(meteorobs) Geminids from Greece

[stange]

Hi J.D.,

I looked for the CB803 on the GKB website but could not find that model 
specifically. Apparently it is an older discontinued model as you have said.

You should test that camera before buying a video capture card if you have 
not tested it yet. That can be done by connecting the (BNC) connector on the 
camera to either a VCR "video in" port(round shape connector) or a TV video 
input port(also round), using a common audio-video cable from a VCR. You 
will probably need an adapter for the BNC connector to mate with the video 
connector and cable. If you get a good picture everything is OK. Be sure and 
test it at night too on the brighter stars.

Machine vision cameras usually have 1/2" CCD's so your camera is not likely 
one of those. Machine vision cameras have poor night sensitivity and usually 
fail to detect most meteors.

Some cameras have a composite "PAL" signal output(Europe). Others are NTSC 
(U.S. et.al.,). The capture card & software need to be able to select and 
operate on whichever composite signal system your CB803 camera operates on. 
The computer can handle either card system.

I had mentioned a mirror system only because to achieve (full) all-sky 
coverage with a 1/3" CCD it would be necessary to consider that. An all-sky 
lens on your camera will have a rectangular image which cuts off a goodly 
portion of the sky view either top and bottom or left and right depending on 
your rotation. You can see that effect on Chris's images. It is not serious, 
just a small nuisance deciding which part of the sky is most important to 
you.

YCSentinel