Moon this evening

Hiya,

I have taken a photo of the moon with the telescope. This time, I think it is in focus unlike before. It was just before the clouds rolled in just 5 minutes after taking this photo. The sun hadn't even set yet.

naddieuk wrote in post #17493036
Hiya,

I have taken a photo of the moon with the telescope. This time, I think it is in focus unlike before. It was just before the clouds rolled in just 5 minutes after taking this photo. The sun hadn't even set yet.


I used a Skywatcher 150p and a Canon 350D. I noticed afterwards that there was quite a lot of dirt on the sensor.

Hi naddieuk,

still looks quite soft, but a great effort. keep working on the focussing it can be really tricky to get right
some shots I nail it, others I thought it should have been right were really soft

were you using prime focus mode ( no scope eyepiece and no camera lens) or
eyepiece projection (with scope eyepiece and with camera lens) ?

cheers
Dave

The camera is attached to the telescope directly. I am using the viewfinder to try and get the focus exact. Also, I noticed there was a lot of dust on the sensor which I will have to clean again. I do have a Barlow attached. Would that make a difference?

The dust of your sensor, is absolutely not to be blamed here.

Its either that your critical focus is still to work finer and better or your telescopes optics are slightly off alignment and may need a collimation.

Yes the Barlow does make a significant distortion but in some occasions, especially with a Newtonian , Dobsonian glasses, sometimes you have no other way to reduce the sensor focal distance but to use the Barlow, irrespective of its added Mag, just to focus to infinity when camera is attached.

naddieuk wrote in post #17493140
I am using the viewfinder to try and get the focus exact…. I do have a Barlow attached. Would that make a difference?

If focusing using the viewfinder be sure to adjust your camera diopter dial for infinity use. Terrestrial viewing will have a different setting. A bright star is a good way to do that. Even a quality barlow will degrade image quality, the only thing that I've used that has little or no effect is a Powermate but they aren't cheap.

Nighthound wrote in post #17495852
If focusing using the viewfinder be sure to adjust your camera diopter dial for infinity use. Terrestrial viewing will have a different setting.

Now that's something I have never heard before
can you explain more please
going to have to try that .... tho I usually use live view for focussing


Dave