Astronomy

66 ASTRONOMY • MAY 2018

Lots of accessories make the RunCam Night Eagle an easy match

for any telescope or camera lens. by Richard P. Wilds

n inexpensive new video cam-
era has come onto the scene.
RunCam Technology Co.,
in partnership with the
International Occultation Timing
Association (IOTA), has adapted one of its
sensitive “quadcopter FPV” video cameras
for use by amateur astronomers.
The monochrome RunCam Night
Eagle 2 Astro Edition has a sensitivity of
0.00001 lux and supports the 640x480
NTSC and 720x576 PAL formats. Using
CMOS technology, its sensor can detect
faint stellar targets even through small
portable telescopes.

IOTA’s input
IOTA has assisted RunCam to produce an
incredible video camera at an affordable
price. Enhancements made specifically
to aid in the observation of occultations
include internally controlled integrations
of two, four, and eight exposures (pro-
viding images of stars across the field of
view well into the double-digit magnitude
range); improved gain controls for faint
objects (which now include settings from
1 to 9); and brightness controls for bright
objects (which now include settings from

8 to 250). This gives the user maximum

control over video exposures.

An added bonus for star party users is

that RunCam includes a digital zoom so

others can get a close-up view of objects on

the video screen.

Of course, your field of view through

different optical configurations will vary.

When using the 0.5 Knight Owl Focal

Reducer without the zoom, a 12-inch f/5

Newtonian ref lector produces a field 0.5°

wide, or equal to the width of the Full

Moon. A 4.8-inch f/5 refractor gives a field

twice as wide, a full 1°. And wider (even

much wider) fields are possible through

camera lenses of various focal lengths.

Because of the camera’s sensitivity,

bright planets can saturate the sensor when

using the Knight Owl 0.5 Focal Reducer.

However, I am confident that those inter-

ested in planetary photography will find

little difficulty in replacing the Knight Owl

Focal Reducer with a quality Barlow lens to

A

CAPTURE VIDEO

with this low-cost camera

Above and right: The individual parts and the

assembled view for the RunCam Night Eagle 2

Astro Edition are shown in a configuration typical

for refractors with 2-inch or larger apertures, and

all Newtonian reflectors. RICHARD P. WILDS

Strain relief Camera

12m m to

C-mount adapter

5mm C-mount

spacers (2)

C-mount to 1^1 ⁄ 4 " adapter

(^1 ⁄ 2 " barrel length)

Knight Owl 0.5X Focal

Reducer or equivalent

Optional 1^1 ⁄ 4 "

extender ring