New STX Series Cameras - Baader Planetarium
New STX Series Cameras - Baader Planetarium
New STX Series Cameras - Baader Planetarium
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_______________________________________________________________________________<br />
<strong>New</strong> <strong>STX</strong> <strong>Series</strong> <strong>Cameras</strong><br />
The new <strong>STX</strong> <strong>Series</strong> <strong>Cameras</strong> from SBIG leave nothing to be desired: Greater cooling, faster<br />
download rates, better guiding, new imaging CCDs, larger tracking CCD, dual interface and more:<br />
• USB 2.0 and Ethernet Connections<br />
• 12VDC Operation<br />
• Full Frame Image Buffer<br />
• Air Cooling to –50C from ambient<br />
• Water Cooling Ready<br />
• Internal and External Self-Guiding<br />
• Simultaneous Dual CCD Guiding<br />
• Differential Guiding (patent pending)<br />
• Continuous Guiding During Download<br />
• Adaptive Optics Control<br />
• Even-illumination Mechanical Shutter<br />
• Gas Purge Option CCD Chamber<br />
• 40% Larger Tracking CCD<br />
• Focus Mechanism for Tracking CCD<br />
NEW CCDs Pixels Array Pixel Mono / Color Notes<br />
KAF-8300 8.3 Megapixels 3326 x 2504 5.4u Mono or color Full Frame Microlens ABG<br />
KAI-10100 10.1 Megapixels 3648 x 2760 4.75u Color 2x2 Color Binning<br />
KAI-16000 16 Megapixels 4872 x 3248 7.4u Mono or color 35mm format<br />
KAF-9000 9 Megapixels 3056 x 3056 12u Mono Full Frame Microlens ABG<br />
KAF-16803 16 Megapixels 4096 x 4096 9u Mono Full Frame Microlens ABG<br />
CCD42-40 4 Megapixels 2048 x 2048 13.5u Mono Back illuminated High QE<br />
CCD47-10 1 Megapixels 1056 x 1027 13u Mono Back illuminated High QE<br />
CCD42-00 262,144 Pixels 512 x 512 24u Mono Back illuminated High QE<br />
Internal and external guiders can be operated simultaneously for both fast and slow corrections to<br />
handle differential deflection. Guiding will continue during downloads and autograb sequences.<br />
The new 10100 color CCD can be binned 2x2 without losing color information, giving the camera 2.5<br />
megapixels at 9.5 microns, or 10.1 megapixels at 4.75 microns. More new <strong>STX</strong> features, details inside.<br />
_________________________________________________________________________________<br />
Santa Barbara Instrument Group 147-A Castilian Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93117 USA<br />
Tel (805) 571-7244 Fax (805) 571-1147 E-mail: sbig@sbig.com Web: http://www.sbig.com
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<strong>New</strong> Guiding Techniques for the <strong>STX</strong><br />
It is well known that the advantage of easier guiding through a separate guide scopes is often limited by<br />
differential deflection of the guide scope relative to the main optical axis due to mechanical flexure or<br />
shifting of the mirror in the main OTA. This difficulty is addressed with two new guiding techniques<br />
developed by SBIG and implemented in the <strong>STX</strong> series cameras: Simultaneous Guiding and Differential<br />
Guiding.<br />
Simultaneous Guiding: The external guide head will not only<br />
continue to guide while the imaging CCD is downloading an<br />
image, but it can be operated simultaneously with the on-board<br />
guiding CCD. This allows a unique type of guiding through a<br />
separate guide scope that will correct for differential deflection<br />
by using the external guider to make fast corrections while the<br />
on-board guider makes slow corrections. Differential deflection<br />
tends to occur over a longer period of time than drive errors,<br />
typically minutes vs. seconds. A long exposure taken with the<br />
built-in guider is capable of reaching dim stars without searching, even though dark filters, and a long<br />
exposure with slow corrections by the on-board guider will correct for slow differential deflection typically<br />
experienced with separate guide scopes. In the mean time, the external guider will continue to make fast<br />
corrections using the brighter stars easily found with a short refractor mounted externally. With the new<br />
<strong>STX</strong> series cameras this technique will only require a Remote Guide Head.<br />
Differential Guiding: SBIG has a patent pending on a new<br />
guiding technique using an artificial guide star. Although<br />
artificial stars are used in a variety of techniques on professional<br />
telescopes, the SBIG technique is somewhat different and easy<br />
to implement on amateur scopes. An artificial star is created<br />
near the focal plane of the<br />
imaging CCD and an image of<br />
this star is retro-reflected into a<br />
separate guide scope. By using<br />
one real star in the FOV of the guide scope and the artificial star image<br />
reflected from the main scope, the difference in separation caused by<br />
telescope drift is used to make the corrections to the telescope drive. There<br />
is no problem with differential deflection and a single CCD external guider<br />
can be used to monitor both the real and artificial guide stars. The artificial star image is not seen by the<br />
imaging CCD.<br />
Larger Guiding CCD with Adjustable Focus: The guiding<br />
CCD in the <strong>STX</strong> cameras will be a new KAI-340 CCD with<br />
640 x 480 pixels at 9u. This CCD is approximately 40% larger<br />
than the TC-237 currently used in<br />
ST and STL series cameras. The<br />
KAI-340 CCD will also be used in<br />
a new Remote Guide Head made for the<br />
<strong>STX</strong> series cameras. As the imaging<br />
and guiding CCDs get larger, the guiding CCD gets pushed farther away from<br />
the center of the optical axis. Depending on the nature of the optical system,<br />
this can cause the image on the guiding CCD to be slightly out of focus when<br />
the image on the main CCD is in focus. To address this, the new <strong>STX</strong> cameras<br />
will have a user accessible adjustment for changing the focal point of the on-board guiding CCD.<br />
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Design<br />
Features for the <strong>STX</strong><br />
USB<br />
2.0 and Ethernet: Both USB 2.0 and Ethernet will be<br />
available on each <strong>STX</strong> camera. The user will not have to choose<br />
the interface at the time of purchase. The <strong>STX</strong> cameras will have<br />
the same convenient I2C AUX port that we use on the ST and STL<br />
cameras for power and control of accessories such as filter wheels<br />
and Adaptive Optics, and will operate from any unregulated<br />
12VDC source.<br />
Full<br />
Frame Image Buffer: The <strong>STX</strong> series cameras will have a<br />
full frame image buffer for storing image date during download.<br />
We are exploring the possibility of using this buffer for preprocessing<br />
pixel defects based on a defect map provided by the<br />
CCD manufacturer, at the user’s direction.<br />
Improved<br />
Cooling: Our engineers have modeled an optimum<br />
cooling design for this camera using a large custom pin grid array<br />
heat sink mated directly to the hot side of the 2 stage TE cooler to<br />
achieve maximum heat dissipation with a single large fan. The<br />
<strong>STX</strong> is designed to achieve a minimum delta of -50 degrees C with<br />
air only, and a similar delta with water only.<br />
Water<br />
Circulation Ready: While the design is aimed at<br />
sufficient cooling without water assist, it is possible to use water<br />
instead of air or in addition to air for optimum cooling. Using<br />
water instead of air will not require the use of a fan. Chilled water<br />
may also be used alone or with the fan for even greater cooling.<br />
Variable<br />
Speed Fan Control: If the user desires air cooling only,<br />
the fan speed is controllable through software. Variable speed<br />
control allows the user to "tune" to fan to eliminate any resonance<br />
with the user's telescope thus suppressing harmonic vibrations.<br />
Desiccant<br />
+ Gas Purge Ports: In order to allow the user the<br />
greatest flexibility in the field, and to avoid having to return the<br />
camera to the factory in order to purge the CCD chamber with inert<br />
gas, we have designed the chamber to accept both a rechargeable<br />
desiccant plug similar to our current ST and STL cameras, and an<br />
optional quick disconnect gas purge port for purging the chamber<br />
with Argon or other inert gas .<br />
Even-illumination<br />
Shutter: From the first ST-7 camera, SBIG<br />
has incorporated an even illumination shutter for taking short<br />
exposure flat field frames on all self-guiding cameras. However,<br />
the rotating disk design becomes rather large with ever increasing<br />
CCD sizes. Therefore, a new shutter design will be introduced<br />
with the <strong>STX</strong> series that reduces the overall size and weight of the<br />
camera body, while maintaining even illumination on short<br />
exposures with large CCDs.<br />
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Current SBIG Camera Models and Accessories<br />
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Model CCD # Pixels Array Pixel Type Notes Price<br />
Remote Head TC-237H 325,215 657 x 495 7.4u Mono External Guider $695<br />
Seeing Monitor KAF-0402ME 390,150 Pixels 765 x 510 9u Mono Measures Seeing $1995<br />
Meteor Camera KAF-0402ME 390,150 Pixels 765 x 510 9u Mono Wide Angle $1995<br />
ST-402ME KAF-0402ME 390,150 Pixels 765 x 510 9u Mono Single CCD High QE $1395<br />
ST-402ME RGB KAF-0402ME 390,150 Pixels 765 x 510 9u Mono Internal RGB Filters $1595<br />
ST-402ME BVI KAF-0402ME 390,150 Pixels 765 x 510 9u Mono Internal BVI Filters $1774<br />
ST-1603ME KAF-1603ME 1.5 Megapixels 1530 x 1020 9u Mono Single CCD High QE $3495<br />
ST-3200ME KAF-3200ME 3.2 Megapixels 2184 x 1472 6.8u Mono Single CCD High QE $5895<br />
ST-7XME Std KAF-0402ME 390,150 Pixels 765 x 510 9u Mono Self-Guiding High QE $2195<br />
ST-8XME KAF-1603ME 1.5 Megapixels 1530 x 1020 9u Mono Self-Guiding High QE $4495<br />
ST-9XE KAF-0261E 262,144 Pixels 512 x 512 20u Mono Self-Guiding High QE $2795<br />
ST-10XME KAF-3200ME 3.2 Megapixels 2184 x 1472 6.8u Mono Self-Guiding High QE $5995<br />
ST-2000XM KAI-2020M 2 Megapixels 1600 x 1200 7.4u Mono Self-Guiding ABG $3395<br />
ST-2000XCM KAI-2020CM 2 Megapixels 1600 x 1200 7.4u Color Self-Guiding Color $2695<br />
ST-4000XM KAI-4021M 4.2 Megapixels 2048 x 2048 7.4u Mono Self-Guiding ABG TBA<br />
ST-4000XCM KAI-4020CM 4.2 Megapixels 2048 x 2048 7.4u Color Self-Guiding Color $3395<br />
STL-1001E KAF-1001E 1 Megapixel 1024 x 1024 24u Mono Self-Guiding High QE $6995<br />
STL-4020XM KAI-4021M 4.2 Megapixels 2048 x 2048 7.4u Mono Self-Guiding ABG $5995<br />
STL-4020XCM KAI-4021CM 4.2 Megapixels 2048 x 2048 7.4u Color Self-Guiding Color $5995<br />
STL-6303E KAF-6303E 6.3 Megapixels 3060x 2040 9u Mono Self-Guiding High QE $8995<br />
STL-11000M KAI-11002M 11 Megapixels 4008 x 2675 9u Mono Self-Guiding ABG $6995<br />
STL-11000CM KAI-11002CM 11 Megapixels 4008 x 2675 9u Color Self-Guiding Color $6995<br />
Model Item Description Price<br />
CFW-9 Filter Wheel 5 Position 1.25" filter wheel for ST-7/8/9/10/20 00 cameras (see notes below) $595<br />
CFW-10 Filter Wheel 10 Position 1.25" filter wheel for ST-7/8/9/10/2000 cameras $995<br />
CFW-10 SA Filter Wheel Same as CFW-10 but "stand alone" for use with any brand of CCD camera $995<br />
FW8-STL Filter wheel 8 Position 2" filter wheel for STL series cameras (replaces 5 position wheel) $700<br />
FW8-STL Filter wheel 8 Position 2" filter wheel for STL series cameras (add to 5 position wheel) $1195<br />
AO-8 Adaptive Optics Adaptive Optics for ST-7/8/9/10/2000/4000 cameras $699<br />
AO-L Adaptive Optics Adaptive Optics for STL series cameras $1795<br />
DSS-7 Spectrograph Spectrograph designed for ST-402 (will work with any ST series camera) $1595<br />
SGS Spectrograph Self-Guiding Spectrograph for ST-7/8/9/10/2000/4000 cameras $4995<br />
SGS High Res Spectrograph Same as SGS but with higher resolution grating $6150<br />
Please<br />
Note: The CFW-9 filter wheel is currently free with ST-8/9/10/2000 monochrome cameras. Offer is good<br />
through12/31/07. All STL cameras come with a built-in 5 position filter wheel, the 8 position filter wheel may be added<br />
for<br />
$700 at time of purchase The ST-4000XCM at $3395 is limited to a supply of CCDs on hand and the offer will expire when<br />
the supply is exhausted. The regular price for the ST-4000XCM after the special sale will be the same as the ST-4000XM<br />
monochrome camera. The rest of the prices above include any special offers in effect at the time of this writing and are<br />
good through 12/31/07. For information onclasses of CCDs available, industrial (single sensor) models of the ST series<br />
cameras, filters and accessories, with pricing, please see our official price list at<br />
http://www.sbig.com/sbwhtmls/Pricelist_u.htm