Orion 52083 Instruction Manual

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[Page 1] Orion 52083

Orion ® StarShoot ™ Deep Space Monochrome Imager II #52083 INSTRUCTION MANUAL Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975 Customer Support (800) 676-1343 E-mail: [email protected] Corporate Offices (831) 763-7000 P.O. Box 1815,...

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2 Welcome to a new world of adventure. Your new StarShoot Deep Space Monochrome Imaging camera II (SSDSMI-2) is capable of capturing detailed images of astronomical objects; galaxies, star clusters, and nebula, as well as the planet...

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Securing thumbscrew 3 Figure 1. To use the SSDSMI-2, a telescope, mount, and computer are required. Figure 2a. The SSDSMI-2 fits into 1.25" focuser, just like a standard 1.25" eyepiece. Firmly tighten the thumbscrew that secures the SSDSI...

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Figure 2b. If your telescope has T-threads, remove the nosepiece from the SSDSMI- 2 and thread the camera directly onto the telescope. This provides the most secure connection. T-threads 4 In order to reach focus, the telescope must have approximate...

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5 Computer A computer is needed. For astro-imaging in the field at night, a laptop com- puter is highly recommended. Maxim DL Essentials requires Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Vista. The following hardware is also required: • Processo...

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6 When the 3VDC power supply is plugged into the SSDSMI-2, the TEC is on (Figure 3). It takes about a minute for the TEC to provide maximum cooling, so wait a couple of minutes before you begin to capture images. When the power source is not pl...

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7 Software Installation To install Maxim DL Essentials Edition: 1. Insert the CD-ROM into the drive. The Launcher will appear. For Windows Vista computers, the AutoPlay window will appear. Select Run Launcher.exe, then the Launcher wil...

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8 7. Windows will note that the driver has not passed Windows Logo testing. This is normal. Click the Continue Anyway button. 8. When the Wizard has completed, click the Finish button. This completes the driver installation process. Now, start th...

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9 7. When the window appears telling you “The software for this device has been successfully installed”, click Close. This completes the driver instal- lation process. Now, start the MaxIm DL Essentials Edition software. The camera ...

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10 Getting Started During Daylight We recommend using the SSDSMI-2 for the first time during the day. This way, you can become familiar with the camera and its functions without hav- ing to stumble around in the dark. Setup your telescope and moun...

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11 Obtaining First Images To obtain first images (in daylight) with the SSDSMI-2, follow these step-by- step instructions: 1. With an eyepiece inserted in the telescope, center and focus an object that is approximately 1⁄4 mile away...

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12 Note: The camera’s field of view is fairly small. It is approximately equivalent to the field of view through the telescope when looking through a typical (i.e. not wide-field) 10mm focal length eyepiece. So make sure the object to be image...

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13 When an image is displayed, you will notice a graph in the Screen Stretch Window. This is called the “histogram” of the currently displayed image (Figure 10). A histogram is a simple bar graph that shows the range of brightness...

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14 Stretch Window. The red slider arrow corresponds to the Minimum value and the green arrow corresponds to the Maximum value. Simply left-click and then drag each arrow to adjust it to the desired level. The best results are obtained by adjustin...

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15 Figure 12. The Moon’s surface detail looks the best along the terminator. barlow lens between the SSDSMI-2 and telescope to extend the effective focal length of the system and increase image scale (see “Using Focal Reducers and Barlow Lenses...

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16 5. Now, in the box beneath the Mode box, choose Autosave. Set the number of images you would like the camera to take under Autosave (start with 10 or so), select the file folder in which you would like to save the images with Folder, and ent...

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Figure 13. The Combine Images window allows “stacking” of individual images into one high-quality resultant image. 17 Imaging Deep Sky Objects To capture breathtaking images of deep sky objects, such as galaxies, nebu- lae, and star clusters, m...

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18 3. Precisely focus the camera by using the telescope’s focus knob and the Focus setting in the Camera Control Window. Set the Mode to Light 1x1, and try an exposure time of a few seconds to start. Use the Medium setting in the Screen S...

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19 Note: In addition to Average mentioned above, 3 other different combining methods can be chosen: Sum, Median, and Sigma-Clip. To learn more about these combine methods, see “Image Processing – Combine Tips”. 10. Now, find a w...

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20 To take dark frames for subtraction from “light” images: 1. In the Camera Control Window, set the Mode to Dark 1x1. 2. Set the exposure time to whatever you set it to (or will set it to) for taking actual (“light”) images. Note: When ta...

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21 To automatically subtract the averaged dark frame from “light” images as they are captured: 1. Setup the averaged dark frame as outlined previously. 2. Acquire the deep sky object into the field of view of your eyepiece, an...

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22 Light and Dark 2x2 Modes For added convenience and versatility, the SSDSMI-2’s individual pixels (light-detecting sites) can be “binned” into units of two-by-two pixels (i.e. four individual pixels create one binned 2x2 pixel...

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23 for Blue. The number of saved files will add up quickly, since four images are needed for one single color image. It is important to clearly label your folders when autosaving to ensure that you can easily follow which files belong to each im...

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24 Narrowband Imaging The extra-high sensitivity of the SSDSMI-2 is also capable of capturing images through specialized narrow band filters. Filers that isolate the Hydrogen-alpha, Figure 14. To Combine Color, select which images will be designat...

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25 Oxygen-III and Sulfur-II wavelengths are used individually, or in combination (similar to RGB) to deliver astounding detail and definition of certain types of nebula, such as emission nebula or planetary nebula. Additionally, narrow- b...

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26 4. Sigma-Clip combines the best features of Average and Median. Sigma- Clip is the best choice for removing unwanted noise, hot pixels and satel- lite trails. It works like Average but also calculates the standard deviation of the averaged pix...

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27 Note: Before any color balance adjustment can be made, you must first Combine Color to each individual LRGB or RGB images. Refer to “Combine Color”. Color images from CCD cameras typically require a background level adjust- ment...

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28 than 1 will emphasize faint details, while a value greater than 1 will emphasize bright details. The Input Range can be set to Screen Stretch, which in Linear Mode pro- duces an output matching the current screen appearance. ...

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29 3. Combine 4. Filter 5. Combine Color 6. Color Balance 7. Stretch For convenience, you can Make Pixels Square after the combine, unless align- ment requires rotating the images (i.e. Manual 2 stars is used as the Align Mode in t...

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30 Batch Process Batch Process can be used to process multiple images simultaneously using the various commands available in MaxIm DL Essentials Edition. The first step is to select a set of images or files. Image files can be selected from dis...

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31 Using The SSDSMI-2 As An Autoguider A great feature of the SSDSMI-2 is its ability to be used as an autoguider for telescope mounts. You can use the SSDSMI-2 to autoguide a mount while images are being taken with another camera,...

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32 Computer to Mount Connection In order for autoguiding with the SSDSMI-2 to work, you need a way to send commands from the computer to the telescope mount. This is generally done with a cable connecting the computer’s serial (COM) port to the m...

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33 Other telescope mounts accept commands in the “LX200 Protocol”. For these mounts, it is not necessary to install the ASCOM platform to have the com- puter “talk” to the mount. To setup the autoguider for mounts that use t...

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34 4. In the window that pops-up, select LX200 Protocol for the Autoguider Output Control Via. Select the COM Port of the computer you would like to use to send commands to the telescope 5. Click the Apply button, then click the Close ...

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35 4. Maxim DL Essentials needs to know how fast the telescope moves in right ascension (R.A.) and declination (Dec.) when the autoguider commands are issued. To do this, the software will Calibrate the mount by moving it back and forth ...

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36 You are now ready to take a long-exposure image through the main telescope and imaging camera. The SSDSMI-2 will continuously send small correction factors to the mount’s motor drive to insure steady and accurate tracking ...

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37 Other Features Of Maxim DL Essentials Edit Menu Flip - Flips image orientation. “Folds” image about vertical center. Mirr or – Creates mirror image of current image orientation. Crop – Lets you select an area of the total image,...

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38 Window Menu New Window – This creates a second view of the currently selected image. The new view can be independently panned and zoomed, but will have the same stretch as the original window. Fit to Image - This toggles the Fi...

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39 an extremely accurate polar alignment. Unfortunately it is very time consum- ing, since the drift of a star over time must be observed. The basic idea is to let the telescope mount track while watching a star to see which way the star drifts. No...

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40 1. In the Camera Control Window, select Light 1x1 mode. 2. Set the exposure time to 1 to 5 Seconds, depending on how bright the star is. 3. Turn off Dark Subtract. 4. Now beneath the Mode selector, pick Focus, and then click Expose. The c...

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41 Loss of Camera Connection If the computer connection to the camera is interrupted, you will need to re-establish connection. This can happen due to several reasons; if a cable becomes unplugged, the computer “freezes”, ...

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42 USB Extension Cable In many instances, it is likely a longer cable for the SSDSMI-2 will be needed in order to comfortably setup telescope, camera, and computer. We recommend purchasing a 10' USB extension cable if you need more cord length...

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43 This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device nay not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that...

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44 One-Year Limited Warranty This Orion StarShoot Deep Space Monochrome Imager II is warranted against defects in materials or workmanship for a period of one year from the date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the origi...