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We recommend using the SSDSI-II for the first time during the day. This way,
you can become familiar with the camera and its functions without having to
stumble around in the dark. Setup your telescope and mount so the optical
tube is pointing at an object that is at least a couple of hundred feet away.
Insert an eyepiece and focus as you normally would.
Since the SSDSI-II camera is so sensitive to light, you will need to “stop down”
your telescope aperture to do any imaging in daylight. This can be done by
creating a simple aperture mask out of a piece of cardboard. The piece of
cardboard should be larger than the telescope’s aperture. Cut a circular hole in
the cardboard approximately 1⁄2" in diameter, and place the cardboard over the
front of the telescope so that it completely covers the aperture except for the
1⁄2" circle. If you are using a refractor telescope, then the hole should be cut so
it is centered on the piece of cardboard. If you are using a reflector that has a
central aperture obstruction, then the hole should be cut off to one side (in order
to bypass the central obstruction). Affix your aperture mask to your telescope
with tape (Figure 7).
Obtaining First Images
To obtain first images (in daylight) with the SSDSI-II, follow these step-by-step
instructions:
1. With an eyepiece inserted in the telescope, center and focus an object
that is approximately 1⁄4 mile away. If you cannot focus your telescope this
closely (due to lack of back-focus travel), then you will need to utilize an
optional extension tube (available from Orion).
2. Plug the camera into your computer’s USB port.
3. Open Maxim DL Essentials by clicking on the icon now installed on your
computer’s desktop.
4. Once open, Essentials should connect directly to your camera with the
Camera Control Window.
5. To connect the camera to the telescope, simply replace the telescope’s
eyepiece with the camera. Make sure the securing thumbscrew on the
focuser drawtube is firmly tightened. If your telescope has built-in T-
threads, then remove the eyepiece from the telescope and the nosepiece
from the SSDSI-II, and thread the camera onto the telescope (see Figures
2a-b).
6. You will now need to refocus the camera for the centered object. Focusing
will be the hardest thing to do in the initial stages. In the Camera Control
Window, set the mode to Light Color 1x1. Set the Seconds (exposure time)
to .01 to begin with. In the box underneath the Mode box, select Focus.
Make sure the Dark Subtract box is unchecked.
7. Press the Expose button in the Camera Control Window. The camera
will now rapidly take short exposures and display them on the computer
screen. For daytime imaging, open the Screen Stretch Window (in the
View menu), and set the stretch mode to Moon.
8. If the image brightness is too bright for the camera, an all (or mostly) black
screen will result. You will also notice that the Max Pixel (in the lower right
corner of the Camera Control Window, see Figure 6) will be at 65535,
which is the maximum pixel brightness value. Try to get a Max Pixel of
around 50000 to 60000 by increasing or decreasing exposure time (.002
sec is the minimum exposure time). If the (daytime) image is still too bright
to produce an acceptable image on your computer screen, you may need
to stop-down the aperture of your telescope further. Try making another
aperture mask with a diameter of only 1⁄4".
9. Now, turn the telescope’s focus knob so the focuser drawtube moves
slowly inward. The drawtube needs to go approximately 15mm inward from
where the eyepiece focuses (for most eyepieces). Look at the computer
screen and adjust the focus knob accordingly to determine best image
focus.
Figure 7. Because the SSDSI-II is sensitive to light, an aperture mask is needed
on the telescope for any imaging during daylight. For a refractor, the hole should be
centered on the aperture mask. For a reflector, the hole should be off to one side of the
aperture mask.