Re: ATM Astronomy Club's Choice: Big DOB or CCD?

["dpitou" <dpitou@ix.netcom.com>]

I also tend to agree that a CCD camera would be a good choice. When I'm at
a starparty doing CCD imaging there's usually 5 or 10 people crowded around
the monitor enjoying the images as they come up and helping decide what to
do next. In fact it's easier to get kids involved, since they're very
comfortable with computers, they tend to prefer looking at the screen to
looking through the eyepiece. After about 2 minutes of instruction you can
get help with focusing, starting images while you guide, etc., and it's
great fun for them.

Dave


> 
> A CCD camera could be used to advantage by the whole club as a project.
> There seems to be a lot of interest in NEA (Near Earth Asteroids) at the
> present time, thanks in part to a few recent movies and a NEA that 
> started it all. A club project of monitoring a few areas of the sky for
> changes would be doable and could include ALL members of the club.
> 
> Some would be deciding what area (areas) to watch, others to do the CCD
> imaging, others to do the image processing while still others could be
> involved in comparing the CCD pictures either thru manual or computer
> comparison routines. Just think, your group may find a new comet, or the
> asteroid with our name on it.
> 
> Indeed one person could HOG a CCD equipped scope but it doesn't have to
> end up that way, with a little creative thinking EVERYONE could be
involved.