Handicap accessible astronomy (cameras?)

[patm]

I initially had the idea of modifying a dob mount to incorporate an adjustable chair so my girlfried (who has cerebral palsey which gives here only minimal use of her legs) can actually use a dob. I'd be adding handwheels to rotate and elevate the tube since she can't really push herself around (and I want the handwheels anyway to make pointing/tracking easier for myself).

However, while looking up imaging I realized I could use a video camera hooked up to a laptop to let the girlfriend see everything and do astro imaging at the same time. Problem is I've no experience with video from telescope so I don't know what might meet our needs.

I'd like to get something ready-made for telescopes (EP adapter, UV filter etc) that would show (at least) the same thing on a laptop screen as I'd see looking through an eyepiece. At best I'd like it to be more light sensitive than the human eye and give an (apparent) aperature boost (I can dream can't I?). It'd be great if it could view the brighter DSOs as well.

I'd also like to be able to capture video and process via registax or other image processing software to make decent images.

Being my first foray into this I'm only looking at the lower end (few hundred bux) and I've read up on the Meade LPI, Celestron NexImage, and Orion Starshoot color imager III. The LPI looks too limited and I can't tell if the NexImage or Starshoot III would be better (CCD vs CMOS).

Any thoughts on this?

Also, does anyone know of a bluetooth adapter than I could use instead of a long USB cable that we're likely to trip over in the dark?

[Canon Pete]

CCD would be more expensive than a CMOS chip . That said the CCD would give the better results. Whatever camera you decide on I would not expect you to see DSO the way you see them on astro sights, those pictures are usually stacked images of many many ( in the hundreds ) of single frames from .avi files.

As for the BT adapter , sorry I cant advise.

Kudos to you for wanting to share, not enough of guys like you in the world.

[patm]

Oh yeah, I don't expect those uber clear photos etc. I'm shooting for seeing (at least) the same thing on the screen as you'd see in the eyepiece. If it can boost light levels a bit to brighten up the fuzzy and boiling DSOs, I'd be quite happy 8)

[Canon Pete]

The software capture you would get with the camera will have a few sliders that you can adjust to aid in the visual . I imagine you would be dealing more with the brightness and contrast of the image on the screen. So in theory it is possible to achieve .

[patm]

I have my solution though not the way I first imagined.

I was at Vancouver Telescope today looking at the NexImage and saw they had an ETX-LS on the floor. Had a good look at it and realized it is VERY solidly built, moves with with snap and authority (has metal gears), no discernible backlash (no stars to view but manual slewing gave no backlash-pause at low slew rates).

So of course I plunked down the cash and have the scope and cloudy skies for at least two day lol!

[patm]

Oh I forgot the solution:

It has a built in imager/guider camera that shows more than the NexImage and even has a media mode that overlays text and graphics with information about what is being viewed. Its not a Malincam by any means but It'll keep the girlfriend enthralled until I manage to sell my first born child.

[WWPierre]

Hey Pat, looks like a stretch of good weather on the way. Maybe you could make it up the Sea-to Sky next weekend. I'd like to get a look through your big dob.

[patm]

Well the ETX-LS camera doesn't look through the scope, it has its own optics and does a fixed wide field only. I also can't seem to find a way to display its video or images on a laptop over USB with the supplied software.

It does have an SD card slot where it will save images and also video and audio out ports where it displays not only CCD video but also telescope interface commands, multimedia information about what is being viewed and a mySky looking skymap interface screen. The video out has a "red screen" option for night vision preservation as well.

So, I'm still going to have to research the web/video camera route in order to provide easy telescope viewing but now the Girlfriend can learn all about what she's looking at without relying on my non-existent expertise 8)

On bonus with the LS is the Catadioptics have the least variation in eyepiece height from level to vertical and this ETX has a for real diagonal that allows her to move the eyepiece to where she can reach instead of her having to do contortions to reach.