment is this one

[link to www.eso.org]

ask them why they dont do it...

Hi Geo

if the Focal length is less then 2500mm (my SC has 2500) the Moon should fit the camera chip quite well in direct focus.
If it's to small: good 2x/3x barlow - also in direct focus.

If the Moon is to big for the camera chip, make a mosaic. (I hate to say it) but a good program to make a mosaic is Microsofts Image Composite Editor (free).


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It's still possible. It's not a wonderful picture but we can see some moon. I don't have access to other pictures here, it was my very first Jupiter picture (with newton 200/1200, webcam toucam pro2)

[link to img833.imageshack.us]

Hi Isis One

I know the DS2000 series - I just now have one at my home for collimation.

I'm quite busy at the moment, but will come back in some hours to give you some hints regarding the issue.


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Right, gotcha, thanks. I was catching ambient light from our moon, which may have effected matters. Yet still, how can I magnify my lens to crop in closer, without software? (How can I hack it!)

-VOD- that is great! Pretty cool.

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Hi 2012Portal

there is only few you can do to get a bigger image.
You can put a 2x teleconverter between camera and objectiv (not the ones you screw to the front of the objectiv) - this would double the focal length and the object size.

If you want more, you need a tracking telescope.

You also can try to increase the quality of your images/videos:
Set the focus to manual - the autofocus dont work properly with small celestial bodies.
Play around with the exposure time (the ISO settings for videos) - should be possible to catch the bands of Jupiter.

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Nice catch.


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Hi Isis One

if your scope is 16" you either own the DS-2114S or DS-2130S. It's a so called "Short Tube".
Mirror 114mm or 130mm, focal length 1000mm.

Actually the focal lenght of the mirror is about 500mm and is doubled by a barlow element in the focusser.
These kind of scopes have some flaws: Because of the barlow-lens some chromatic aberation (colored borders around bright objects) and (because of the spherical mirror they use) at the margins in the eyepiece image some spherical aberation (distorted stars). For the diameter/focal length ratio the manufacturer should use parabolic mirrors, but spherical mirrors are cheaper.

The two eyepieces (25mm and 9mm) give you a magnification of 40x and 111x. At least the 25mm should produce a quite good image. If not make this test:

Point the scope to a bright star, center it in the eyepiece and keep it centered.
De-focus until the now blurred star fills 1/3 of the eyepiece image.
Is the shadow of the secondary mirror (the black dot within the blurred star) exact in the middle of the blurred star?
If not, you have to collimate the mirrors of your scope. The instructions should be in the manual or the CD. If it isn't, PM me - I'll try to find the instructions for you.

I assume you also have the Autostar.
It works best, when you exact level the tripod (bubble level), level the tube and point it to north.
The better you do it, the better the Autostar works.
Use the "Two star alignment" with stars you know (If it gives you a star you don't know, you can skip it)

If you have more questions, please PM me ( won't derail the thread).


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