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Orion PARSEC 8300M Manual

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InStruCtIOn MAnuAl

Orion
Parsec
Series
®
™
Astronomical Imaging Cameras
Parsec 8300C (Color) #52075
Parsec 8300M (Monochrome) #52077
Parsec 10100C (Color) #52078
#52078
Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975
Oriontelescopes.com
Customer Support (800) 676-1343
E-mail: support@telescope.com
Corporate Offices (831) 763-7000
89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076
© 2008-2011 Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
IN 383 Rev. B 11/11

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Summary of Contents for Orion PARSEC 8300M

  • Page 1: Instruction Manual

    Parsec 10100C (Color) #52078 #52078 Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975 Oriontelescopes.com Customer Support (800) 676-1343 E-mail: support@telescope.com Corporate Offices (831) 763-7000 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076 © 2008-2011 Orion Telescopes & Binoculars IN 383 Rev. B 11/11...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    table of Contents 1. Introduction ......4 6. Multiple Camera Control for Autoguiding . . . 34 1.1.

  • Page 3: Introduction

    1. Introduction Welcome to the exciting world of astro-imaging. Your new Parsec Astronomical Imaging Camera is capable of captur- ™ Tripod adapter ing professional quality astro-images of your favorite celestial objects. You can showcase spectacular images on your com- LED 2 puter, share them on the internet, or print them.

  • Page 4: Getting Started

    Parsec lED Status Indicators Hard carrying case lED 1 lED 2 On/Idle Solid Blink Exposing Blink Reading Solid Solid Parsec 8300 Downloading Solid Blink Figure 2. The Parsec’s LED status indicators USB cable CD-ROM DC power cable with lighter plug 2"...

  • Page 5: Software And Driver Installation

    The camera’s pixel size and sensitivity make the Parsec suitable for most tele- Imaging in the field usually requires the scopes. For telescopes with very long focal lengths (2000mm and greater), you use of a portable field battery to sup- can optionally bin 2x2 (see section 2.

  • Page 6: Software Walk-Through

    FTDI. This installs the driver files for the Parsec camera. 3.1. the Camera Control Window 3. Connect the Orion Parsec to a USB port on the computer with the supplied Figure 9.2. The More/Less button USB cable. reveals more detailed information about...
  • Page 7 3. In the Setup tab in MaxIm DL’s Camera Control Window, select Setup focused image. Camera. Locate the Orion Parsec in the dropdown list and click OK 4. Look at the Pixel value in the (Figure 10).

  • Page 8: The Screen Stretch Window

    arrow button next to the preset name to manage your presets, including Update Current Preset, and Save As New Preset. See MaxIm DL’s Help Topics for more detailed information. readout Mode In the Expose Tab, select Normal for the best image quality, and Fast for a Range of brightness levels quicker image download.

  • Page 9: Astronomical Imaging

    4.1. Focusing Focusing the CCD camera is one of the most critical parts of imaging. It can be challenging, but MaxIm DL has some helpful features which will assist you when focusing your Parsec. Before focusing, make sure your mount is polar aligned and tracking.

  • Page 10: Setting The Cooler

    a fainter star. Paying attention to these values will help you get a very accurate focus, far better than simply looking at the star image on your screen. 7. Click Stop once you reach the best focus and click Reset in the Subframe section at the Figure 17.1.

  • Page 11: Imaging Deep Sky Objects

    60 seconds or more also require autoguiding with a separate camera. The Orion StarShoot AutoGuider can be operated with the Parsec in MaxIm DL. To start: 1. Acquire and center the deep sky object into the field of view of your eyepiece.
  • Page 12 Figure 18.2. Select Set Image Save Path. 7. Select the file folder in which you would like to save the images with Figure 20. Set the Type to Dark in the Autosave Setup window. Select Image Save Path found by (background noise level), read noise (noise introduced during camera readout and clicking the arrow in the Autosave Setup window (Figure 18.2)
  • Page 13 Flat Fields 2. Point the telescope at a uniform and featureless light source, like the sky at dusk or dawn, or a blank white sheet of paper. Make sure the camera A flat field is an image taken with orientation is exactly the same as it is or was for astro-imaging (Although the uniform featureless light entering the telescope is pointing at a featureless surface, the focus and orientation must telescope, such as a blue sky in the...

  • Page 14: Image Processing

    Figure 22.1. Figure 22.2. Before your images are Combining multiple deep combined, an individual deep space image space images greatly increases the detail will have more noise and less detail. in the resulting combined image Each individual deep sky image is faint and has a noticeable amount of noise. Combining the individual deep sky images eliminates the noise and enhances the detail in the deep sky object by improving the signal to noise ratio.

  • Page 15: Stacking - Combining Images

    6. The Tree View on the left side of 3. Select Orion Parsec High Quality the Stack dialog will now show all in the Select Camera pull down the image files you have selected, menu (Figure 24). arranged into groups according to 4.
  • Page 16 command before opening them with the Open command. Alternatively, you 10. You can select one of the images to be the Reference Image, can simply drag and drop them from Windows Explorer onto the MaxIm DL using the right-click menu. This window.

  • Page 17: Filter

    (or click the Full Screen button to see the changes applied to your full image). technique is described at http:// Note for the Parsec 8300M: Before any color balance adjustment can be made, xxx.lanl.gov/abs/astro-ph/9808087. you must first Combine Color to each individual LRGB or RGB images.

  • Page 18: Multiple Camera Control For Autoguiding

    To perform autoguider 5. Make sure all of the Guider Enables boxes are checked. calibration: 6. For Autoguider Output, set Control Via. If you are using the Orion 1. Switch to the Guide tab. StarShoot AutoGuider for example, choose Guider Relays.

  • Page 19: Other Features Of Maxim Dl

    does not move, check the Settings. Remember, you have to set up a • On most telescopes, the Right Ascension drive likes to have some load 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 and 11.

  • Page 20: Observatory Control Window

    Point the telescope at this star, and center it in an illuminated system (“rod” cells). reticle eyepiece (available from Orion). If you don’t have an illuminated reticle • In blue mode, all menus, dialog boxes, and monochrome images are eyepiece, use your highest- magnification eyepiece.

  • Page 21: Using Focal Reducers And Barlow Lenses

    8.4. Filters Any standard Orion 2" filter will thread into the 2" nosepiece of the Parsec. Light pollution filters, or special light pollution filters designed for imaging (such as the Orion SkyGlow Imaging Filter) improves image contrast from urban areas with severe light pollution.

  • Page 22: Specifications

    9. Specifications Parsec 8300 Parsec 10100C CCD Sensor (Parsec 8300C) Kodak KAF-8300CE CCD Sensor Kodak KAI-10100-CXC CCD Sensor (Parsec 8300M) Kodak KAF-8300-AXE CCD detector size 17.86mm x 13.49mm CCD detector size 17.96mm x 13.52mm Sensor format 22.5mm diagonal Sensor format 22.5mm diagonal...
  • Page 23 Orion Warranty Repair, 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076. If the product is not registered, proof of purchase (such as a copy of the original invoice) is required.

This manual is also suitable for:

Parsec 8300cParsec 10100c

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