Webcams and Astronomy
Webcams have found a niche in recent years as an inexpensive way of doing videoconferencing. For a dedicated group of amateur astronomers, however, webcams are an inexpensive way to perform digital astrophotography. Through some patient hacking of both webcam hardware and software, groups like the QuickCam and Unconventional Imaging Astronomy Group (QCUIAG) have managed to turn these cheap cameras into respectable camera for taking images of the night sky at the fraction of the cost of more professional equipment. QCUIAG held its second symposium in England last month and, as Sky and Telescope magazine reports, the field has now grown large enough that a niche industry of webcam conversions has developed, with companies like Perseu developing ready-to-use astrophotography cameras based on ordinary webcams.
Keep Reading
Most Popular
Large language models can do jaw-dropping things. But nobody knows exactly why.
And that's a problem. Figuring it out is one of the biggest scientific puzzles of our time and a crucial step towards controlling more powerful future models.
How scientists traced a mysterious covid case back to six toilets
When wastewater surveillance turns into a hunt for a single infected individual, the ethics get tricky.
The problem with plug-in hybrids? Their drivers.
Plug-in hybrids are often sold as a transition to EVs, but new data from Europe shows we’re still underestimating the emissions they produce.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.