However, the CCD chip has 70% more area and the QE is considerably greater, at around 75% peak.

These characteristics give the Ultrastar excellent performance as both a guide camera and an imaging camera, which is especially well suited to ‘Live Viewing’ mode.

Some years ago, Paul Shears released a simple to use program called ‘Lodestar Live’, which uses the SX Lodestar in ‘Live Viewing’ mode.

This has now been upgraded to ‘Starlight Live’ and is capable of controlling both the Lodestar and the Ultrastar in Live view. It can also register and stack incoming images.

M27 from a stack of 40 x 10 second Ultrastar frames in Starlight Live.

Taken with Takahashi FSQ106 at F/5

The Ultrastar specification...

CCD                                 Sony ICX825AL ExView2 monochrome CCD

Pixel count                    1392(H) x 1040(V)

Pixel size                        6.45 x 6.45uM

Optical size                    8.98 x 6.71 mm

Read noise                     Typically 5.0 electrons

QE                                     Peak QE 75% (yellow light)

Gain                                 0.3 e/ADU

Barrel size                      31.75mm dia. x 85mm long (1.25 inch eyepiece push fit size)

Barrel thread                 25.4mm x 0.75mm ‘CS’ mount lens thread

Input connection          ‘Mini B’ USB socket for USB2.0

Output connection       Standard RJ12 autoguider socket

Output type                    Opto-isolated 4 lines (N,S,E & W) pull down with common return line

Download rate              Approx. 2 frames per second in binned 1×1 mode

M27 from a stack of 14 x 20 second Ultrastar C frames in Starlight Live.

Taken with a Takahashi FSQ106 at F/5

Ultrastar ‘live viewing’ imaging software, courtesy of Paul Shears

Download ‘Starlight Live’ for Windows – version 1.0

Download ‘Starlight Live’ for Mac OSX – version 1.0

The post Starlight Xpress Ultrastar Mono – shipped to EU appeared first on Modern Astronomy.

However, the CCD chip has 70% more area and the QE is considerably greater, at around 75% peak.

These characteristics give the Ultrastar excellent performance as both a guide camera and an imaging camera, which is especially well suited to ‘Live Viewing’ mode.

Some years ago, Paul Shears released a simple to use program called ‘Lodestar Live’, which uses the SX Lodestar in ‘Live Viewing’ mode.

This has now been upgraded to ‘Starlight Live’ and is capable of controlling both the Lodestar and the Ultrastar in Live view. It can also register and stack incoming images.

M27 from a stack of 40 x 10 second Ultrastar frames in Starlight Live.

Taken with Takahashi FSQ106 at F/5

The Ultrastar specification...

CCD                                 Sony ICX825AL ExView2 monochrome CCD

Pixel count                    1392(H) x 1040(V)

Pixel size                        6.45 x 6.45uM

Optical size                    8.98 x 6.71 mm

Read noise                     Typically 5.0 electrons

QE                                     Peak QE 75% (yellow light)

Gain                                 0.3 e/ADU

Barrel size                      31.75mm dia. x 85mm long (1.25 inch eyepiece push fit size)

Barrel thread                 25.4mm x 0.75mm ‘CS’ mount lens thread

Input connection          ‘Mini B’ USB socket for USB2.0

Output connection       Standard RJ12 autoguider socket

Output type                    Opto-isolated 4 lines (N,S,E & W) pull down with common return line

Download rate              Approx. 2 frames per second in binned 1×1 mode

M27 from a stack of 14 x 20 second Ultrastar C frames in Starlight Live.

Taken with a Takahashi FSQ106 at F/5

Ultrastar ‘live viewing’ imaging software, courtesy of Paul Shears

Download ‘Starlight Live’ for Windows – version 1.0

Download ‘Starlight Live’ for Mac OSX – version 1.0

The post Starlight Xpress Ultrastar Mono – shipped to UK appeared first on Modern Astronomy.

The original Lodestar used the ICX429 Exview chip from Sony and offered excellent sensitivity.

However, Sony have now upgraded the ICX429 to the ICX829, with considerably improved QE and read noise.

This new ‘Exview 2’ chip approximately doubles the Lodestar sensitivity and adds nearly a full star magnitude to the minimum guide star brightness.

We have also redesigned the boards so that a standard RJ12 guide socket can be used.

This will please many users who have found the small ‘ZH’ cable socket to be too delicate

Package includes case, camera, dust cap, user guide, software & drivers on CD, USB & guide cables.

Specifications:

• CCD type: ICX829 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 (Vertical).
• CCD quality: Grade 1
• 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- (unbinned)
• Anti-blooming: Overload margin greater than 1000x.
• Dark current: Dark frame saturation time greater than 1 hour. Less than 0.1 electrons/second @ + 10C ambient.
• Data format: 16 bits.
• System gain:  0.9 electrons per ADU
• Computer Interface: Built-in USB 2.0 compatible interface.
• Image download time: Typically 0.2 seconds at full resolution using USB 2.0.
• Power requirements: USB powered.
• Cooling system: Ambient air cooling.
• Size: 32 x 72mm black anodised aluminium barrel with 25 x 0.75mm ‘CS mount’ thread at the CCD window end & input/output plugs at rear. Back focal distance 12.5mm.
• Weight: approx. 50g.

Lodestar x2 Response Graph

10 second exposure of M31 with original Lodestar

10 seconds with Lodestar X2

The post Lodestar x2 Colour appeared first on Modern Astronomy.

Excellent for Off Axis Guiding and AstroVideo / EAA real time electronic observing.

The original Lodestar used the ICX429 Exview chip from Sony and offered excellent sensitivity. However, Sony have now upgraded the ICX429 to the ICX829, with considerably improved QE and read noise.

This new ‘Exview 2’ chip approximately doubles the Lodestar sensitivity and adds nearly a full star magnitude to the minimum guide star brightness.

We have also redesigned the boards so that a standard RJ12 guide socket can be used. This will please many users who have found the small ‘ZH’ cable socket to be too delicate

Package includes case, camera, dust cap, user guide, software & drivers on CD, USB & guide cables.

Specifications:

• CCD type: ICX829 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 (Vertical).
• CCD quality: Grade 1
• 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- (unbinned)
• Anti-blooming: Overload margin greater than 1000x.
• Dark current: Dark frame saturation time greater than 1 hour. Less than 0.1 electrons/second @ + 10C ambient.
• Data format: 16 bits.
• System gain:  0.9 electrons per ADU
• Computer Interface: Built-in USB 2.0 compatible interface.
• Image download time: Typically 0.2 seconds at full resolution using USB 2.0.
• Power requirements: USB powered.
• Cooling system: Ambient air cooling.
• Size: 32 x 72mm black anodised aluminium barrel with 25 x 0.75mm ‘CS mount’ thread at the CCD window end & input/output plugs at rear. Back focal distance 12.5mm.
• Weight: approx. 50g.

Lodestar Pro Mono Response Graph

10 second exposure of M31 with original Lodestar

10 seconds with Lodestar Pro

The post Starlight Xpress Lodestar Pro Mono appeared first on Modern Astronomy.