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Handbook for the SX 'Ultrastar C' single-shot colour imaging and guiding
Thank you for purchasing a Starlight Xpress 'Ultrastar C' camera. We hope that you will be very
pleased with the performance of this product.
The Ultrastar C is a higher QE and larger area version of the very popular 'Superstar C' and is a very
compact imaging camera, which is powered and operated via a single USB2.0 computer connection. It
also provides an opto-isolated output connection for direct control of most mounts, via their
'Autoguider' sockets. This output is compatible with the 'ST4' style of RJ12 connection and supplies 4
'pull down' direction lines and a common return. Alternatively, you may send the mount control
signals via a serial connection from the guider control computer. The Ultrastar C utilises a very
sensitive Sony 'ExView2' CCD (the ICX825AQA) with an array of 1392 x 1040 pixels in a 'two-
thirds-inch' format. Although the chip is not cooled, it has a very low dark signal and very little
readout noise, so it can be used to guide on faint stars that are well beyond the reach of webcams and
most CMOS chip based cameras.
The Ultrastar C specification:
CCD
-
Pixel count
-
Pixel size
-
Optical size
-
Colour filter grid -
Read noise
-
QE
-
Gain
-
Ultrastar C handbook Issue 1, August 2015
camera
Sony ICX825AQA ExView2 Bayer Matrix colour CCD
1392(H) x 1040(V)
6.45 x 6.45uM
8.98 x 6.71 mm
RGGB Bayer Matrix
Typically 5.0 electrons
Peak QE 70% (yellow light)
0.3 e/ADU
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Related Manuals for Starlight Xpress Ultrastar C
Summary of Contents for Starlight Xpress Ultrastar C
- Page 1 The Ultrastar C is a higher QE and larger area version of the very popular ‘Superstar C’ and is a very compact imaging camera, which is powered and operated via a single USB2.0 computer connection. It also provides an opto-isolated output connection for direct control of most mounts, via their ‘Autoguider’...
- Page 2 It is ideal for public outreach events, where the images can be seen ‘developing’ in real time, and for field use where the compact size of the Ultrastar C makes for easy transport and setup. The free software ‘Starlight Live’ (previously ‘Lodestar Live’) from Paul Shears, makes Live Viewing very easy and is highly recommended.
- Page 3 Ultrastar C handbook Issue 1, August 2015 If stars are visible, Starlight Live will use these for registering the images together and the image clarity will steadily improve as the stack develops. The image brightness and contrast may be manipulated by adjusting the sliders provided.
- Page 4 ‘dithered’ images. Conventional dark frame subtraction can also be used. A simple way of using the Ultrastar C is to attach a suitable camera lens and ‘piggyback’ it on a driven telescope. You may find it difficult to buy a suitable ‘C’ mount lens, as the Ultrastar C chip is too large to be fully illuminated by the cheaper versions that are widely available.
- Page 5 Many other imaging programs will recognise and work with the Ultrastar C. Maxim DL5 and 6 will work, although the camera might appear as an ‘Unknown’ device in earlier versions of this software.
- Page 6 Ultrastar C fitted directly into its focus barrel. Many such telescopes are designed to be used with an inverting prism ahead of the eyepiece and so the focuser may be too short when the Ultrastar C is inserted directly. In this case, an extension tube may often be made from a cheap Barlow lens assembly with the lens removed.
- Page 7 4 pull-down lines and a common return line to simulate an ‘ST4’ style autoguider output. The lines are isolated from the Ultrastar C electronics by opto-coupler chips and so there is no risk of damage when connecting the outputs to mounts with unprotected electronics. A standard ‘RJ12’...
- Page 8 Before attempting to guide, it is wise to check that you have control of the telescope drive via the Ultrastar C software. This is easily done by pressing the ‘Move Telescope’ buttons at the lower left of the control box. Check that pressing the arrow buttons causes the star field to drift left, right, up and...
- Page 9 Ultrastar C handbook Issue 1, August 2015 down, as appropriate. The LED at the back of the Ultrastar C should change colour when the buttons are pressed. If all is well, move onto the next step below: Once a good guide star has been found, press the ‘Stop’ button and then the ‘Select guide star’ button.
- Page 10 Guiding with ‘PHD2’ A very simple-to-use guiding program is Stark Labs ‘PHD2’ (http://openphdguiding.org/). I recommend this as a good and simple way to guide with the Ultrastar C and I use it myself on most occasions. To guide with PHD2, first press the ‘camera’ icon and select the ‘Starlight SXV’ option for the camera.
- Page 11 Ultrastar C handbook Issue 1, August 2015 Click the mouse on a suitable guide star in your last image and then select the ‘Target’ icon. PHD2 will set up a cursor and box on the guide star and proceed to ‘calibrate’ the mount. After about 1 minute of calibration, it will start to guide on the star.
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Page 12: Conditions Of Guarantee
Ultrastar C handbook Issue 1, August 2015 The Ultrastar C head is designed for a long and reliable lifespan and needs very little maintenance to keep it in good working order. The only common issue is with dust particles which collect on the CCD window and can shade areas of the image field.
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