Moon flyby - Modified XBox camera and Skywatcher Explorer 150P EQ3-2

Just a quick blog post tonight and one that has NOTHING to do with US politics (cue whoops of delight from every reader – all four of you).

The other night I set up my telescope with a webcam attached and got a few photos.

I was quite surprised that a pic I put on Facebook got a few likes so I thought I’d write a post about how I did it (pics and video at the end if you want to miss the next few paragraphs).

The photos were taken with an Xbox webcam that I adapted to fit into the telescope viewfinder.

To do this I just copied some advice from another blog (see http://astrobeano.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/xbox-360-webcam-for-astrophotography.html).

In essence you open it up and remove the LEDs and lens before sticking on a tube to help the camera focus.

Below is a pic of my DIY – not brilliant but it got the job done!!

Next up, hook up the camera to the ‘scope (mine is a Skywatcher 150P if anyone cares).

Here is my set up, which was messed around slightly by a road light in my back yard.

Next all I did was point it at the Moon and get some pics and a video. Have a look below and enjoy!!  

Four seas - from top Mare Seranatis, Mare Tranquilum (home to the Apollo 11 landing site) and the top of Mare Nectaris, to the right is Mare Crisium

Two craters - Kepler and Copernicus, named after two great astronomers. Kepler is 110 million years old, Copernicus about 800 million years old. 

Crater at the 'bottom' of the Moon called Tycho - named after another astronomer, this crater is around 108 million years old.

Finally a video for your enjoyment. It is a minute long and pretty boring but I'm really pleased with it. The telescope is stationary as the Moon passes the lens.