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Operating Manual
CCD Camera Models
ST-7E, ST-8E, ST-9E, ST-10E
and ST-1001E
Santa Barbara Instrument Group
147A Castilian Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93117
Phone (805) 571-7244 • Fax (805) 571-1147
Web: • Email:
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Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interfer
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Table of Contents 1. Introduction.................................................................................................................1 1.1. Road Map of the Documentation ...............................................................................1 1.2. Quick Tour....................................................................................................................1 1.2.1. CCDOPS Software ................................................................................
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4.6 Connecting the older model CFW-6 filter wheel to the Camera ..................................30 4.7 Battery Operation .............................................................................................................31 4.8 ST-1001E Differences........................................................................................................31 5. Advanced Imaging Techniques ..............................................................................33 5.1. Lunar and Planeta
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Section 1 - Introduction 1. Introduction Congratulations and thank you for buying one of Santa Barbara Instrument Group's CCD cameras. The model ST-7E, ST-8E, ST-9E, ST-10E and ST-1001E are SBIG's fourth generation CCD cameras and represent the state of the art in CCD camera systems with their low noise and advanced capabilities, including Kodak's new Blue Enhanced E series of CCDs. We feel that these cameras will expand your astronomy experience by being able to easily take images like the on
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Section 1 - Introduction 1.2.1. CCDOPS Software Follow the instructions below to run the CCDOPS software and display and process sample images included on the distribution diskette. • Install the software onto your hard disk. For Windows this involves running the Setup.exe file on the first diskette. For Macintosh or DOS this involves copying the contents of the floppy disk to a folder or directory on your hard disk. CCDOPS for Windows or Macintosh • Double-click on the CCDOPS icon to launch t
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Section 1 - Introduction • 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 monitor brightness and contrast want to be set fairly high. Note: Full daylight at F/22 will saturate these cameras with the shortest exposure. With a camera lens start out in dim room light. For full sun
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Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras 2. Introduction to CCD Cameras This section introduces new users to CCD (Charge Coupled Device) cameras and their capabilities and to the field of CCD Astronomy and Electronic Imaging. 2.1. Cameras in General The CCD is very good at the most difficult astronomical imaging problem: imaging small, faint objects. For such scenes long film exposures are typically required. The CCD based system has several advantages over film: greater speed, quantitative acc
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Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras 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 output voltage. The voltage for each pixel can be amplified off- chip and digitally encoded and stored in a computer to be reconstructed and 1 displayed on a television monitor." Readout Register Output Y=1 Amplifier Y=N X=1 X=M Figure 2.1 - CCD Structure 2.2.1. Full Frame and Frame Tr
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Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras TE Cooler Tracking CCD Micro- Clock controller Drivers PC Interface 16 Bit Preamp A/D Telescope Shutter Imaging CCD Interface Desktop Power Host Computer Supply Parallel Interface Figure 2.2 - CCD System Block Diagram As you can see from Figure 2.2, the ST-7E, ST-8E, ST-9E, ST-10E and ST-1001E are completely self contained. Unlike our previous products, the ST-7E, ST-8E, ST-9E, ST-10E and ST-1001E contain all the electronics in the optical head. Th
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Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras The CCD is cooled with a solid-state a thermoelectric (TE) cooler. The TE cooler pumps heat out of the CCD and dissipates it into a heat sink which forms part of the optical head's mechanical housing. In the ST-7E and ST-8E cameras this waste heat is dumped into the air using passive radiators and a small fan, making the design and operation of the heads simple and not inconvenienced by requirements for liquid recirculation cooling. The ST-9E and ST- 10
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Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras current, which can cause each pixel to fill with electrons in only a few seconds at room temperature even in the absence of light. By cooling the CCD, the dark current and corresponding noise is reduced, and longer exposures are possible. In fact, for roughly every 5 to 6° C of additional cooling, the dark current in the CCD is reduced to half. The ST-7E and ST- 8E have a single stage TE cooler and a temperature sensing thermistor on the CCD mount to mo
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Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras at the same temperature and for the same duration as the light frame with the source of light to the CCD blocked so that you get a "picture" of the dark. This dark frame will contain an image of the noise caused by dark current (thermal noise) and other fixed pattern noise such as read out noise. When the dark frame is subtracted from the light frame, this pattern noise is removed from the resulting image. The improvement is dramatic for exposures of mo
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Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras people think that smaller pixels are a plus, you pay the price in sensitivity due to the fact that smaller pixels capture less light. For example, the ST-9E with its large 20 x 20 micron pixels captures five times as much light as the ST-7E and ST-8E's 9 micron square pixels. For this reason we provide 2x2 or 3x3 binning of pixels on most SBIG cameras. With the ST-7 and ST-8, for instance, the cameras may be configured for 18 or 27-micron square pixels.
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Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras Track and Accumulate to co-add several shorter images. The dual CCD design allows the guiding CCD access to the large aperture of the main telescope without the inconvenience of off-axis radial guiders. Not only are guide stars easily found, but the problems of differential deflection between guide scope and main scope eliminated. Due to the large size of the imaging CCD in the ST-1001E, however, a second CCD for tracking cannot be used. For this model
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Section 2 - Introduction to CCD Cameras Of course, once the image is stored on a computer disk, it may be transferred to another computer just like any other data file. You can copy it or send it via modem to a friend, upload it to your favorite bulletin board or online service, or store it away for processing and analysis at some later date. We have found that an easy way to obtain a hard copy of your electronic image is to photograph it directly from the computer screen. You may also send you
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Section 3 - At the Telescope with a CCD Camera 3. At the Telescope with a CCD Camera This section describes what goes on the first time you take your CCD camera out to the telescope. You should read this section throughout before working at the telescope. It will help familiarize you with the overall procedure that is followed without drowning you in the details. It is recommended you first try operating the camera in comfortable, well lit surroundings to learn its operation. 3.1. Step by Ste
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Section 3 - At the Telescope with a CCD Camera RA DEC * 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 the camera. This involves identifying the type of CCD head. If the software is successful the "Link" field in the Status Window is updated to show the type of camera found. If the camera is not connecte
