ASTRONOMICAL
IMAGERY WITH THE DIGITAL CAMERA
Nikon COOLPIX950
The Nikon COOLPIX950 digital camera. Principal
features for astronomy: high definition 1600x1200 pixels CCD, uncompressed file
formats (no image degradation), exposure time up to 8 seconds (a very essential
characteristic for astronomy), shutter/aperture priority modes and a fine lens
(3x zoom).
One exposure of 8 second2s integration time (January
3, 2000) around Messier 45 region. The original 1600x1200 image is rescaled
here by a factor 0.5. Settings of the COOLPIX950: focal length of 7 mm (minimal
value of the zoom), uncompressed 1600x1200 (Hi mode), Black&White mode,
shutter-priority mode. Note that hot pixels are not removed in this image. Measured
limit magnitude for a single 8 seconds exposure: 7.0.
Same as the later image, but the focal
length is now of 21 mm (f/4), the max. value for the zoom. Hot pixels are removed
by dark current subtraction and sigma-clipping composite of 4 individual 8-seconds
images (Iris and PaintShop Pro for processing and display).
Enlargement of the last image. The visual
magnitude limit is about 7.8. The COOLPIX950 is fixed on a simple photographic
tripod, so the sideral drift of the stars is evident for a 8-seconds exposure.
Image of the sun (January 3, 2000). Instrumentation:
Meade ETX90 telescope, 25 millimeters ocular and COOLPIX950 (the objective lens
is adjusted for an infinity distance objet).
Click
here for a comparison analysis of the CoolPix 950 and CoolPix 990
Back to the observation
page