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Introduction to Webcam Astrophotography

Webcams equipped with charged coupled device (CCD) chips are capable of imaging bright astronomical objects when used with a telescope. You can transform a CCD-based Webcam into a powerful camera for photographing the moon and planets.

Modification
- You must modify a Webcam before you can use it for astrophotography. Remove the Webcam's lens and replace it with a 1.25-inch telescope adapter. This modification lets you insert the Webcam into a telescope's focuser and use the telescope as a lens for the CCD chip. Keep in mind, disassembling the Webcam voids the manufacturer's warranty.
Software
- For best results, use the Webcam with video recording software to capture hundreds of frames of the astronomical target. Use a freeware frame-stacking program such as Registax, K3CCDTools or PixInsight to layer the individual frames to simulate long exposure photography. Stacking the individual images reveals details otherwise unseen in a single frame.
Considerations
- Webcams feature either a CCD or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip for capturing video and still images. Only Webcams equipped with a CCD chip are capable of astrophotography. CMOS-based webcams are not sensitive enough to capture the details of distant celestial objects.

Astronomy