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How to Use Security Cam for Telescope Viewing

Attaching a security camera to the eyepiece draw tube on most telescopes will enhance viewing by allowing the telescope/camera unit to present images on a video monitor or capture them on a video storage device. If stored on a recording device, the recorded images are available for future viewing and sharing. In some cases, a security camera may provide greater light-gathering capabilities than the human eye, making faint objects more visible when viewed on a TV screen.

Things You'll Need

Telescope
Security camera
Camera-to-telescope adapter ring

Instructions

- 1
  Determine the size of the camera lens (usually a number found on the inside ring of the lens that looks something like this: 39mm, 46mm, 52mm). Determine the telescope draw tube diameter. This will be 1.25 inches or 2 inches.
- 2
  Purchase a camera-to-telescope adapter ring that matches the lens size and telescope draw tube diameter. Attach the adapter ring to the camera and ensure a snug fit with no wobble or play.
- 3
  Slide the adapter with the security camera attached into the telescope draw tube and tighten the restraining screws to hold the camera and adapter in place. Attach the power cable to the camera and connect the live feed cables from the camera to a TV monitor.
- 4
  Align the telescope with an object that you wish to observe. Turn on the camera and TV monitor. The object that you wish to view will be out of focus in most cases so make minor adjustments to the focusing tube until a clear, sharp image is visible on the TV monitor.
- 5
  Make focus adjustments as you move the telescope to track the object you are viewing or as temperature changes occur. Small temperature changes will affect the metal in the focusing tube, pushing the viewed object out of focus, so constant attention will be needed in most cases.

Astronomy