Specifications

Section 2 - The First Day with the Camera
Page 14
Lunar/Planetary and Medium settings. Hit Enter. A sharpened image of Jupiter comes up and
notice how the red spot (light oval) now shows on Jupiter's right side by one of its moons. Also,
cloud band detail has been enhanced. At this point, you could save this image, but be cautious
and make sure you have read the manual and understand what the save function can do to the
original unsharpened Jupiter image. You are only a few keystrokes away from modifying your
original data permanently unless you heed the warning box displayed while executing the Save
command. No problem, just hit Esc or be sure to rename the modified Jupiter file before saving
it so as not to modify the original file.
Display the sharpened Jupiter image. We will go to the Utility menu and do something
else to this image. Select the Enlarge Image command and hit Enter. You have magnified the
number of pixels in this image four-fold. Be aware that this would increase the size of the
image on disk four-fold as well if you saved it. Notice that even more detail becomes visible.
Vary the contrast and brightness for the best view.
You have just successfully retrieved an image and optimized it for viewing. Since this is
any easily repeated example, let's get rid of the modified image by hitting Esc and moving to
Misc menu on the main menu bar.
Misc Menu
The Misc menu contains several commands that are used to configure CCDOPS to you
particular computer and graphics hardware. For now let's move right over to the Track Menu.
Track Menu
In the Track menu you see several commands. Except for the Track and Accumulate command,
these all pertain to using your CCD camera as a separate auto guider for astrophotography with
accessories such as a Radial Guider, guide scope or to guide a separate piggyback camera from
your main scope. It is for advanced users with appropriate equatorial tracking mounting
systems.
Filter Menu
The commands in the Filter menu are used for controlling the Color Filter Wheel accessory and
are discussed in the separate CCDOPS Software Manual and in the manual that comes with the
Color Filter Wheel.
AO Menu
The commands in the AO menu are for use with SBIG’s other cameras, the ST-7 and ST-8, to
acquire images in conjunction with the AO-7 Adaptive Optics Unit. They don’t pertain to the
ST-5C and can be easily ignored.
This basic preview should make you comfortable with the ease of moving around in CCDOPS
and what it entails. You can exit through the File menu now. Notice how a warning box still
alerts you that you are leaving an unsaved image that will be lost when you exit. Specify
"Quit:Yes" and hit Enter to leave CCDOPS. If you want more information about CCDOPS
please refer to the separate CCDOPS Software Manual.
2.1.3. Connecting the Camera to the Computer
Place the camera's CPU midway between the computer and the telescope or some other
convenient place. With the power to the CPU disconnected, plug the Optical Head into the
CPU at the marked location and plug the beige parallel cable provided with the system into the