The limit with most webcams is the 640x480 resolution (many claim higher but use interpolation!). For the 2006 (partial)
eclipse we needed to relay live images in colour to a large audience
of local school children in the Bolton Technical Innovation Centre.
The SAC4 has 1280x1024 resolution so this fitted the bill - we could fill the whole screen
if we could figure a way of getting the image to the lecture theatre.
SAC4 set up for the partial eclipse 2006
The SAC4 was connected (through a window) to the nearest PC to the telescope (actually in reception!). In the lecture theatre upstairs the PC driving the high res projector connected to the PC in reception using VNC software over the network.
The Ultra VNC software sounds complicated but isn't that difficult to get working. The system worked and many school children were able to watch the partial exlipse live.
The partial eclipse on the PC controlling the SAC4 in reception
The SAC4 comes with two software packages although one , AstroVideo, is only a 28 day trial version - bit of a cheat really. However the other, FcCAM, has no such limitations. It is also the only way to drive the camera in hi-res mode ie 1280x1024 either for live image display or taking single frames. This is what we used on the controlling computer which acted as the VNC server. The computer in the lecture theatre was a client just viewing what was on the server's screen.
The partial eclipse in the lecture theatre - why do kids always want to go to the toilet?
The camera has since been used to take a few still images of the sun. This was the first!
Coronado and SAC4
