Small Refractor CCD Imaging David Haworth
Page: 2 Small Refractor CCD Imaging © 1999 David Haworth Agenda n Equipment n Imaging session n Image processing n Advantages n Disadvantages
Page: 3 Small Refractor CCD Imaging © 1999 David Haworth Equipment n CCD Cookbook CB245 camera n Orion ShortTube™ 80mm refractor –400mm Focal length –13 x 10 arc second/photosite n Piggy back on Celestron CG-11 Schmidt- Cassegrain telescope
Interface to PC Camera Head Spectra Astro Systems Shutter CCD Cookbook CB245 Camera Water Cooling
Santa Barbara Instrument Group IR Filter in T-mount extension tube CCD IC Spectra Astro Systems Shutter IR Filter to Reduce Focusing Problem
CCD IC Thermistormounted on CCD IC Monitoring CCD Temperature Typical from water = 62°F
Spectra Astro Systems Shutter Shutter for Taking Dark Frames Dark Frames
CCD Cookbook CB245 Camera T-ring with IR Filter Spectra Astro Systems Shutter
CCD Cookbook CB245 Camera Mounted on Orion ShortTube Refractor T-ring Camera Support CCD Camera
T-ring Camera Support
Orion Piggy Back on Celestron CG-11
Page: 12 Small Refractor CCD Imaging © 1999 David Haworth Imaging Session n On the driveway observing n Reducing setup & tear down time n Typical imaging session n Dark frames n Multiple images
Telescope is Setup on a Dolly
Telescope is Lifted on Blocks
Astro Trailer
Computer Ready to Control the Camera
Roll a way Table With Dew Cover Ready for Night Time Imaging Astro Trailer CCD Cooling Water
Open System Cooling Water Water Thermometer Water Pump (12VDC) Cooling the CCD Camera
Quick Disconnect Water Hoses
Page: 20 Small Refractor CCD Imaging © 1999 David Haworth Image Processing n Richard Berry's software –Multi245: calibration & stacking –CB245: Kunihiko Okano's Digital Development functions
One 15 Seconds Image Seconds Images Multi245: Stacking Multiple Images
Without With CB245: Kunihiko Okano's Digital Development M13
Page: 23 Small Refractor CCD Imaging © 1999 David Haworth Image Processing n Software Bisque CCDSoft CCD Astronomy software –Brightness & contrast adjustment, rotating image, resampling the image to correct aspect ratio and saving the image as a JPEG file n JASC Paint Shop Pro software –Image cropping & creating mosaics
242 x x 252 CCDSoft - Aspect Ratio Resampling M42
Uncropped Cropped Paint Shop Pro - Crop Star Blooming M37
Paint Shop Pro - M31, M32 & M110 Mosaic M110 M32
Page: 27 Small Refractor CCD Imaging © 1999 David Haworth Advantages n Large field of view –55 x 41 arc min. vs. CG x 9 arc min. –Large object imaging n M8, M33, M42, M78, etc. n Finding objects is easier n Reduced polar alignment errors effects n Reduced tracking errors effects
M33 M78 Large Field of View 41 x 55 arc min.
M81 & M82Horsehead B33 Large Field of View 41 x 55 arc min.
M11 & Dark Nebulas
M8M17
Page: 32 Small Refractor CCD Imaging © 1999 David Haworth Disadvantages n Small objects do not image very well –M57, M72, M75, M76, etc. n Small 80mm aperture
M57 M76 Small Objects do Not Image Very Well
Small 80 mm Aperture NGC7331
Zoom in NGC ?
STScI Digitized Sky Survey (DSS) 48-inch NGC7331 ?
Page: 37 Small Refractor CCD Imaging © 1999 David Haworth Other Images n 70 Messier objects –ITS ‘99 CD-ROM –