First Planetary Images from Bresser Full HD Deep-Sky CameraLast year in the Black Friday sales I bought a Bresser Full HD Deep Sky Camera. A year later I thought it was about time to try it out!
The bresser deep sky camera is a multi-purpose camera which can be used as an astrophoto colour camera or as an autoguider for high accurate tracking. It features a Sony IMX290 CMOS colour sensor for planet and deep-sky imaging as well as an ST4 autoguider function allowing it to be connected to the mount and used for autoguiding.
The camera connects via an old style USB connector and was recognized by Windows 10. The supplied software, ToupSky Astro Imaging, was easily able to detect the camera and display the video stream, I was able to get some captures with it quite quickly. I also tried SharpCap but wasn't able to get it to detect the camera.
These images were taken as 20s videos using the Bresser Full HD Deep-Sky Camera connected to my Skywatcher SkyMax 90 via a 2x barlow. The telescope was mounted on a HEQ5 SynScan with a rough polar align and 3 star alignment. I think the problem with Saturn being a little fuzzy was due to the dew heater battery running out which I didn't realise at the time. It was the last of my targets so the lens probably had some misting. Also the mount had frost on it!
For my first serious attempt at planetary imaging I don't think these results are too bad at all, I'm quite pleased with them. Obviously I need to read the documentation on the Toupsky to get the best settings, and I think a 3x barlow might give a better magnification. I don't want to go any higher than that since barlow also magnifies atmospheric disturbances.
I also had a go at M31 - The Andromeda Galaxy - from Bathgate, however the light pollution is so bad here I lost most of the details. This is a composite of 100, 10 second exposures stacked with Deep Sky Stacker. Next time I'll try and work out how to get my light pollution filer on my camera lens.
