DeepSkyAwe
Camera and Imaging Head
Main Camera
MicroLine 8300
Typical Download Speed: 8 MHz Typical Maximum Cooling: -60º C Below AmbientTemperature Stability: 0.1º CTypical System Noise: 8 e- RMS @ 8 MHz
Flange Distance: 24.96 mmDimensions: 3.70 x 3.70 x 4.77 (94 x 94 x 121.3)
Sensor Specifications:
Blooming Protection: 1000xArray Size: 3326 x 250417.96mm (H) x 13.52mm
Full Well: 25,500 e-Mega Pixel
KAF-8300Peak QE: .60Pixel Size: 5.4 micronSensor Diagonal: 22.5mmSensor Typical Dark Current: <0.1 e-/pixel/sec. @ -35º C
Guide Camera
​​The Lodestar is one of the most sensitive autoguider cameras available which is needed for Off Axis Guiding.
CCD type: ICX429AL Sony Exview interline CCD with low dark current and vertical anti-blooming. CCD Full resolution Pixel data: Pixel size: 8.2uM x 8.4uM, Image format: 752 x 580 pixels CCD Image area: 6.4mm (Horizontal) x 4.75mm
Spectral Response: QE max at 620nM (~65%), 35% at 400nM and 770nM.
Readout Noise: Less than 15 electrons RMS - typically only 10 electrons.
Full-well capacity: Greater than 50,000 e- Dark current:
Focuser
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FLI Atlas Large Payload Focuser
Maximum Payload: 25lbs
Payload at 6" Distance: 10lbs
Minimum Travel: 0.35"
Number of Steps: 105.000
Resolution per Step: 85 nm/step
Weight: 3lbs
AutoGuider
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I typically go for 600 to 1200 second exposures to get a good signal at f4.0t o f5.0 spcially for narrowband imaging.Even though I have stiffened up most of the mechanical components I still get a bit of differential flexure between the guidescope and main CCD Chip. It Is for this reason I changed the imaging train to incorporate an Off Axis Guider. I have gone up to 30 mins for a single exposure with any guiding issues.My first off axis guider was a Telescope Service OAG which was not suitable for large and heavy imaging setups. I would not recomend that unit as a serious OAG but when using correctors lke the MPCC with limited spacing there isnt much of a choice.The new 3" Wynne with 79mm of spacing allows for the beefy Astrodon Monster MOAG. The build and quality is much highrt than that of the TS OAG.Note how small the TS OAG is next to the MOAG!
Filters
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An FLI CFW2-7 is used with 7 filter positions. These are 50mm Round Filters.
As the camera is monochrome, filters are needed to capture color images.
Broadband Filters:
L - Luminescence
R - Red
G - Green
B - Blue
Narrowband Filters:
Ha - Hydrogen Alpha
OIII - Oxygen-III
SII - Sulfur-II
Corrector Optics
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Prevously:
The Baader MPCC
Currently:
3" Wynn corrector from Orions optics UK
Excellent coma correction.
The corrector comprises of 4 elements of special glass types, two single lenses and a cemented doublet which enable the light from the telescope to be brought to a very wide, flat, false colour free focal plane of up to 60mm diameter field. The key to the design is the choice of some rare earth glass types and computer enhanced designing of the curves of the lenses