1. Small Refractor CCD Imaging David Haworth http://www.stargazing.net/david/

2. Page: 2 Small Refractor CCD Imaging © 1999 David Haworth Agenda n Equipment n Imaging session n Image processing n Advantages n Disadvantages

3. 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

4. Interface to PC Camera Head Spectra Astro Systems Shutter CCD Cookbook CB245 Camera Water Cooling

5. Santa Barbara Instrument Group IR Filter in T-mount extension tube CCD IC Spectra Astro Systems Shutter IR Filter to Reduce Focusing Problem

6. CCD IC Thermistormounted on CCD IC Monitoring CCD Temperature Typical  from water = 62°F

7. Spectra Astro Systems Shutter Shutter for Taking Dark Frames Dark Frames

8. CCD Cookbook CB245 Camera T-ring with IR Filter Spectra Astro Systems Shutter

9. CCD Cookbook CB245 Camera Mounted on Orion ShortTube Refractor T-ring Camera Support CCD Camera

10. T-ring Camera Support

11. Orion Piggy Back on Celestron CG-11

12. 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

13. Telescope is Setup on a Dolly

14. Telescope is Lifted on Blocks

15. Astro Trailer

16. Computer Ready to Control the Camera

17. Roll a way Table With Dew Cover Ready for Night Time Imaging Astro Trailer CCD Cooling Water

18. Open System Cooling Water Water Thermometer Water Pump (12VDC) Cooling the CCD Camera

19. Quick Disconnect Water Hoses

20. 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

21. One 15 Seconds Image31 - 15 Seconds Images Multi245: Stacking Multiple Images

22. Without With CB245: Kunihiko Okano's Digital Development M13

23. 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

24. 242 x 252 187 x 252 CCDSoft - Aspect Ratio Resampling M42

25. Uncropped Cropped Paint Shop Pro - Crop Star Blooming M37

26. Paint Shop Pro - M31, M32 & M110 Mosaic M110 M32

27. Page: 27 Small Refractor CCD Imaging © 1999 David Haworth Advantages n Large field of view –55 x 41 arc min. vs. CG-11 12 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

28. M33 M78 Large Field of View 41 x 55 arc min.

29. M81 & M82Horsehead B33 Large Field of View 41 x 55 arc min.

30. M11 & Dark Nebulas

31. M8M17

32. 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

33. M57 M76 Small Objects do Not Image Very Well

34. Small 80 mm Aperture NGC7331

35. Zoom in NGC7331 16.9 ? 14.7 15.2 14.5 10.3

36. STScI Digitized Sky Survey (DSS) 48-inch NGC7331 ?

37. Page: 37 Small Refractor CCD Imaging © 1999 David Haworth Other Images n 70 Messier objects –ITS ‘99 CD-ROM –http://www.stargazing.net/david