MallinCam has released a new kit - it is a great beginner's kit for video astronomy at an excellent price ($240)!

I have been saying the micro is a really good camera for getting into video astronomy, and now it is even easier by providing everything in this kit you need to get started.

If you want to connect it to your computer so you can control it remotely, you can add the RS 485 cable assembly (49.99).  All of the micro cameras are compatible with my MallinCam Micro Extended Control (MMEC) software which is available for free on my download page. It makes using the Micro even easier through the use of presets and extended controls.  Here is a link to my post about how to use the Micro remotely.

http://remotevideoastronomy.com/1/post/2014/12/-portable-remote-video-astronomy-setup.html

I wish this had been available when I began Video Astronomy.  This is a great kit!  Here is the MallinCam link for more information about the kit.


http://www.mallincam.net/micro-series.html

As I indicated in my previous post on 9/30/2015, I had a great time at ECVAR in VA this year.  While there, I rediscovered how great it was to “view” deep sky objects with my Mallincam X2 deluxe camera. MallinCam has a newer analog video camera called the XTerminator, and offers upgrades to some of the MallinCam cameras to have their electronics and other components upgraded to features similar to the XTerminator, including a sealed sensor chamber.  So I sent my X2 in for an upgrade, and decided to include upgrading the sensor to the EXview HAD.  It was upgraded and returned to me quickly (about 3 weeks, including shipping to and from Canada!).  I was very fortunate to get a special upgrade to the ICX828 EXview HAD II sensor and electronics (which is the same sensor used in the XTerminator).  So my upgraded camera is now called an XT-828, and essentially functions the same as the XTerminator camera !!

As soon as the weather cleared, I used the XTerminator setting in the MiloSlick MallinCam Control software to try out my newly upgraded camera.  The moon was half full and I live near a city, so I was eager to see how it did under these conditions. Here is an image of the Orion Nebula at 3 sec using a Celestron 8” and the MFR-5 reducer with a Lumicon Deep Sky Filter - this is at about F/5. AGC is set to off! The only thing I adjusted was Miloslick's real time histogram settings.  This is a live screen capture with no post processing of the screen that updates every 3 seconds.

Here is the Ring Nebula using 10 seconds.

And this is an image capture of the Bode Nebula.

This chip is definitely more sensitive than my prior one.  I covered the end of the telescope and used Miloslick to check for hot pixels - there were none!  (I had cooling set to -5c).


I also really like having the sealed chamber that is filled with High Grade Industrial/Medical Grade Argon.  Here is an image showing the glass in front of the sensor in the new sealed chamber .

 
This sealed chamber has already been helpful.  One time after I changed reducers on the XT-828 and was refocusing, I noticed an odd object in the out of focus image. 

 
A particle had dropped into the XT-828 while changing out reducers.  Since the chamber was sealed, the particle was resting on the chamber glass - not the sensor itself.  All I had to do is remove the reducer, use a bulb to blow the particle off, reattach the reducer and finish focusing.  In addition to keeping the sensor dust free, the sealed chamber also protects from dew and moisture forming on the sensor.  Since the sealed chamber comes somewhat close to the camera opening, I use a 5mm spacer between the camera and reducer to make sure the reducer does not come into contact with the glass chamber when screwing it in.
 

There is also a switch on the back of the camera that can turn on an Amp Glow Reduction (AGR) circuit to help reduce amp glow. This is especially useful when viewing the video output of the camera directly on a monitor when you need to reduce the background glow.  If you are using a computer and the MiloSlick software, you can leave the AGR circuit off which keeps the sensor sensitivity at maximum and just use the real time MiloSlick histogram and/or dark frame feature to reduce the background glow.  To turn the AGR on, slide the switch on the back to the right.  Since I use a computer most of the time I leave it to the left so AGR is off.

The MallinCam HCHP, VSS, Xtreme and X2 cameras can all be upgraded.  Here is a link describing what is included in the upgrade.

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/mallincam/conversations/messages/61601

My X2 did not need the copper cooling upgrade since it already has that feature. I already had the cooling fans as well. You may not need to use cooling fans if you run the camera at -5C and the outside temperature is below 80F.  If you want to use the -20C setting or the temperature is above 80F you will need the fans.

The camera draws more power than the X2 did so I also purchased the New 5 Amps Fully Regulated Switching power supply with 5 outputs and the 25 foot MALLINCAM 75 Ohms 100% Shielded Video Cable with 18 Gauge DC wire.


Over the next several days I continued to work with various settings and focal reducers.  For these I added the Celestron f/6.3 Focal Reducer & Corrector to the back of my Celestron C8.

Here is another image of the Orion Nebula using the combination of the Celestron f/6.3 Reducer and the B portion (the part nearest the camera) of the MFR-5 screwed into the 5mm spacer on the XT-828. I have Advanced Pixel Control set to zero (Horiz & Vert) and video capture device sharpness set to zero to produce better star images. This is a 10 second exposure.
 

On a different note, I have a SkyRaider AGc on my 50mm finder scope, and one night I decided to capture its much wider field of view of the Orion Nebula using a 10 second exposure.
 

Just below the Orion Nebula in this image you can see several geosynchronous satellites that appear as short horizontal lines due to the 10 second image capture.  The satellites are fixed in position above the earth, but appear as lines because the mount is tracking the earth's movement.

Now back to some more XT-828 images.

Here is the Crab Nebula at 20 seconds and gamma of 0.45.  I did use MiloSlick’s Histogram real time adjustment and Dark Frame features, but no stacking.
 

Here is the Flame Nebula using similar settings.  (Unfortunately I picked up a slight circular reflection in the image).
 

And I could even see the Horsehead Nebula using just 20 seconds  … with Gain = 0, AGR off,  no stacking, Miloslick real time histogram adjustments and using only the Lumicon Deep Sky Filter (I plan on trying an H-Beta filter sometime).
 

And all this from my backyard, near a city, in a neighborhood with street lights (and Christmas lights)!

I have to say a note of thanks to MallinCam for making a great product to begin with (the X2), and then being willing to provide upgrades that make it even better!!!