Specific Analysis of Web Camera and High Resolution Planetary Imaging

Abstract

Web camera is usually used for video communication between PC, it has small sensing area, cannot using long exposure application, so that is insufficient for astronomical application. But web camera is suitable for bright planet, moon, it doesn't need long exposure time. So many amateur astronomer using web camera for planetary imaging. We used ToUcam manufactured by Phillips for planetary imaging and Registax commercial program for a video file combining. And then, we are measure a property of web camera, such as linearity, gain that is usually using for analysis of CCD performance. Because of using combine technic selected high quality image from video frame, this method can take higher resolution planetary imaging than one shot image by film, digital camera and CCD. We describe a planetary observing method and a video frame combine method.

Keywords

• web camera
• ccd
• image processing
• planet