Orion G3 instruction manual Getting Started

2.Getting Started

2.1. Parts List (Figure 1)

•StarShoot G3 Deep Space Imaging Camera

•USB Cable

•DC power cable with lighter plug

•Software CD

•Removable 1.25" nosepiece (threaded to camera)

•Dust cap for 1.25" nosepiece

2.2.System Requirements

Telescope

	Cooling fan
Autoguider		USB port
relay port

Power port (for

TEC and fan only)

Figure 3. The USB, power, and autoguider ports.

Computer

The G3 requires a PC to operate the camera. For astro-imaging in the field at night, a laptop computer is highly recommended. The included software is Camera Studio which requires Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 to operate.

The following hardware is also required:

•	Processor – 700 MHz speed or
	higher, Pentium™ III equivalent or
	higher
•	Recommended minimum memory
	size is 512 MB.
•	Disk Space – 55 MB for software
	installation, 500 GB or more to

Figure 4.1.

The StarShoot G3 fits any telescope equipped with 1.25" or 2" focusers, or it can also fit to any focuser or camera adapter with male T-threads (M42 x 0.75). Refer to Figures 2.1 and 2.2.

Caution: Be sure to always firmly tighten the thumbscrew(s) that secure the StarShoot G3 in the telescope focuser, or it could fall out and onto the ground!

If your telescope has T-threads for direct camera attachment, a more secure connection can be made. First, unthread the nosepiece from the G3. This

	store images is recommended.
•	Video Display – 800 X 600 or
	higher, 16-bit color or higher.
•	Mouse
•	High-speed USB 2.0 port

Power

Figure 4.2.

exposes the camera’s T-threads. Then, simply thread the camera onto your tele- scope (Figure 2.2).

Backfocus Requirement

The G3 only requires 3.5mm of inward focus travel (also sometimes called backfocus) when connecting it to a 2" focuser on your telescope. If using the 1.25" nosepiece, the backfocus is 23mm; if connected via T-threads the backfocus is 19mm.

Mount

Deep sky imaging with the G3 requires an equatorial mount with a right ascension (R.A.) motor drive. The goal for your mount is to seamlessly track the apparent movement of the sky as the Earth rotates. The tracking must be very accurate, or the object you want to image will drift and blur across the camera’s field of view while the exposure is taken. Even a small amount of drift will cause a star to look oblong instead of a round point. We recommend using a high- quality equatorial mount which utilizes periodic error correction (PEC) or has the ability to interface with an autoguider.

The StarShoot G3’s thermoelectric cooler (TEC) requires 12 volts DC (12VDC) with approximately 1 ampere of current. The camera itself can operate without the cooler just by connecting to the computer’s USB port. For the best imaging performance, we recommend using the TEC. The supplied 12V power cable will plug into a cigarette style socket commonly available on power supplies or field batteries available from Orion. If you have access to an AC outlet at your imag- ing site, you can use a 110VAC to 12VDC adapter for the camera, available from Orion.

2.3. Software and Driver Installation

Before the camera can be used, the software and camera drivers must be installed onto your computer. Turn on your computer and allow the Windows operating system to load as normal. Insert the included software CD into your computer’s CD-ROM drive, and the Orion G3 Setup Wizard will appear (Figure 4.1). This allows you to install the camera drivers, Camera Studio software, ASCOM drivers, and any additional prerequisites you may need. The wizard will automatically detect which prerequisites you need and prompt you to install them (Figure 4.2).

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