Polaroid ST-8E, ST-9E, ST-7E manual SGS Self-Guided Spectrograph, Third Party Products and Services

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Section 6 - Accessories for your CCD Camera

6.6.SGS - Self-Guided Spectrograph

The SGS Self Guided Spectrograph takes the tedium out of spectroscopy by allowing you to image and guide the source on the tracking CCD while acquiring its spectra on the imaging CCD. No more hunting around to place the object on the slit! With the SGS you can measure galactic redshifts, stellar classifications and determine nebular constituency. This is another example of the value of a self-guided camera like the ST-7E/8E/9E.

6.7.Third Party Products and Services

There are numerous third party products and services available directed to the CCD user. We mention a few to give you an idea of the ever increasing interest in this new technology. Scanning through the pages of Sky & Telescope, CCD Astronomy, or Astronomy magazine reveals many third-party vendors of CCD accessories and software.

6.7.1. Windows Software

If you are a user interested in using Windows software with your camera, SBIG has CCDOPS for Windows. In addition there are several commercial Windows programs available which include a stellar database, telescope control for computerized telescopes like the Meade LX200, and CCD camera functions in an integrated package.

6.7.2. Image Processing Software

There are a host of image processing software packages capable of reading and processing TIFF files and new packages are being developed which will read and process SBIG image formats as well. In addition to commercial software, on-line services like CompuServe and GEnie have many public domain and shareware programs available through their Astronomy interest groups.

6.7.3. Getting Hardcopy

In our opinion the best method of producing a hard copy of images taken with the CCD camera is to simply take a photograph of the computer screen while the image is displayed. It is best to use a long lens and step back from the monitor to reduce the appearance of the curvature of the edges of the screen, and use an exposure longer than 1/30th of a second to avoid the video refresh rate of your monitor. Darken the room, and use a brighter background than is visually optimum.

Another way to obtain hard copy is to save the files in TIFF format and send a copy of the file on a disk to a photo lab which offers printing of digital images. The Windows version of CCDOPS allows for printing of the images, and there are a number of third party software programs for the PC such as Pizzaz Plus which will capture and print the display on your computer screen. These programs, however, do not produce very detailed prints and are useful only to a very limited degree.

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Contents Operating Manual Page Table of Contents Technique Introduction Road Map of the DocumentationQuick Tour Ccdops for Windows or Macintosh Ccdops SoftwareCCD Camera Page Introduction to CCD Cameras Cameras in GeneralHow CCD Detectors Work Camera Hardware Architecture Full Frame and Frame Transfer CCDsCCD System Block Diagram Cooling CCD Special RequirementsDark Frames Double Correlated Sampling ReadoutPixels vs. Film Grains Flat Field ImagesGuiding Electronic Imaging Black and White vs. Color Page At the Telescope with a CCD Camera Step by Step with a CCD CameraAttaching the Camera to the Telescope Establishing a Communications Link Focusing the CCD CameraCamera Back Focus Taking an Image Finding and Centering the ObjectDisplaying the Image Processing the ImageCrosshairs Mode Photometry and Astrometry Advanced CapabilitiesSub-Frame Readout in Focus Autoguiding and Self Guiding Track and AccumulateColor Imaging Auto GrabAt the Telescope with a CCD Camera Connecting to the Computer Connecting the PowerConnecting the Relay Port to the Telescope Camera HardwareUsing Mechanical Relays Push to Make Switch Modification Joystick Modification Modular Family of CCD CamerasSystem Features 20.6x sizeum Focal length cm Camera Hardware Connecting the older model CFW-6 filter wheel to the Camera Battery Operation Page Lunar and Planetary Imaging Advanced Imaging TechniquesDeep Sky Imaging Terrestrial ImagingChanging the Camera Resolution Taking a Good Flat FieldBuilding a Library of Dark Frames Flat Fielding Track and Accumulate Images Tracking Functions Advanced Imaging Techniques Page Cooling Booster Accessories for your CCD CameraCamera Lens Adapters and Eyepiece Projection Tri-color ImagingFocal Reducers AO-7 and Lucy-Richardson SoftwareSGS Self-Guided Spectrograph Third Party Products and ServicesWindows Software Image Processing SoftwareSbig Technical Support Common Problems Common Problems Common Problems Page Glossary STV Glossary Glossary Appendix a Connector ad Cables Appendix a Connector PinoutsSbig Tracking Interface Cable TIC-78 Figure A1 CCD Connector for TIC Mating Appendix C Maintenance Cleaning the CCD and the WindowRegenerating the Desiccant Page Technique Appendix C Capturing a Good Flat FieldPage Index IBM PC Separations
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