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Section 1 - Introduction
Page 1
1. Introduction
Congratulations and thank you for buying one of Santa Barbara Instrument Group's CCD
cameras. The model ST-7E, ST-8E, ST-9E, ST-10E and ST-1001E are SBIG's fourth generation
CCD cameras and represent the state of the art in CCD camera systems with their low noise
and advanced capabilities, including Kodak's new Blue Enhanced E series of CCDs. We feel
that these cameras will expand your astronomy experience by being able to easily take images
like the ones you've seen in books and magazines, of structure never seen through the
eyepiece. SBIG CCD cameras offer convenience, high sensitivity, and advanced image
processing techniques that film just can't match. While CCDs will probably never replace film
in its large format, CCDs allow a wide range of scientific measurements and have established a
whole new field of amateur astronomy that is growing by leaps and bounds.
The ST-7E, ST-8E, ST-9E and ST-10E cameras include an exciting new feature:
self-guiding (US Patent 5,525,793). These cameras have two CCDs inside; one for guiding and
a large one for imaging. The low noise of the read out electronics virtually guarantees that a
usable guide star will be within the field of the guiding CCD for telescopes with F/numbers
F/6.3 or faster. The relay output plugs directly into most recent commercial telescope drives.
As a result, you can take hour long guided exposures with ease, with no differential deflection
of guide scope relative to main telescope, and no radial guider setup hassles, all from the
computer keyboard. This capability, coupled with the phenomenal sensitivity of the CCD, will
allow the user to acquire observatory class images of deep sky images with modest apertures!
The technology also makes image stabilization possible through our AO-7, or self-guided
spectroscopy with our SGS. Due to the large size of the imaging CCD, The ST-10E camera does
not have a second CCD in the head for self-guiding. For this camera we recommend a separate
autoguider like the STV.
1.1. Road Map of the Documentation
This manual describes the ST-7E, ST-8E, ST-9E, ST-10E and ST-1001E CCD Camera Systems
from Santa Barbara Instrument Group. For users new to the field of CCD Astronomy, Sections
2, 3 and 4 offer introductory material about CCD Cameras and their applications in
Astronomy. Users who are familiar with CCD cameras may wish to skip section 2 and browse
through sections 3 and 4, reading any new material.
Thoroughly experienced SBIG customers may wish to jump right to the separate
Software Manual, which gives detailed and specific information about the SBIG software.
Sections 5 and 6 offer hints and information about advanced imaging techniques and
accessories for CCD imaging that you may wish to read after your initial telescope use of the
CCD camera. Finally, section 7 may be helpful if you experience problems with your camera,
and the Appendices provide a wealth of technical information about these systems.
1.2. Quick Tour
This section is a quick guided tour of the CCD Camera System you have just purchased. If
you're like most people you want to get started right away and dispense with the manual. Use
this section as a guide for learning about your new system.