Re: [ATM] webcam and foucault test?

[Mike Lockwood <melockwo@uiuc.edu>]

Rob,

Robert OToole wrote:
> I am thinking of resurrecting my knife edge foucault tester to do
> some mirrors and would like to simplify my life a bit. It was
> originally made like Richard Berry's version, with a small
> telescope behind the knife edge. I've heard of folks, instead,
> using a webcam behind the knife egde and viewing the shadow
> patterns on a PC screen. Do folks have any advice as to what type
> webcam to use? other advice?

Here are some of my thoughts on the subject:
   http://astro.umsystem.edu/atm/ARCHIVES/FEB06/msg00212.html

Summary - I much prefer viewing with a small telescope (say 3x).

However, don't let me discourage you if you want to play with the 
camera - but don't RELY on its readings to be correct until you've 
calibrated everything and you KNOW it agrees with what you see visually.

You might also search the archives for some more ideas - if you just 
search for "webcam" lots of stuff comes up.

	Mike Lockwood

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