SBIG ST-7XME CCD

Presentation by Keith Rickard

And now for something completely different…

What colour is a rainbow?

It’s red!

Back to the camera…

Type: Dual CCD Selfguiding Camera

Imaging Chip: Kodak KAF-402ME (765x510 pixels)

Pixel size: 9x9 microns square

Chip size: 6.9x4.6 mm

Guider chip: Texas Instruments TC-237H (657x495)

Pixel size: 7.4x7.4 microns square

Chip size: 4.9x3.7 mm

Antiblooming gate? No

Shutter: Electromechanical

Sampling: 16 bits (65000)

Connection: USB 1.1 (full frame download <1 second)

More facts…

Temperature regulation? Yes. ±0.1ºCCooling power: -35ºC below ambientWater cooling? Yes. -10ºC

Exposure: 0.12 to 3600 secondsColumn Defects: NoneQuantum Efficiency: Very good – almost 85%Defect pixels: Up to 10 (Class 2 chip)Upgradeable? YesAttachable devices: Yes.

(i) Autoguider (e.g. ST-402ME)(ii) Filter wheel(iii) Adaptive optics

UV < 400, Blue 400-500, Green 500-600, Red 600-700, IR >700

UV < 400, Blue 400-500, Green 500-600, Red 600-700, IR >700

Capturing an Image

• Capture sofware:CCDOpsCCDSoftMaxIm DL

• Planetarium Software:The SkySkyMap Pro 10

Bias Frame (0 seconds). Minimum 200, Maximum 275, Average 206

Dark Frame

Dark Frame (60 seconds -18°C) Minimum 192, Maximum 6643, Average 206

Dark Frame – Bias Frame. Minimum 84, Maximum 6468, Average 100

Flat Frame (0.2 seconds). Minimum 30280, Maximum 33724, Average 31871

The End