How to view and photograph the heavens using a
CCD TV camera and telescope all for less than $500!
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As you can see from  the  photos  on  this  site  this  can  be  a  very
interesting  hobby.   (The  arrangement described here will require some
modification of a CCD TV camera.)                                       


Equipment List:					(prices as of 11/00)
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Celestron Classic Newtonian Reflector Telescope (.965" eye piece)
	Telescope & Binocular Center www.oriontel.com		<$200

OR

Meade reflector telescope with computerized StarFinder		<$250
Available at COSCO or SAM's Club
(The savings of this one item covers the cost of membership of either place)

B/W closed circuit surveillance CCD TV camera and monitor with
	video output jack	SAM's Club			<$200

3/4" copper pipe coupling (most hardware stores)		$2


SETUP:
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You will need to open up the TV camera and remove the lens  attaching  a
3/4" copper pipe coupling in its place.  The pipe will be much larger in
diameter and will probably fit around the lens holder.  I  was  able  to
use  the  lens  locking screws on either side of the lens holder to hold
the coupling in place by drilling holes in each side of the pipe.  Epoxy
will  do  if  there  are  no screw holes available to attach the drilled
pipe.  The lens hole in the plastic cover may need  enlarging  to  allow
the  pipe to fit through.  You may be able to epoxy the pipe coupling to
the outside of the plastic case thus all that needs to be  done  to  the
camera  is  the  removal  of  the lens.  To test your system, remove the
telescope's eye piece and place the camera into the  lens  holder.   Aim
the  telescope out of a OPEN window at an object more than 500 feet away
while looking at the TV focus the telescope.  You should be able to  get
a  sharp  clear  picture  of  a  distant  object  on  the TV screen.  In
operation you will be focusing an image on the CCD cell as  if  it  were
film  in  a  camera.   To add more strength you can use a Barlow lens in
front of the CCD camera.                                                

To capture the pictures you see on the TV use a VCR or a  Snappy  and  a
computer.  You can print them through the computer.                     


Optional Equipment:
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	Telescope with a Polar Mount				$250

	The Polar Mount WITH THIS MOTOR tracks the sky as	 $99 
	the earth turns thus will show an  object without            
	continious adjustment to keep the object  in  the            
	center of the screen.                                        

>> The COSCO or Sam's Club telescopes come with the ability to track
>> using the StarFinder hand held computer - nothing else is needed.

	VCR							$150

	Snappy TV to Computer Interface	(PriceCosco)		$79 

	Computer (IBM compatible)				$700+

	Printer							$150