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Table of Contents
1. Introduction.................................................................................................................1
1.1. Road Map of the Documentation...............................................................................1
1.2. Quick Tour....................................................................................................................1
1.2.1. CCDOPS Software ....................................................................................2
1.2.2. CCD Camera .............................................................................................3
2. Introduction to CCD Cameras...................................................................................5
2.1. Cameras in General .....................................................................................................5
2.2. How CCD Detectors Work .........................................................................................5
2.2.1. Full Frame and Frame Transfer CCDs....................................................6
2.3. Camera Hardware Architecture .................................................................................6
2.4. CCD Special Requirements.........................................................................................8
2.4.1. Cooling.......................................................................................................8
2.4.2. Double Correlated Sampling Readout....................................................9
2.4.3. Dark Frames..............................................................................................9
2.4.4. Flat Field Images.....................................................................................10
2.4.5. Pixels vs. Film Grains .............................................................................10
2.4.6. Guiding....................................................................................................11
2.5. Electronic Imaging.....................................................................................................12
2.6. Black and White vs. Color.........................................................................................13
3. At the Telescope with a CCD Camera....................................................................15
3.1. Step by Step with a CCD Camera ............................................................................15
3.2. Attaching the Camera to the Telescope ...................................................................15
3.3. Establishing a Communications Link ......................................................................16
3.4. Focusing the CCD Camera .......................................................................................16
3.5. Finding and Centering the Object ............................................................................18
3.6. Taking an Image ........................................................................................................18
3.7. Displaying the Image ................................................................................................18
3.8. Processing the Image.................................................................................................19
3.9. Advanced Capabilities ..............................................................................................19
3.9.1. Crosshairs Mode (Photometry and Astrometry) .................................19
3.9.2. Sub-Frame Readout in Focus.................................................................19
3.9.3. Track and Accumulate............................................................................20
3.9.4. Autoguiding and Self Guiding ..............................................................20
3.9.5. Auto Grab................................................................................................21
3.9.6. Color Imaging .........................................................................................21
4. Camera Hardware .....................................................................................................23
4.1. System Components..................................................................................................23
4.2. Connecting the Power ...............................................................................................23
4.3. Connecting to the Computer ....................................................................................23
4.4. Connecting the Relay Port to the Telescope............................................................23
4.4.1 Using Mechanical Relays ...........................................................................24
4.5. Modular Family of CCD Cameras ...........................................................................26