How to find Saturn with a webcam

When using your telescope to take pictures of planets you typically have a very small field of view. This makes it rather tricky to get the telescope pointing at the planet. Even if you have the telescope pointed directly at the planet it might not show up on your computer screen if you are not sufficiently focused.

Link to my website on planetary imaging:
planetaryimagingtutorials.com/

In this video I alert iCap users that the default codec is defective and how to switch to a preferred uncompressed codec. The default codec will cause your 640x480 image to be stretched to 720x480 and your planets won't be round.

I show how to get your telescope/webcam close to being in focus before you find Saturn, which is necessary to find Saturn.

1) In the daytime point your telescope at something far away, perhaps some trees. Use the eyepiece that you will be using to find Saturn. Ideally it would have cross-hairs or have a small field of view (i.e. high power). Below are links to where you can get eyepieces with cross-hair reticles. Focus your telescope using that eyepiece.

2) Swap the eyepiece for the webcam. You will probably have to turn the focus knob to get the trees to be in focus on the computer screen. If so then take note of how much (and which way) you need to turn the focus knob. For example, it might be a half turn - to the left.

3) At night you just repeat the same steps. Point the telescope at Saturn using the same exact eyepiece. Center Saturn in the eyepiece and focus. Then turn the focus knob the amount determined previously (for example, a half turn - to the left) and swap the eyepiece for the webcam.

4) In your camera's control software select the largest pixel size, adjust the viewing window so you can see everything without having to use scroll bars, set the gain to maximum, set the shutter speed to 1/5 second. Hopefully you now see Saturn.

5) Move your telescope so that Saturn is centered in the window. Switch to 640x480 and adjust your view window. Set your gain and shutter speed to something more reasonable. Focus and make your movie.

To make this video I used the NexStar 5SE telescope to make a short video of Saturn. The final image at the end of this video was made using the same processing techniques I describe in my other two videos.

Eyepieces with crosshair reticles:

non-illuminated
agenaastro.com/antares-27mm-kellner-eyepiece-fo…

illuminated
telescope.com/catalog/search.cmd?form_state=sea…

Black 9x50 Right-Angle Correct-Image Finder
telescope.com/Accessories/Telescope-Finder-Scop…