Autoguiding
For the deepsky photography the Keller ASA Cassegrain 1200/3600mm f3/f9 is normally combined with the ED100 refractor. The refractor is used here as an autoguider and mounted on the back of the Cassegrain.
The CCD camera DMK21AF04 mono (Black and White) is used in combination with the ED100 refractor (100mm opening) as a sensitive and fast (Firewire) detector for the autoguiding process.
• Monochrome Firewire camera without IR cut filter
• 1/4" CCD, progressive scan
• Resolution 640 x 480
• Max. 60 fps
• Max exposure time 60 min
• C/CS Mount
Device Structure ICX098BL
• Interline CCD image sensor
• Image size: Diagonal 4.5mm (Type 1/4)
• Number of effective pixels: 659 (H) × 494 (V) approx. 330K pixels
• Total number of pixels: 692 (H) × 504 (V) approx. 350K pixels
• Chip size: 4.60mm (H) × 3.97mm (V)
• Unit cell size: 5.6μm (H) × 5.6μm (V)
• Optical black: Horizontal (H) direction: Front 2 pixels, rear 31 pixels
• Vertical (V) direction: Front 8 pixels, rear 2 pixels
• Number of dummy bits: Horizontal 16 Vertical 5
• Substrate material: Silicon
It is linked via a Zeiss Barlow (3.7x) and a TS-flipmirror to the feathertouch focuser of a modified ED100. The focal lenght of the guiding refractor ED100 with 900mm is powered up by 3.7x to about 3330mm and therefore about the focal lenght of the cassegrain at f9 (with 3600mm).
The powered refractor is with 3330mm 2.7x times bigger than the focal lenght of the cassegrain in f3 mode (with 1200mm) linked to the actual SBIG ST10XME photocamera. So minor shifts of the guiding star are corrected from the refractor setup with very high sensitivities in f3 and f9 modes.
The TS-flipmirror, together with an orion 12.5mm reticle eyepiece, is a helpful device to search at the sky for proper guidingstars at lower magnifications. It is adjusted parafocally to the CCD chip. So as soon a guiding star is found and properly focused, the switch of the flipmirror results on a perfectly focussed star on the guiding CCD chip.
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For the deepsky photography the MN61 900/150mm f/6 is normally combined with the ED80 refractor. The refractor is used as an autoguider and mounted on the back of the MN61.
The sensitive CCD camera ASTSC1BW (Black and White) serves as a detector for the autoguiding process.
The CCD sensor (ICX098BL black and white) being more than 3x as sensitive as the basic webcam ICX098BQ colour sensor.
Image size: Diagonal 4.5mm (Type 1/4)
Number of effective pixels: 659 (H) × 494 (V) approx. 330K pixels
Total number of pixels: 692 (H) × 504 (V) approx. 350K pixels
Chip size: 4.60mm (H) × 3.97mm (V)
Unit cell size: 5.6μm (H) × 5.6μm (V)
It is linked via a Zeiss Barlow (2.2x) and a Baader flipmirror to the ED80 focuser. The focal lenght of the guiding refractor ED80 with 600mm is powered up by 2.2x to about 1320mm and therefore about 1.5 times bigger than the focal lenght of MN61 (900mm) linked to the actual SBIG ST10XME photocamera.
The TS-flipmirror, together with an orion 12.5mm reticle eyepiece, is a helpful device to search at the sky for proper guidingstars at lower magnifications. It is adjusted parafocally to the CCD chip. So as soon a guiding star is found and properly focused, the switch of the flipmirror results on a perfectly focussed star on the guiding CCD chip.
The Zeiss Barlow power factor is adjustable, with the help of small spacer rings (each 15mm).
The ED80 obtained a Tal finderscope (russia), which makes with its wider view, the identification and selection of a potential guiding star much more comfortable.
The order of objectsearch is the following: Centering the star or planet in the Tal, the further centering in the 12.5mm eyepiece of the flipmirror, a mirror switch and the object is centered in the ED80/guidingcam at a focal lenght of 1320mm.
The tracking error of the Alt-AD7 is finally +/- (2-3) arcsec (without autoguiding).
The K3CCD software parameters under autoguiding.
The wiring network of Himmelwarte with the embedded autoguider branch.
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