Page 3 - Table of Contents
i Table of Contents 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................1 1.1. Road Map of the Documentation ...............................................................................1 1.2. Quick Tour.....................
Page 4 - ii
ii 4.5. Modular Family of CCD Cameras............................................................................26 4.6 Connecting the older model CFW-6 filter wheel to the Camera ..................................30 4.7 Battery Operation ................................................................
Page 5 - Section 1 - Introduction; Introduction
Section 1 - Introduction Page 1 1. Introduction Congratulations and thank you for buying one of Santa Barbara Instrument Group's CCDcameras. The model ST-7E, ST-8E and ST-9E are SBIG's fourth generation CCD cameras andrepresent the state of the art in CCD camera systems with their low noise and adva...
Page 7 - a neutral density filter.
Section 1 - Introduction Page 3 • Load up the other sample images and display them using the photo display mode. • If you find that the display is too dark or bright, try setting Auto Contrast in the display menu or adjust the background and range parameters to achieve the best display. Usually your...
Page 9 - Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras; Introduction to CCD Cameras
Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras Page 5 2. Introduction to CCD Cameras This section introduces new users to CCD (Charge Coupled Device) cameras and theircapabilities and to the field of CCD Astronomy and Electronic Imaging. 2.1. Cameras in General The CCD is very good at the most difficult as...
Page 10 - Output; electronic shutter; Camera Hardware Architecture
Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras Page 6 horizontal register of pixels. This register collects a line at a time and then transports the charge packets in a serial manner to an on-chip amplifier. The final operating step, charge detection, is when individual charge packets are converted to an o...
Page 11 - Host Computer
Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras Page 7 Host Computer Clock Drivers Preamp 16 Bit A/D Micro- controller Tracking CCD Imaging CCD Shutter TE Cooler PC Interface Telescope Interface Desktop Power Supply Parallel Interface Figure 2.2 - CCD System Block Diagram As you can see from Figure 2.2, the...
Page 12 - CCD Special Requirements
Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras Page 8 using passive radiators and a small fan, making the design and operation of the heads simpleand not inconvenienced by requirements for liquid recirculation cooling. The ST-9E includesSBIG's secondary TE/Liquid cooling booster. Since the CCD is cooled be...
Page 13 - rms per read these cameras are unsurpassed in
Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras Page 9 have a single stage TE cooler and a temperature sensing thermistor on the CCD mount tomonitor the temperature. The ST-9E has a supplemental second stage cooling booster withwater cooling as an option (described in section 6.1). The microcontroller contr...
Page 14 - found a technique that works well for us.
Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras Page 10 minute, eliminating the many "hot" pixels one often sees across the image, which are simplypixels with higher dark current than average. 2.4.4. Flat Field Images Another way to compensate for certain unwanted optical effects is to take a "f...
Page 15 - Camera; Guiding
Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras Page 11 (High = 9µ 2 pixels, Medium = 18µ 2 pixels, Low = 27µ 2 pixels). When binning is selected the electronic charge from groups of 2 by 2 or 3x3 pixels is electronically summed in the CCDbefore readout.. This process adds no noise. Binning should be used i...
Page 16 - Electronic Imaging
Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras Page 12 readout noise less. It is handy when no connection to the telescope drive is possible. SBIG isproud to make self-guiding available to the amateur, making those long exposures required bythe small pixel geometry of the ST-7 and ST-8 easy to achieve! 2.5...
Page 17 - Black and White vs. Color
Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras Page 13 purpose is simply to make a record or catalog the image file for easy identification, a dot matrixor laser printer should be fine. Inkjet printers are getting very good, though. 2.6. Black and White vs. Color The first and most obvious appearance of a ...
Page 19 - Section 3 - At the Telescope with a CCD Camera; At the Telescope with a CCD Camera
Section 3 - At the Telescope with a CCD Camera Page 15 3. At the Telescope with a CCD Camera This section describes what goes on the first time you take your CCD camera out to thetelescope. You should read this section throughout before working at the telescope. It willhelp familiarize you with the ...
Page 20 - DEC; Figure 3.1 Orientation of the Optical Head Viewed from Back.; Establishing a Communications Link; when you take new images.; Focusing the CCD Camera
Section 3 - At the Telescope with a CCD Camera Page 16 * DEC RA Figure 3.1 Orientation of the Optical Head Viewed from Back. (Pixel 1,1 is at the upper left in this view) 3.3. Establishing a Communications Link When the CCDOPS program is initiated it will automatically attempt to establish a link to...
Page 21 - Back Focus Distance; Resolution
Section 3 - At the Telescope with a CCD Camera Page 17 This preliminary step will save you much time in initially finding focus. The approximatedistance behind the eyepiece tube for each of our CCD cameras is listed in Table 3.1 below: Camera Distance ST-5C 0.660 inch ST-237/STV 0.680 inch ST-6 0.56...
Page 22 - Finding and Centering the Object
Section 3 - At the Telescope with a CCD Camera Page 18 the eyepiece barrel. The next time the CCD is used the eyepiece should be first inserted intothe tube to the scribe mark, and the telescope visually focused and centered on the object. Atf/6 the depth of focus is only 0.005 inch, so focus is cri...
Page 23 - Advanced Capabilities; Using the crosshair mode
Section 3 - At the Telescope with a CCD Camera Page 19 using the Dark Subtract command. By subtracting the dark frame, pixels which have higherdark current than the average, i.e., "hot" pixels, are greatly suppressed and the displayed imageappears much smoother. Visibility of faint detail is...
Page 27 - Section 4 - Camera Hardware; Camera Hardware
Section 4 - Camera Hardware Page 23 4. Camera Hardware This section describes the modular components that make up the CCD Camera System andhow they fit into the observatory, with all their connections to power and other equipment. 4.1. System Components The ST-7E, ST-8E and ST-9E CCD cameras consist...
Page 28 - because your drive has a large amount of long term drift.
Section 4 - Camera Hardware Page 24 required is that with most modern telescope mounts the drift over the relatively short 1 minuteinterval is small enough to preserve round star images, a feat that even the best telescopemounts will not maintain over the longer ten minute interval. The Track and Ac...
Page 29 - Figure 4.1 - Push to Make Switch Modification
Section 4 - Camera Hardware Page 25 the relay is inactivated there is a connection between the Common and the Normally Closedcontact. When the relay is activated (trying to correct the telescope) the contact is between theCommon and the Normally Open contacts. If your hand controller is from a relat...
Page 30 - Modular Family of CCD Cameras
Section 4 - Camera Hardware Page 26 potentiometer A B C A: Unmodified Joystick wiper B: Modified Joystick nc c no + relay A B C nc c no - relay Figure 4.3 - Joystick Modification A slight variation on the joystick modification is to build a complete joystick eliminator asshown in Figure 4.4 below. T...
Page 33 - produce a better image after a minute of exposure!
Section 4 - Camera Hardware Page 29 length is the focal length of the telescope or lens. Also remember that 1° = 3600 arcseconds. Read Noise - The readout noise of a CCD camera affects the graininess of short exposure images. For example, a CCD camera with a readout noise of 30 electrons will give i...
Page 34 - Connecting the older model CFW-6 filter wheel to the Camera
Section 4 - Camera Hardware Page 30 C8, 8" f/10 LX200, 10" f/3 5 14" f/11 Camera Field of View (arcmins) Pixel Size (arcsecs) Field of View (arcmins) Pixel Size (arcsecs) Field of View (arcmins) Pixel Size (arcsecs) Tracking CCD 4.2x4.2 1.3x1.5 11.7x11.7 3.7x4.3 2.3x2.3 0.7x0.8 ST-5C 5.4...
Page 35 - Battery Operation
Section 4 - Camera Hardware Page 31 wires connects to the CFW-6. The black wire of the three-wire group mates to the brown orblack wire of the CFW-6. 4.7 Battery Operation The ST-7E/8E/9E can be operated off of a 12 volt car or marine battery using a the optional 12V power supply or using a power in...
Page 37 - Section 5 - Advanced Imaging Techniques; Advanced Imaging Techniques
Section 5 - Advanced Imaging Techniques Page 33 5. Advanced Imaging Techniques With practice, you will certainly develop methods of your own to get the most from your CCDcamera. In this section we offer some suggestions to save you time getting started in each ofthe different areas outlined below, b...
Page 38 - Taking a Good Flat Field
Section 5 - Advanced Imaging Techniques Page 34 5.4. Taking a Good Flat Field If you find that flat field corrections are necessary due to vignetting effects, CCD sensitivityvariations, or for more accurate measurements of star magnitudes, try either taking an image ofthe twilight sky near the horiz...
Page 39 - Flat Fielding Track and Accumulate Images; counts which will allow co-addition 32 times without overflow.
Section 5 - Advanced Imaging Techniques Page 35 functions except when you are in Full Frame Focus Mode. It will then automatically switch toLow Resolution Mode. If you further select Planet Mode for focusing, the camera will switchback to High Resolution on the selected box area. The small pixel siz...
Page 40 - Tracking Functions
Section 5 - Advanced Imaging Techniques Page 36 what alignment operations were done to the individual components of IMAGE to achieve the end result. In the following discussions this track list file will be referred to as TRACK. 5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 as many times as desired for all the objects yo...
Page 41 - The better the drive, the better results you will obtain.
Section 5 - Advanced Imaging Techniques Page 37 mechanical problems, though. You still need a good polar alignment and a rigid mountbetween the guide scope and the main scope or you need to use an off-axis guider, with all itsinherent difficulties. A good declination drive, free of backlash, is desi...
Page 43 - Section 6 - Accessories for your CCD Camera; Accessories for your CCD Camera
Section 6 - Accessories for your CCD Camera Page 39 6. Accessories for your CCD Camera This section briefly describes the different accessories available for your CCD camera. 6.1. Cooling Booster The cooling booster, which is included with the ST-9E and is an option for the ST-7E and ST-8E,is a smal...
Page 44 - Camera Lens Adapters and Eyepiece Projection; Note
Section 6 - Accessories for your CCD Camera Page 40 ambient temperature if ambient temperature water is used. If colder water is used, the headmay fog or frost up, depending on the dew point. . The exposed electronics inside the ST-7/8will get wet, and corrode. The hoses will start dripping condensa...
Page 45 - Third Party Products and Services
Section 6 - Accessories for your CCD Camera Page 41 6.6. SGS - Self-Guided Spectrograph The SGS Self Guided Spectrograph takes the tedium out of spectroscopy by allowing you toimage and guide the source on the tracking CCD while acquiring its spectra on the imagingCCD. No more hunting around to plac...
Page 46 - SBIG Technical Support
Section 6 - Accessories for your CCD Camera Page 42 6.8. SBIG Technical Support If you have any unanswered questions about the operation of your CCD camera system orhave suggestions on how to improve it please don't fail to contact us. We appreciate all yourcomments and suggestions. Additionally if ...
Page 47 - Section 7 - Common Problems; Common Problems; Achieving Good Focus
Section 7 - Common Problems Page 43 7. Common Problems This section discusses some of the more common problems others have encountered whileusing our CCD cameras. You should check here if you experience difficulties, and if yourproblem still persists please contact us to see if we can work it out to...
Page 49 - to use the BIOS Setup utility to configure your parallel port.
Section 7 - Common Problems Page 45 cause A/D Timeout and other parallel errors. Refer to you computer manual for how to use the BIOS Setup utility to configure your parallel port.
Page 51 - Glossary
Section 8 - Glossary Page 47 8. Glossary Antiblooming Gate - When a CCD pixel has reached its full well capacity, electrons can effectively spill over into an adjoining pixel. This is referred to as blooming. Kodak CCDs with the antiblooming option can be used to help stop or at least reduce bloomin...
Page 55 - Appendix A - Connector Pinouts; Appendix A - Connector ad Cables; Table A1; Ground in Center; Figure A1; The Open Drain outputs can sink 100 mA maximum
Appendix A - Connector Pinouts Page 51 A. Appendix A - Connector ad Cables This appendix describes the various connectors and cables used with the ST-7E/8E/9E. A.1. Appendix A - Connector Pinouts Tables A1 and A2 below show the pin-outs of the Telescope and Power connectors on the ST-7E/8E/9E. Pin N...
Page 56 - Figure A1 - CCD Connector for TIC Mating
Appendix A - Connector Pinouts Page 52 Telescope port with our TIC-78 (Tracking Interface Cable), or you can make your own cable.Figure A1 below shows the pinouts on these telescopes. Special Common Left Down Up Right White Black Red Green Yellow Blue None 5 6 7 4 3 Telescope Port Pin Modular Phone ...
Page 57 - Appendix B - File Formats; Appendix C - Maintenance; Do not get alcohol on the shutter; Regenerating the Desiccant; reinstall the O-ring and insure that it does not get pinched.
Appendix B - File Formats Page 53 B. Appendix C - Maintenance This appendix describes the maintenance items you should know about with your CCD camerasystem. B.1. Cleaning the CCD and the Window The design of SBIG cameras allows for cleaning of the CCD. The optical heads are notevacuated and are qui...
Page 59 - Appendix C - Capturing a Good Flat Field; sky brightness from on side of the frame to the other.; Technique; dust debris shadows would be different!
Appendix C - Capturing a Good Flat Field Page 55 C. Appendix C - Capturing a Good Flat Field This appendix describes how to take a good flat field. A good flat field is essential for displaying features little brighter than the sky background. The flat field corrects for pixel non-uniformity, vignet...
Page 61 - Index
Index 57 A/D converter, 8, 27 accessories, 41 adaptive optics, 40 antiblooming, 29, 45 Antiblooming Gate (def), 45 AO-7, 40 astrometric measurements, 45 Astrometry (def), 45 astrophotography, 12 atmospheric effects, 17 auto contrast, 18 Auto Grab Command, 21 autoguider, 8, 20, 23, 36, 45 Autoguider ...
Page 63 - stellar magnitude, 19
Index 59 separations, 19 setup, 15 SGS-Self Guided Spectrograph, 41 sharpen, 19 shutter, 8 signal to noise ratio, 22, 29 sky background, 5, 20 smoothing, 19 snapshot, 23 software, 26, 41 spectral range, 5 spectrograph, 41 Status Window, 16 Link field, 16 stellar magnitude, 19 stellar temperature, 19...
