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InStruCtIOn Manual
Orion
StarShoot
Pro V2.0
®
™
Deep Space Color Imager
#52085
Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975
Customer Support (800) 676-1343
E-mail: support@telescope.com
Oriontelescopes.com
Corporate Offices (831) 763-7000
89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076
IN 365 Rev. A 02/09
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Table of Contents
Summary of Contents for Orion StarShoot Pro V2.0
- Page 1 InStruCtIOn Manual Orion StarShoot Pro V2.0 ® ™ Deep Space Color Imager #52085 Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975 Customer Support (800) 676-1343 E-mail: support@telescope.com Oriontelescopes.com Corporate Offices (831) 763-7000 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076 IN 365 Rev. A 02/09...
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
Filter ......... . 26 Welcome to the exciting world of astro-imaging. -
Page 3: Getting Started
Some telescopes (such as refractors) may require the use of an extension tube (avail- • Hard carrying case able from Orion) to provide enough outward focus for the StarShoot Pro. System requirements (refer to Figure 1) The large 1.8"... -
Page 4: Software And Driver Installation
Cooling fan Figure 4. The Launcher provides an easy menu for software installation. • Video Display: 1024 X 768 or higher, 16-bit color or higher • Mouse • Internet Explorer 4 or higher required to display on-line help Power • High-speed USB 2.0 port input USB cable jack... - Page 5 StarShoot Pro is initially connected to the computer. You must connect power 2. Connect the Orion StarShoot Pro to a USB port on the computer with the to the camera and connect the USB cable from your camera to the computer supplied USB cable.
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Page 6: Getting Started During Daylight
Moon. utilize an optional extension tube (available from Orion). 9. Try to get a Max Pixel of around 40000 to 50000 by increasing or decreas- 2. -
Page 7: Screen Stretch Window
Figure 9. A histogram is a visual representation of the range and Figure 8. Range of brightness levels levels of brightness in an image. The settings in the Screen Stretch Window greatly determine how an Screen Stretch Window image will appear on your The function of the Screen Stretch Window (Figure 8) is to properly map the computer screen. -
Page 8: Astronomical Imaging
of the mouse. To do this, hold down the Shift key, then left-click and drag the mouse on the image. You’ll find this feature to be a great convenience when fine adjusting the screen stretch to get an image to look its best. Instead of using the Screen Stretch Window, it is faster to use the Quick Stretch facility. -
Page 9: Imaging Deep Sky Objects
est pixel in the star. The smaller the FWHM, and the larger the Max Pixel, the closer you are to focused. 14. Adjust the focus as needed to get the smallest FWHM and larg- est Max Pixel possible. The Max Pixel should stay well below Figure 11. -
Page 10: Dark Frames
Longer exposures of 60 seconds or more also require autoguiding with a separate camera. The Orion StarShoot AutoGuider can be operated with the StarShoot Pro in MaxIm DL Essentials. -
Page 11: Flat Fields
are already imaging in the field at night. And even when the camera is clean, dust usually finds a way to show up in your images. Telescope Artifacts Very large particles or other artifacts in your telescope can effect your astro images. -
Page 12: Image Processing
3. Click Add under the Dark Frames box in the Setup Calibration window (Figure 16) and select the file folder location for the dark frames taken. Select the dark frames and click Open. The selected dark frames will now appear in the pop-up window. 4. -
Page 13: Combining Deep Sky Images
Note: The Combine From Disk fea- ture enables you to combine all of your images at once without having to open each image which saves sys- tem memory. 2. The Combine From Disk win- dow will appear (Figure 19). For Align Mode, choose Manual 1 star –... -
Page 14: Combine Methods
sen as the reference is rejected from the stack, you will not be able to Overlay All Images. 6. Now, click the Overlay All Images button. All of the selected images will stack on top of each other to form one resultant image. Click OK Set the Screen Stretch Window to Medium (or otherwise manually adjust for best image appearance), and use Save under the File menu to save your image. -
Page 15: Stretch
is known to be white (or gray), this is an easier way to determine the scaling factors, and can be used to instantly color balance the image. Stretch The Stretch command (located in the Process menu, Figure 21) modifies the brightness and contrast, and optionally the range (maximum and minimum pixel values) of an image. -
Page 16: Recommended Processing Sequence
recommended Processing Sequence Batch Process What is the best order to apply the processing functions in? Here is a recom- Batch Process can be used to mended sequence: process multiple images simul- taneously using the various com- 1. Calibrate (Dark Subtract and Flat Field calibrate) mands available in MaxIm DL 2. -
Page 17: Using The Starshoot Pro As An Autoguider
5. Click OK to start the Batch Process operation. Successfully converted and saved files are removed from the list box. If an error occurred the file will remain in the list. Point the mouse cursor at an image left in the list. The appropriate error message will appear in the Status Bar at the bottom of the MaxIm DL Essentials Edition main window. -
Page 18: Autoguider Calibration
11. In the Settings window, click the Close button. Some telescope mounts, such as the Orion Atlas EQ-G and Sirius EQ-G, uti- 3. Click the Settings button. lize an “ST-4 compatible” autoguider jack. For easiest autoguiding with these 4. -
Page 19: Multiple Camera Control For Autoguiding
telescope does not move, check the Settings. Remember, you have to set • On most telescopes, the Right Ascension drive likes to have some load up a method for sending the autoguider commands to the telescope! pushing against sidereal tracking. If the mount is balanced such that it is pulling the mount forwards slightly, the gear teeth may bounce back 11. -
Page 20: View Menu
Point the telescope at this star, and center it in an illuminated reticle display when processing large numbers of raw images for stacking. eyepiece (available from Orion). If you don’t have an illuminated reticle eyepiece, use your highest- magnification eyepiece. -
Page 21: Choosing A Site For Astro-Imaging
Filters drifts north the telescope mount is pointed too high. Observe the drift and Any standard Orion 2" filter will thread into the 2" nosepiece of the StarShoot Pro. make the appropriate correction to the mount’s altitude (or latitude); most Light pollution filters, or special light pollution filters designed for imaging (such mounts have some sort of fine adjustment for this. -
Page 22: Specifications
Use the supplied USB cable first. Weight: 28 oz. Extension USB cables (available from Orion) should work with the camera. But adding length and another connection point between the computer Autoguider capability: and camera can potentially cause problems. If you are using an extension Mounting: 2"... - Page 23 If you are unable to resolve your problem with the information provided here, increasing the readout speed one or two points. To make an adjustment, please contact Orion’s Customer Service at 800-676-1343 or email support@ click on Setup in the Camera Control Window. Click the up/down...
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- Page 29 One-Year limited Warranty This Orion StarShoot Pro V2.0 is warranted against defects in materi- als or workmanship for a period of one year from the date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only.