Celestron 102mm Wide View Astrophotography
- Clifford60
- Posts: 1289
- Joined: Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:41 pm
- Location: Central
Hi ML, Cliff
Actually, the camera also plays a part in achieving a sharper focus.....the D2X's viewfinder is slightly larger than the D200, hence it is easier to focus.
Furthermore, this time round, I didn't set the mirror lockup. Just set it to a higher shutter speed, prop it up against my window sill and fired off the shots. No tripod at all because the moon was relatively bright.
Guess this method works better than mounting it on my travel tripod.
May consider getting the webcam (ToUcam) just for fun....But after one week of using the Celestron 102mm, I feel I should have got the Celestron C130 or C5 instead.
The 500mm is simply not adequate for my needs. Since this is my first scope, I didn't want to splurge on the C130 or the C5 yet. But now that I've got my feet wet.....hehe...will probably grab one during my next trip to US.
Actually, the camera also plays a part in achieving a sharper focus.....the D2X's viewfinder is slightly larger than the D200, hence it is easier to focus.
Furthermore, this time round, I didn't set the mirror lockup. Just set it to a higher shutter speed, prop it up against my window sill and fired off the shots. No tripod at all because the moon was relatively bright.

Guess this method works better than mounting it on my travel tripod.
May consider getting the webcam (ToUcam) just for fun....But after one week of using the Celestron 102mm, I feel I should have got the Celestron C130 or C5 instead.

The 500mm is simply not adequate for my needs. Since this is my first scope, I didn't want to splurge on the C130 or the C5 yet. But now that I've got my feet wet.....hehe...will probably grab one during my next trip to US.
- Clifford60
- Posts: 1289
- Joined: Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:41 pm
- Location: Central
Kayheem is thinking of selling his C8, maybe instead of grabbing another one half way around the globe, just get from him at a lower price. Then, you sell off your 102mm to the newbie.
http://www.singastro.org/viewtopic.php?t=5022
http://www.singastro.org/viewtopic.php?t=5022
Hi Cliff.....
Sell it to a newbie ? But I'm a newbie too....Only 7 days old :-D.
Got any newbie younger than me or not :-)
Anyway, I'm may take your advice and get the C8 one of these days.
But not now....especially when the poor wife spent 28 hours lugging my scope from Ohio to Chicago to LA to SG. She'll scream her head off after lugging it for so long and I sell it off within a week :-) hahaha......
That will probably end my hobby really quick :-D
Sell it to a newbie ? But I'm a newbie too....Only 7 days old :-D.
Got any newbie younger than me or not :-)
Anyway, I'm may take your advice and get the C8 one of these days.
But not now....especially when the poor wife spent 28 hours lugging my scope from Ohio to Chicago to LA to SG. She'll scream her head off after lugging it for so long and I sell it off within a week :-) hahaha......
That will probably end my hobby really quick :-D
Try the webcam imaging first before you decide to change your setup, webcam and refractor is a good combination for imaging moon and planet.
If your scope cap have another smaller cap, remove the smaller cap and put onto your scope, you reduce the opening of your scope so you get lesser light. It helps when you are imaging the full moon.
If your scope cap have another smaller cap, remove the smaller cap and put onto your scope, you reduce the opening of your scope so you get lesser light. It helps when you are imaging the full moon.
Thanks for the tip guys....currently experimenting with my Panasonic TZ3 and Logitech Webcam. But will have to fabricate a backet to mount the cam onto the scope first.
Took a photo of the moon last night at and saw these ridges in the shadows. Although it doesn't look as good as viewed through the scope, these three ridges are lighted up very brightly even though this half of the moon should be in shadows. This clearly indicates that these three mountains (or craters) are very high.

Took a photo of the moon last night at and saw these ridges in the shadows. Although it doesn't look as good as viewed through the scope, these three ridges are lighted up very brightly even though this half of the moon should be in shadows. This clearly indicates that these three mountains (or craters) are very high.

- Clifford60
- Posts: 1289
- Joined: Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:41 pm
- Location: Central