Santa Barbara Instrument Group ST-7E User manual

Operating Manual
CCD Camera Models
ST-7E, ST-8E and ST-9E
Santa Barbara Instrument Group
1482 East Valley Road • Suite 33
PO Box 50437
Santa Barbara, CA 93150
Phone [phone] •Fax [phone]
Web:<www.sbig.com> •Email:<[email protected]>

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. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is
no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning
the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:
•Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
•Increase the separation between the receiver and the equipment.
•Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
•Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Shielded I/O cables must be used when operating this equipment.
You are also warned, that any changes to this certified device will void your legal right to
operate it.
CCDOPS Manual for ST-7E/ST-8E/ST-9E
Third Revision
December 1999

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction.................................................................................................................1
1.1. Road Map of the Documentation...............................................................................1
1.2. Quick Tour....................................................................................................................1
1.2.1. CCDOPS Software ....................................................................................2
1.2.2. CCD Camera .............................................................................................3
2. Introduction to CCD Cameras...................................................................................5
2.1. Cameras in General .....................................................................................................5
2.2. How CCD Detectors Work..........................................................................................5
2.2.1. Full Frame and Frame Transfer CCDs....................................................6
2.3. Camera Hardware Architecture.................................................................................6
2.4. CCD Special Requirements.........................................................................................8
2.4.1. Cooling.......................................................................................................8
2.4.2. Double Correlated Sampling Readout....................................................9
2.4.3. Dark Frames..............................................................................................9
2.4.4. Flat Field Images.....................................................................................10
2.4.5. Pixels vs. Film Grains..............................................................................10
2.4.6. Guiding....................................................................................................11
2.5. Electronic Imaging.....................................................................................................12
2.6. Black and White vs. Color.........................................................................................13
3. At the Telescope with a CCD Camera....................................................................15
3.1. Step by Step with a CCD Camera ............................................................................15
3.2. Attaching the Camera to the Telescope...................................................................15
3.3. Establishing a Communications Link ......................................................................16
3.4. Focusing the CCD Camera........................................................................................16
3.5. Finding and Centering the Object............................................................................18
3.6. Taking an Image ........................................................................................................18
3.7. Displaying the Image ................................................................................................18
3.8. Processing the Image.................................................................................................18
3.9. Advanced Capabilities...............................................................................................19
3.9.1. Crosshairs Mode (Photometry and Astrometry)..................................19
3.9.2. Sub-Frame Readout in Focus.................................................................19
3.9.3. Track and Accumulate............................................................................20
3.9.4. Autoguiding and Self Guiding ..............................................................20
3.9.5. Auto Grab................................................................................................21
3.9.6. Color Imaging..........................................................................................21
4. Camera Hardware.....................................................................................................23
4.1. System Components..................................................................................................23
4.2. Connecting the Power...............................................................................................23
4.3. Connecting to the Computer....................................................................................23
4.4. Connecting the Relay Port to the Telescope............................................................23
4.4.1 Using Mechanical Relays ...........................................................................24

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4.5. Modular Family of CCD Cameras............................................................................26
4.6 Connecting the older model CFW-6 filter wheel to the Camera..................................30
4.7 Battery Operation.............................................................................................................31
5. Advanced Imaging Techniques..............................................................................33
5.1. Lunar and Planetary Imaging...................................................................................33
5.2. Deep Sky Imaging .....................................................................................................33
5.3. Terrestrial Imaging ....................................................................................................33
5.4. Taking a Good Flat Field...........................................................................................34
5.5. Building a Library of Dark Frames...........................................................................34
5.6. Changing the Camera Resolution ............................................................................34
5.7. Flat Fielding Track and Accumulate Images...........................................................35
5.8. Tracking Functions....................................................................................................36
6. Accessories for your CCD Camera..........................................................................39
6.1. Cooling Booster..........................................................................................................39
6.2. Tri-color Imaging.......................................................................................................40
6.3. Camera Lens Adapters and Eyepiece Projection ....................................................40
6.4. Focal Reducers ...........................................................................................................40
6.5. AO-7 and Lucy-Richardson Software ......................................................................40
6.6. SGS - Self-Guided Spectrograph...............................................................................41
6.7. Third Party Products and Services...........................................................................41
6.7.1. Windows Software..................................................................................41
6.7.2. Image Processing Software.....................................................................41
6.7.3. Getting Hardcopy ...................................................................................41
6.8. SBIG Technical Support.............................................................................................42
7. Common Problems...................................................................................................43
8. Glossary......................................................................................................................47
A. Appendix A - Connector ad Cables........................................................................51
A.1. Appendix A - Connector Pinouts.............................................................................51
A.2. SBIG Tracking Interface Cable (TIC-78)...................................................................51
B. Appendix C - Maintenance......................................................................................53
B.1. Cleaning the CCD and the Window........................................................................53
B.2. Regenerating the Desiccant.......................................................................................53
C. Appendix C - Capturing a Good Flat Field............................................................55
C.1. Technique 55

Section 1 - Introduction
Page 1
1. Introduction
Congratulations and thank you for buying one of Santa Barbara Instrument Group's CCD
cameras. The model ST-7E, ST-8E and ST-9E are SBIG's fourth generation CCD cameras and
represent the state of the art in CCD camera systems with their low noise and advanced
capabilities, including Kodak's new Blue Enhanced E series of CCDs. We feel that these
cameras will expand your astronomy experience by being able to easily take images like the
ones you've seen in books and magazines, of structure never seen through the eyepiece. SBIG
CCD cameras offer convenience, high sensitivity, and advanced image processing techniques
that film just can't match. While CCDs will probably never replace film in its large format,
CCDs allow a wide range of scientific measurements and have established a whole new field of
amateur astronomy that is growing by leaps and bounds.
The ST-7E, ST-8E and ST-9E cameras include an exciting new feature: self-
guiding (US Patent 5,525,793). These cameras have two CCDs inside; one for guiding and a
large one for imaging. The low noise of the read out electronics virtually guarantees that a
usable guide star will be within the field of the guiding CCD for telescopes with F/numbers
F/6.3 or faster. The relay output plugs directly into most recent commercial telescope drives.
As a result, you can take hour long guided exposures with ease, with no differential deflection
of guide scope relative to main telescope, and no radial guider setup hassles, all from the
computer keyboard. This capability, coupled with the phenomenal sensitivity of the CCD, will
allow the user to acquire observatory class images of deep sky images with modest apertures!
The technology also makes image stabilization possible through our AO-7, or self-guided
spectroscopy with our SGS.
1.1. Road Map of the Documentation
This manual describes the ST-7E, ST-8E and ST-9E CCD Camera Systems from Santa Barbara
Instrument Group. For users new to the field of CCD Astronomy, Sections 2, 3 and 4 offer
introductory material about CCD Cameras and their applications in Astronomy. Users who are
familiar with CCD cameras may wish to skip section 2 and browse through sections 3 and 4,
reading any new material.
Thoroughly experienced SBIG customers may wish to jump right to the separate
Software Manual, which gives detailed and specific information about the SBIG software.
Sections 5 and 6 offer hints and information about advanced imaging techniques and
accessories for CCD imaging that you may wish to read after your initial telescope use of the
CCD camera. Finally, section 7 may be helpful if you experience problems with your camera,
and the Appendices provide a wealth of technical information about these systems.
1.2. Quick Tour
This section is a quick guided tour of the CCD Camera System you have just purchased. If
you're like most people you want to get started right away and dispense with the manual. Use
this section as a guide for learning about your new system.