Related Manuals for Santa Barbara Instrument Group ST-5C
Summary of Contents for Santa Barbara Instrument Group ST-5C
- Page 1 Operating Manual for the Model ST-5C Advanced CCD Camera Santa Barbara Instrument Group...
- Page 2 Santa Barbara Instrument Group 1482 East Valley Road • Suite 33 PO Box 50437 Santa Barbara, CA 93150 PHN (805) 969-1851 (FAX) (805) 969-4069 Email: sbig@sbig.com Home page: www.sbig.com Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
Table of Contents 1. Introduction to CCD Cameras....................3 1.1. How CCDs Work........................3 1.2. CCDs Applied to Astronomical Imaging..................4 1.2.1. Cooling........................4 1.2.2. Dark Frames......................5 1.3. The Various CCD Parameters and How they Affect Imaging..........5 1.3.1. Pixel Size.......................5 1.3.2. Full Well Capacity ....................5 1.3.3. - Page 4 B. Appendix B - Maintenance ...................... 35 B.1. Replacing the Fuse ........................35 B.2. Disassembling/Reassembling the Optical Head..............35 B.3. Cleaning the Optical Windows....................35 B.4. Replacing the Desiccant ......................36...
- Page 5 Introduction Congratulations and thank you for buying the SBIG ST-5C Advanced CCD Camera. This camera offers incredible performance in a small package for a moderate cost. Using the camera will expand your astronomical experience by allowing you to easily take images like the ones you've seen in books and magazines, but never seen when peeking through the eyepiece.
- Page 6 Introduction useful hints and tips for using the camera. Again, this is a good section to read once you have had a little time with the camera. • Finally, the Appendices provide a wealth of technical information about the camera. Page 2...
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Page 7: Introduction To Ccd Cameras
Film has the advantages of a much larger format, one-step color, and independence of the wall plug (the ST-5C camera can be battery operated in conjunction with a laptop computer, though). After some use, you will... -
Page 8: Ccds Applied To Astronomical Imaging
CCD from room temperature (25°C) down to 0°C results in an eight-fold reduction in dark current. The ST-5C uses a thermoelectric (TE) cooler to cool the CCD. The TE cooler is a solid- state device that acts like a heat pump. By running electrical current through the TE cooler, heat is pumped out of the CCD through the TE cooler. -
Page 9: Dark Frames
Section 1 - Introduction to CCD Cameras the temperature at a user determined value for long periods. As a result, exposures up to an hour long are possible, and saturation of the CCD by the sky background typically limits the exposure time. -
Page 10: Dark Current
Section 1 - Introduction to CCD Cameras The typical CCD astronomer is taking images of faint galaxies and nebulae. While exposures are long, you very rarely will expose the CCD to more than a small fraction of its full well capacity on these dim objects. Some stars in the image will expose to the full well capacity, but not much of the nebulosity. -
Page 11: Antiblooming Protection
Section 1 - Introduction to CCD Cameras whereby data from the image area, after completing the exposure, is rapidly shifted into the storage area where it is then digitized. A fast shift from the imaging area to the storage area insures minimal streaking. -
Page 12: Binning
Section 1 - Introduction to CCD Cameras CCD has a full well capacity of 50,000 electrons and a read noise of 30 electrons RMS giving a dynamic range of roughly 1700. A 12 bit A/D offers a dynamic range of 4096 and would cover that CCD fairly well. -
Page 13: Camera Hardware Architecture
1.4. Camera Hardware Architecture This section describes the ST-5C Advanced CCD Camera from a systems standpoint. It describes the elements that comprise a CCD camera and the functions they provide. Please refer to the figure below as you read through this section. - Page 14 Section 1 - Introduction to CCD Cameras The ST-5C camera is a two piece system consisting of an Optical Head and a CPU. The Optical Head houses the CCD and Preamplifier and the CPU contains the Readout and Control Electronics. The CPU is powered by an external 12 VDC source. For users in the US and in Japan, wall tranformers rated at 12 VDC / 2 Amps are supplied, for users outside these areas a Cigarette Lighter Adapter is provided.
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Page 15: The First Day With The Camera
Section 2 - The First Day with the Camera The First Day with the Camera This section takes you step-by-step through your first use of the software and camera. 2.1. Setting up the System This section tells you how to install the CCDOPS software and establish a communications link with the camera. -
Page 16: Getting Acquainted With Ccdops Software
Section 2 - The First Day with the Camera 2.1.2. Getting Acquainted with CCDOPS Software Upon entering CCDOPS a warning (referred to as an Alert) states no camera is hooked up yet. To proceed, hit any key and you are presented with our user friendly menu based interface shown in the figure below: File C amera... - Page 17 Section 2 - The First Day with the Camera box to the DEMO.SLD script which we created for you and hit Enter. Now you are presented with more choices. Temporarily ignore these and hit Enter again. When in doubt, just hit Enter to use the standard defaults.
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Page 18: Connecting The Camera To The Computer
The commands in the AO menu are for use with SBIG’s other cameras, the ST-7 and ST-8, to acquire images in conjunction with the AO-7 Adaptive Optics Unit. They don’t pertain to the ST-5C and can be easily ignored. This basic preview should make you comfortable with the ease of moving around in CCDOPS and what it entails. -
Page 19: Establishing A Communications Link With The Camera
Section 2 - The First Day with the Camera CPU. Connect the other end of the parallel cable into your computer's Parallel port (printer port). Finally plug the power supply into the CPU. At this point the camera should activate the small motor in the optical head to find the home position on the internal shutter wheel and the camera should be ready to use. - Page 20 Section 2 - The First Day with the Camera brings up more advanced crosshair commands. Hit Esc twice to view just the image. This is what you will typically view after you capture an image. Next, Esc back to the main menu and hit the Grab command again. Select Dark frame:None.
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Page 21: The First Night With The Camera
Section 2 - The First Day with the Camera and may be incorrect. Refer to the CCDOPS manual and the Telescope Setup and Edit Parameters commands for more on this. This data will always be connected with the saved image as long as it is viewed by any CCDOPS software such as a friend's or a magazine's. Repeat the above procedures to capture, display and save images until you are confident enough to take the next step of coupling your CCD camera to a telescope at night. -
Page 22: Focusing The Camera
Section 2 - The First Day with the Camera telescope chip DEC (Y) cord RA (X) Figure 2.3 - Camera Orientation If you haven't done so already, power up the CCD camera and computer. Under the Misc menu use the Telescope Setup command to enter your telescope information. For the Aperture item enter the clear aperture in square inches (for example an 8"... -
Page 23: Finding And Centering The Object
2.3. Further Foray’s into CCDOPS The CCDOPS software that comes with the ST-5C has many capabilities and will serve you well in your imaging pursuits. At this time we refer you to the separate CCDOPS Software manual for guidance and detailed technical information on that software’s capabilities. Section 3 You don't have to remember all the key names. - Page 24 Section 2 - The First Day with the Camera below, “Advanced Imaging Techniques” will also give you some good insight into how to effectively use your camera. Page 20...
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Page 25: Advanced Imaging Techniques
Section 3 - Advanced Topics Advanced Imaging Techniques The following sections describe some of the advanced uses of CCD cameras. While you may not use these features the first night, they are available and a brief description of them is in order for your future reference. -
Page 26: Autoguiding
3.5. Field Operation The ST-5C Advanced CCD Camera is supplied with a wall transformer for operation off 110 VAC that provides 12 VDC output to the camera. You can run the camera off of a car battery when operated in the field. If you are interested in this please contact SBIG or refer to Appendix A for the power jack pinouts. -
Page 27: Glossary
Section 4 - Glossary Glossary Antiblooming Gate - When a CCD pixel has reached its full well capacity, electrons can effectively spill over into an adjoining pixel. This is referred to as blooming. The Antiblooming gate can be used to help stop or at least reduce blooming when the brighter parts of the image saturate. - Page 28 Section 4 - Glossary Frame Transfer CCDs - Frame Transfer CCDs are CCDs that have a metal mask over some portion (usually half) of the pixel array. The unmasked portion is used to collect the image. After the exposure is complete, the CCD can very quickly shift the image from the unmasked portion of the CCD to the masked portion, thus protecting the image from light which may still be impinging on the CCD.
- Page 29 Section 4 - Glossary photoelectrons generated in the CCD for a 0th magnitude star per second per square inch of aperture. Saturation - Saturation refers to the full well capacity of a CCD pixel as well as the maximum counts available in the A/D converter. The pixel is saturated when the number of electrons accumulated in the pixel reaches its full well capacity.
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Page 31: Hints And Tips
Section 5 - Hints and Tips Hints and Tips This section contains hints and tips to get the most use out of your camera and software. There is a section of Question and Answers to the most common questions followed by several sections of tips. - Page 32 Section 5 - Hints and Tips Q. Can I write my own software for the camera? A. Appendix B describes the file format used to save images. You can also request an Application Note from the manufacturer telling how to interface and program to the camera.
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Page 33: Ccdops Use Tips
Section 5 - Hints and Tips the field of view and shorten the exposure times. Do not underestimate the benefits of focal reducing your f/10 SCT systems! 5.2. CCDOPS Use Tips • If you display an image and nothing shows, check that the Auto Contrast was enabled. •... -
Page 34: Telescope Tips
Section 5 - Hints and Tips • Images will always look better when displayed on a video monitor, however, an active matrix LCD display is pretty close except in brightness. • You may wish to change your display and hard drive sleep cycles (battery conservation) to longer "keep awake"... - Page 35 Section 5 - Hints and Tips in the CCD camera view. The chip is only .1 x .13 inch in size and 90 degree diagonals are never rotationally collimated to optical axis close enough to use for CCD work. Special laser collimated diagonals are available for this purpose as well as CCD framing oculars with exact reticle patterns to match the CCD chip.
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Page 37: Appendix A - Specifications
Appendix A - Specifications Appendix A - Specifications This appendix lists the specifications for the SBIG ST-5C AdvancedCCD camera. Texas Instruments TC255 Active Area 3.2 x 2.4 mm (.126" x .094") Field of View 5.4 x 4.1 arc minutes at 80 inch focal length (8" F/10) 1/2°... -
Page 38: Telescope Port
Appendix A - Specifications Telescope Port 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 = +RA (Right) 2 = +DEC (Up) 3 = -DEC (Down) 4 = -RA (Left) 5 = Ground 6 = No Connect Figure A.3 - Telescope Port Note that the four outputs are active-low, open-drain outputs without internal pull-ups and are capable of sinking 250 mA DC to ground when activated. -
Page 39: B. Appendix B - Maintenance
B.3. Cleaning the Optical Windows The design of the ST-5C allows for cleaning of the CCD. The optical heads are not evacuated and are quite easy to open and clean. Follow the instruction in the section above to gain access to the CCD and clean it using one of the following 3 methods: 1. -
Page 40: B.4. Replacing The Desiccant
Appendix B - Maintenance from upright a stream of cold liquid (the propellant) will issue forth rather than the burst of air. 2. In lieu of canned air, a small, soft, camel hair brush can be used to wipe dust from the windows. - Page 41 Index A/D converter ............ 7 full well capacity..........5 antiblooming..........7, 23 Full Well Capacity (def) ........24 Antiblooming Gate (def)........23 fuse..............35 astrometric measurements ........23 Grab Command ..........19 Astrometry (def) ..........23 guiding error.............22 Autoguider (def) ..........23 hand controller ..........19, 22 autoguiding ............22 hermetic chamber ..........10 backfocus............17 Hints and Tips ...........27...
- Page 42 Index TC255 ............1, 9 Tips ...............27 TE cooler............4, 10 Track and Accumulate (def) ........25 TE Cooler (def)..........25 Track and Accumulate Command ......21 telescope............19 Track List (def)..........25 telescope hand controller........19, 22 Tri-Color (def)..........25 telescope port..........1, 22 T-Thread ............1 thermistor ............