Is there a telescope that you can view with your computer?

Question

A couple of years ago my husband said he heard about a telescope that comes with software you can load on your computer where you can leave your telescope set up outside and see the view from your home PC indoors. Does such a thing really exist or did I misunderstand him? I'd love to get him a telescope for Christmas this year. I don't want to buy him something amatuer and lame.

Answer 1

Hey great question!
There are several approaches to a solution. I think a practical solution is best. That means skipping the solution that just puts a video camera on the telescope and lets you feed it into the PC.
After you have got it all set up and can see a few stars and things, then what? He will tire of just looking at things and will want to either give it up or do more with what he can see. A simple set up will not be able to do much.

What about getting a set up that will let him use a video recorder as the camera? Then when he has had fun with the astronomy, he can use the video recorder for other things as well? If he wants to make home videos of his astronomy activities he can do that too. The Video camera will output to many computer systems.

The first link is a site that makes a simple attachment which connects a video camera to common telescope eyepieces. [1}

You can check to see if it matches the video camera you now use if you have one, or check to be sure it will work with one that you buy.

The telescope is by far the bigger deal than the camera. Most 'beginner' scopes will not provide the power nor the pointing accuracy that is needed for any kind of astronomical photography, including video. There are special purpose image capturing devices that take the long exposures needed for many of the most beautiful space objects. I doubt that any video will be able to see those objects...

Another solution, and the one I have gone with, since the sky here is often too hazy for using a telescope, is a virtual observatory. You can download 'Starry Night Digital Download' and enjoy really cool views of astronomy right on your PC. They update the application every time you use it with the newest comets and astronomy discoveries. They use real photos as well as artwork. Check Starry Night! [2]

Starry Night will give you a ten day free trial. [3]

;-D Astronomy is an interesting and expensive hobby. If you really want to get involved, start off with just the eyepiece connector! No telescope, no camera, and let your husband get the stuff he really wants after your surprise encouragement. It won't be cheap!

Answer 2

Yes, these setups exist, as the others have said. What you are looking for is a telescope with an advanced GoTo navigation system and video adapter and/or CCD camera. You will also need a computerized focuser if you really want to do this from the comfort of your family computer.

If you used just a video adapter you'll get a live image but I can't say how impressive it will be. If you use a CCD camera you'll get time exposed images in the end, which are what you see on posters and in magazines. These can be of excellent quality.

This is going to cost some money. If you have some knowledge about telescopes you may be able to get the cost down by buying used but a lot of people find navigating a computerized telescope the first time complicated,and tech support can be a big help so here's where that few extra hundred dollars you spend buying new is really worth it.

You are looking at either a Celestron or Meade, I'd probably get one of the Schmidt Cassegrain models with at least 8" of aperture and nothing smaller. These telescopes cost at least $1500 new. Some of them come with software bundles and can be hooked up to a computer. You can buy the CCD camera from either company or you can buy one from another reputable company such as SBIG...or you can buy one used. If you want all the bells and whistles, you are looking to spend between $2000 and $3000 if you buy new and anywhere from $700-$1500 if you buy a used Schmidt Cassegrain with anywhere from 8"-10" in aperture.

Of course you don't have to buy everything at once. You can get an older used Celestron Schmidt Cassegrain that's computerized for around $499 + shipping and get a camera or software, such as Starry Night, Sky Map, or Distant Suns later.

Needless to say, do your research and aquaint yourself with the basic workings and types of telescopes first. Contact your local astronomical society and read reviews on different telescopes on www.astromart.com or www.cloudynights.com. Also pick of a few Sky and Telescope and Astronomy magazines.

Also check out the Meade and Celestron websites.

Answer 3

There are inexpensive electronic eyepieces that are basically video cameras in eyepiece format. They are supposed to be good enough for the Moon and brighter planets. If you plan to buy a telescope, do your homework first and stay away from Wal-Mart, other department stores, or ebay. Orion Telescopes sells decent starter telescopes for the most part. But do some research first.

Answer 4

There are computerized telescopes, see the sources for suppliers, but the setup you describe would require adding a camera, external computer, network connections and software to control the telescope and camera remotely and see the pictures remotely in real time. Advanced amateurs have done it, but I haven't. It isn't simple or cheap.

Answer 5

Woa, dangle on a minute, you want to view planets, galaxies, nebulae, comets, the moon, the solar, and so on. and favor to do a touch astrophotography with it!?. it type of feels particularly glaring to me you have not any journey in using any style of telescope. if you're as you say a intense amatuer, then such issues as a motor rigidity, ideally GPS, and both a equipped-in database of celestial gadgets or an interface with a computer, that you'll be able to truly detect ordinary gadgets without fairly some attempt and time is the incorrect attitude and gonna value you dearly. maximum intense amatuers commence out with the bare eye and a good set of charts to study the sky and progression to binoculars lengthy earlier they purchase a telecope. I recommend that you study the fundementals earlier you spend as a lot as about $4,000 that isn't be adequate in case you want to do Astrophotography as well. the perfect suggestion is to hitch a club the position you could attempt them out and are available to a call it quite is ideal for you, no longer to leap into the deep end quickly earlier you could swim. even with the indisputable fact that, if what you want is to view planets, galaxies, nebulae, the aperture of the scope is maximum major, which will favor to be a minimum of 8-10" this may fit on your funds, yet in case you want to do astrphotography ideal i'd reccomend a good high quality 4''-5" apochromatic refractor which consists of a Takahashi, Astro-Physics or similar high quality make, which will value 3-5k. The mount needs to be almost as good because the telescope, at a fee of about 4-5k and then you would possibly want to favor a guidescope, say a small WO66ED, and evidently a CCD digital camera which will set you again yet another 2-3k. this may favor to be supported through excellent software it quite is likewise intense priced, no longer to teach a computer computer with a minimum of 4GB RAM and a quickly confusing disk. so that you spot your $4k should not be adequate. To do each and every of the pieces you want to do (which consists of each and every of the mandatory upload-ons) will set you again about 10k. If I were you i'd spend a lot extra time on seen paintings first, earlier you commence wondering about astrophotography, that you obviously have not considered in any respect in any element. good luck even with the actuality that, and welcome to the interest.

Answer 6

It would be a telescope with a camera to pick up the image. Sure that is common.

Answer 7

those watchtower articles are incorrectly mistating facts. have them do their homework.