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APM Professional Telescopes

APM Professional Telescopes

1m F/8 Ritchey Chrétien with dual Nasmyth Foci, Cape Town (South Africa)

Another large telescope for the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO). An 1m F/8 Alt-Az mounted Ritchey Chrétien for robotic use. It has dual Nasmyth Foci. The main telescopes used for research are located at the SAAO observing station (32°22.795’S 20°48,657’E) near Sutherland in the Northern Cape, a 4-hour drive from Cape Town.

Astronomy is our job

Observatory Telescopes

Big prime focus telescopes for private or public observatories including installation and full service.

Robotic / Remote

Robotic instruments for automatic imaging or telescopes for remote observation.

Diffraction Limited CCD Kameras

Aluma CCD 695 a

Our most popular camera, the SBIG Aluma AC4040 is a large format Scientific CMOS camera, featuring a 16.8 megapixel sensor with 9 micron pixels.  The camera is compatible with the StarChaser SC-4 Guider and optional AO-X Adaptive Optics accessories.

Diffraction Limited Overview

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Astroshell Dome 4.25 m

Astroshell Dome 4.25m

CLAMSHELL DOMES provide an unparalleled 360/180 degree field of view for an absolutely breathtaking nighttime experience. When this observatory dome opens, you are truly among the stars!

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Product enquiries

Inquiry now

Please make your enquiries about the products you require here. We will contact you as soon as possible with a customised quote.

SBIG Filterwheels

Still too few filter slots for you? The highlight of the AFW: With a special dual filter wheel adapter, you can couple 2 (identical) filter wheels. This provides a total of 22 free filter slots for the AWF-12 and 18 for the AFW-10.

SBIG AFW Filter Wheels

SBIG Off-Axis Guider Camera

SBIG StarChaser SC-4 Off-Axis Guider Camera

starchaserThe SBIG StarChaser SC-4 is your all-in-one solution for off-axis guiding. It is the world’s best off-axis guiding camera, measuring only 0.875″ (22.23 mm) thick. It includes an easy-to-adjust pick-off mirror, 0.7x focal reducer for wider field of view, quick-turn manual focus mechanism, mechanical dark frame shutter, and 1.3 megapixel CMOS camera with large 4.5um pixels. It directly supports the SBIG AO-X adaptive optics, and includes an upgradeable license of our renowned MaxIm LT software.

Download Product Data Sheet

 

 

The SBIG StarChaser SC-4 is an all-in-one Off-Axis Guide Camera, with Adaptive Optics support.  The SC-4 is an improved version of our venerable SC-3 camera, and features:

  • Built-in 1.3 megapixel guide camera
  • Externally-adjustable pick-off mirror position
  • Improved focus adjustment
  • Integrated 0.7X focal reducer for a larger field of view and a better match to long focal length telescopes
  • Dark frame shutter
  • “ST-4” style guide port
  • Built-in Adaptive Optics control
  • Only 0.875″ (22.23) mm thick
  • Uses advanced 3D additive manufacturing technology to be even lighter than previous models
  • Highly accurate stainless steel spacers ensure zero flexure
  • Includes both MaxIm LT software and ASCOM driver

Both guide camera focus and pick-off mirror position can be easily adjusted using external knobs, without removing the SC-4 from the telescope or camera.

The integrated 0.7X focal reducer increases the field-of-view of the SC-4 and improves sensitivity.  This makes it much easier to locate guide stars.

starchaser mountedHighly Adjustable

The SC-4 can accommodate a variety of cameras and filter wheels, using our standard SBIG large format bolt pattern.  Normally it is directly mounted to an  SBIG AFW Filter Wheels, but is also compatible with the older FW7-STX.  It is also possible to bolt it directly to an Aluma AC series camera.

The pick-off mirror is adjusted by simply loosening the lock knob, sliding the knob inwards or outwards as required, and then retightening to lock it in place.  When fully retracted, the center of the pick-off mirror is 1.1″ (28.3 mm) from the telescope optical axis.  It can be moved inwards by 0.3″ (7.6 mm).  To reduce off-axis aberrations, it should be set as close as possible to the optical axis without infringing on the main camera image.

With the pick-off mirror retracted, the SC-4 accommodates a back-focus distance from 0.80″ to 1.80″ (20.3 mm to 45.7 mm).  Moving the mirror inwards increases the back-focus distance by the same amount.  With the mirror moved fully inwards, the range of back-focus distance changes to 1.10″ to 2.10″ (27.9 mm to 53.34 mm).

To verify compatibility with your SBIG camera and filter wheel, you can use our handy Back Focus Calculator (Excel Download) spreadsheet.

Adaptive Optics Support

The StarChaser SC-4 is directly compatible with the SBIG SBIG AO-X Adaptive Optics unit.  The AO-X bolts directly to the front of the SC-4.  A single 11066 adapter cable between the SC-4 and AO-X provides all necessary power and control signals.

Since the AO-X is controlled directly by the StarChaser SC-4, it is fully independent of the main camera.  An SC-4 and AO-X can be used to provide tip/tilt AO to both SBIG and third-party cameras.

exaple starchaserComplete Package

Our renowned MaxIm LT software is included, providing integrated control of your StarChaser and SBIG main camera.  We also provide API interfaces for third-party software running under Windows, MacOS, or Linux.  An ASCOM standard camera interface is included. (ASCOM currently does not support Adaptive Optics.)

The following parts are included with your package:

  • StarChaser SC-4 off-axis guide camera
  • Universal AC power supply with choice of power cord (US/EU/AU)
  • DC power extension cable
  • Tracking Interface Cable (“ST-4” style)
  • USB 2.0 A to Mini-B cable, 6 feet (2 meters)
  • 7/64-inch hex key wrench
  • Four 6-32 x 1-1/8″ socket head cap screws
  • USB flash drive with MaxIm LT software, DL Imaging drivers, and ASCOM driver

Additional Information

Adaptive Optics Option

Works with AO-X (cable required)

Backfocus

Adds 0.875" (22.23 mm)

Computer Interface

USB 2.0 Mini

Exposure

13.5 ns to 59.26 s

Filter Wheel Option

Attaches to AFW series and FW7-STX filter wheels

Full Frame Download

0.2 sec

Full Well Capacity

10,000 e-

Imaging / Pixel Array

1280 x 1024 pixels

OS Compatibility

Windows 7, 8, 10 x86/x64. Contact us for Linux support.

Pixel Digitization Rate

72 megapixels / second

Pixel Size

4.8 μm

Power

12V, 300 mA

Shutter

Electronic Global Shutter plus Mechanical Dark Frame Shutter

Temperature Regulation

No

Total Pixels

1,310,720 pixels

Weight

0.9 lb / 400 g

 

Acc Guider

SBIG AO-X Adaptive Optics

StarChaser/Aluma CCD/STC to DB9 Adapter Cables

STL to StarChaser Adapters

Aluma AC Adapter Plate StarChaser Spacers

 

Documentation

Product data sheet

Product datasheet for StarChaser guide cameras.

Download

User Manual

User’s manual for installing and operating the StarChaser SC-4

Download

Software

Drivers and Camera Configuration Utility

StarChaser uses the DL Imaging driver package. Download the latest drivers and camera configuration utility.

Download

ASCOM Driver

Provides compatibility with many third party control applications. Please install the main driver package (above) first.

Download (x86) Download (x64) 

MaxIm LT Software

Camera owners can request a MaxIm LT license here (camera serial number required):

Link 

To get started immediately, request the full MaxIm DL Pro demo version here (click Demo tab):

Link 

Once you receive your MaxIm LT license, simply replace your demo license using Help menu Enter License.

MacOS and Linux Drivers

Available by request. Please post in our support forum, Aluma section:

Link 

Software Development Kit

Available by request. Please post in our support forum, Aluma section:

Link 

Firmware Updates

Visit our Firmware Archive here:

Link 

 

APM Professional Telescopes

1m F/8 Ritchey Chrétien with dual Nasmyth Foci, Cape Town (South Africa)

Another large telescope for the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO). An 1m F/8 Alt-Az mounted Ritchey Chrétien for robotic use. It has dual Nasmyth Foci. The main telescopes used for research are located at the SAAO observing station (32°22.795’S 20°48,657’E) near Sutherland in the Northern Cape, a 4-hour drive from Cape Town.

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