Polaroid CCD Camera manual

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:<www.sbig.com> • Email:<sbig@sbig.com>

Contents

Main Page Page Page 1. Introduction 1.1. Road Map of the Documentation 1.2. Quick Tour 1.2.1. CCDOPS Software 1.2.2. CCD Camera Page 2. Introduction to CCD Cameras 2.1. Cameras in General 2.2. How CCD Detectors Work X=1 X=M Y=1 Y=N Output Readout Register Page 2.4. CCD Special Requirements 2.4.1. Cooling 2.4.2. Double Correlated Sampling Readout 2.4.3. Dark Frames 2.4.4. Flat Field Images 2.4.5. Pixels vs. Film Grains 2.4.6. Guiding 2.5. Electronic Imaging 2.6. Black and White vs. Color Page 3. At the Telescope with a CCD Camera 3.1. Step by Step with a CCD Camera 3.2. Attaching the Camera to the Telescope * DEC RA 3.3. Establishing a Communications Link 3.4. Focusing the CCD Camera Page 3.5. Finding and Centering the Object 3.6. Taking an Image 3.7. Displaying the Image 3.8. Processing the Image 3.9. Advanced Capabilities 3.9.1. Crosshairs Mode (Photometry and Astrometry) 3.9.2. Sub-Frame Readout in Focus 3.9.3. Track and Accumulate 3.9.4. Autoguiding and Self Guiding 3.9.5. Auto Grab 3.9.6. Color Imaging Page 4. Camera Hardware 4.1. System Components 4.2. Connecting the Power 4.3. Connecting to the Computer 4.4. Connecting the Relay Port to the Telescope 4.4.1 Using Mechanical Relays Page 4.5. Modular Family of CCD Cameras Page 20. 6 x size ( um Page 4.6 Connecting the older model CFW-6 filter wheel to the Camera 4.7 Battery Operation 4.8 ST-1001E Differences Page 5. Advanced Imaging Techniques 5.1. Lunar and Planetary Imaging 5.2. Deep Sky Imaging 5.3. Terrestrial Imaging 5.4. Taking a Good Flat Field 5.5. Building a Library of Dark Frames 5.6. Changing the Camera Resolution 5.7. Flat Fielding Track and Accumulate Images 5.8. Tracking Functions Page Page 6. Accessories for your CCD Camera 6.1. Cooling Booster 6.2. Tri-color Imaging 6.3. Camera Lens Adapters and Eyepiece Projection 6.4. Focal Reducers 6.5. AO-7 and Lucy-Richardson Software 6.6. SGS - Self-Guided Spectrograph 6.7. Third Party Products and Services 6.7.1. Windows Software 6.7.2. Image Processing Software 6.8. SBIG Technical Support 7. Common Problems Page 8. Glossary Page Page Page A. Appendix A - Connector ad Cables A.1. Appendix A - Connector Pinouts Ground in Center +12VDC on outside Mating plug is 5.5mm outside and 2.1mm inside A.2. SBIG Tracking Interface Cable (TIC-78) Page B. Appendix C - Maintenance B.1. Cleaning the CCD and the Window B.2. Regenerating the Desiccant Page C. Appendix C - Capturing a Good Flat Field C.1. Technique