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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.

ASA Telescopes

ASA600 with DDM200

ASA600 OTA is the perfect fit for the ASA direct drive mounts with absolute encoders. As all ASA telescopes the ASA600 is equipped with quartz glass optics from ASA.

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Product enquiries

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

Product Levels

MaxIm DL is available in a number of different product levels, as follows:

  • MaxIm LT supports modern SBIG camera models, plus webcams (see full list below).  This includes associated guiding, adaptive optics, and filter wheel accessories.  MaxIm LT has basic image processing, and does not control observatory equipment.
  • MaxIm DL IP provides full image processing and analysis capability, but no instrumentation control or image capture.
  • MaxIm DL Pro provides all features, including support for all camera models and observatory equipment.
  • MaxIm DL Pro Suite is a bundle of MaxIm DL Pro and MaxPoint.
  • MaxIm DL Maestro is an enhanced version of MaxIm DL Pro.  It allows a server instance to manage one or more client instances to operate multiple cameras in parallel.  This can be used to operate several cameras on a single mount simultaneously, including via scripted operation.
  • MaxIm DL Maestro Suite is a bundle of MaxIm DL Maestro and MaxPoint.

Please note that MaxIm DL Basic and MaxIm DSLR product levels are no longer offered.  If you are running these versions they will continue to function in future V6 releases.  These versions can be optionally upgraded to MaxIm DL Pro or MaxIm DL Pro Suite.

This user manual describes all available features. Depending on the product level you purchased, you may not be able to access all capabilities.

The following table describes the differences between the product levels. For MaxIm DL Pro Suite please refer to the MaxIm DL Pro column. See below for a breakdown of the supported cameras by level.
 

Major Feature

IP

LT

Pro

Maestro

Multi-Camera Imaging

 

 

 

Y

Com/ActiveX Scripting

Y

 

Y

Y

Image Processing Plug-ins

Y

 

Y

Y

Third-Party Camera Plug-in Support

 

 

Y

Y

Built-in Planetarium

 

 

Y

Y

 

 

 

 

 

Instrumentation Control

IP

LT

Pro

Maestro

Scientific-Grade Camera Control*

 

SBIG*

Y

Y

DSLR Camera Control*

 

 

Y

Y

Webcam/DSI Camera Control*

 

 

Y

Y

Filter Wheel Control

 

SBIG*

Y

Y

Autoguider Control

 

SBIG*

Y

Y

AO Control

 

SBIG*

Y

Y

Dome Control

 

 

Y

Y

Focuser Control

 

 

Y

Y

Telescope Control

 

 

Y

Y

Observatory Webcam Display

 

 

Y

Y

ASCOM Switch Control

 

 

Y

Y

Davis Weather Station Integration

 

 

Y

Y

Boltwood Cloud Sensor Integration

 

 

Y

Y

 

 

 

 

 

Control Features

IP

 LT

 Pro

 Maestro

Built-in Catalogs

 

 

Y

Y

Multiple Exposure Presets

 

Y

Y

Y

Autosave Sequences

 

Y

Y

Y

Scheduled Exposures (eclipse)

 

 

Y

Y

Visual Focus Tools

 

Y

Y

Y

Autofocus

 

 

Y

Y

Capture Mosaic

 

 

Y

Y

Dithering

 

 

Y

Y

Astrometric Resynchronization

 

 

Y

Y

Offset Tracking

 

Y

Y

Y

Guider Filter Compensation

 

Y

Y

Y

Tracking Error Graph

 

Y

Y

Y

Tracking Log

 

Y

Y

Y

Tracking Alarms

 

Y

Y

Y

Move (via autoguider pulse)

 

Y

Y

Y

Automatic Star Chart Overlay

 

 

Y

Y

Calibrate Shutter Latency

 

 

Y

Y

Automatic Observatory Shutdown

 

 

Y

Y

Automatic Pointing Refinement

 

 

Y

Y

Automatic Pier Flip

 

 

Y

Y

Automatic Shutdown

 

 

Y

Y

Multi-Star Autoguiding

 

Y

Y

Y

Differential Autoguiding

 

Y

Y

Y

Exposure Auto Script

 

 

Y

Y

 

 

 

 

 

File Menu

IP

 LT

 Pro

 Maestro

New/Open/Revert/Save/Close

Y

Y

Y

Y

Read/Write AVI Files

Y

Y

Y

Y

Reads DSLR RAW Files

Y

 

Y

Y

Batch Save/Convert

Y

 

Y

Y

Print

Y

Y

Y

Y

Load/Save Configurations

Y

 

Y

Y

Run Script

Y

 

Y

Y

 

 

 

 

 

Edit Menu

IP

 LT

 Pro

 Maestro

Annotate Images

Y

 

Y

Y

Mosaic

Y

 

Y

Y

All Other Edit Features

Y

Y

Y

Y

 

 

 

 

 

View Menu

IP

 LT

 Pro

 Maestro

Pan/Zoom

Y

Y

Y

Y

View Full Screen

Y

Y

Y

Y

Screen Stretch Window

Y

Y

Y

Y

Information Window

Y

Y

Y

Y

Pan Window

Y

Y

Y

Y

Zoom Window

Y

Y

Y

Y

FITS Header Window

Y

Y

Y

Y

Graph Window

Y

 

Y

Y

Log Window

Y

Y

Y

Y

Batch Process Window

Y

Y

Y

Y

Virtual Keypad

 

 

Y

Y

Night Vision Mode

 

Y

Y

Y

Animate/Blink

Y

Y

Y

Y

Equalize Screen Stretch

Y

Y

Y

Y

 

 

 

 

 

Analyze Menu

IP

 LT

 Pro

 Maestro

PinPoint Astrometry

Y

 

Y

Y

Photometry

Y

 

Y

Y

FFT Analysis

Y

 

Y

Y

 

 

 

 

 

Process Menu

IP

 LT

 Pro

 Maestro

Intelligent Image Calibration

Y

Y

Y

Y

Align Images

Y

Y

Y

Y

Stack Images

Y

Y

Y

Y

Remove Bad Pixels

Y

Y

Y

Y

Add Noise

Y

 

Y

Y

Remove Bloom

Y

 

Y

Y

Remove Pedestal

Y

Y

Y

Y

Resize/Double Size/Half Size

Y

Y

Y

Y

Make Pixels Square

Y

Y

Y

Y

Stretch (linear/log/gamma)

Y

Y

Y

Y

Histogram Specification

Y

 

Y

Y

Curves

Y

Y

Y

Y

Levels

Y

Y

Y

Y

Threshold

Y

 

Y

Y

Pixel Math

Y

Y

Y

Y

 

 

 

 

 

Filter Menu

IP

 LT

 Pro

 Maestro

Kernel Filter

Y

Y

Y

Y

FFT Filter

Y

 

Y

Y

Unsharp Mask Filter

Y

Y*

Y

Y

Digital Development

Y

Y*

Y

Y

Range-Restricted Filters

Y

 

Y

Y

Rank Filter

Y

 

Y

Y

Local Adaptive Filter

Y

 

Y

Y

Rotational Gradient Filter

Y

 

Y

Y

Wavelet Filter

Y

 

Y

Y

Deconvolve

Y

 

Y

Y

Flatten/Remove Gradient

Y

 

Y

Y

 

 

 

 

 

Color Menu

IP

 LT

 Pro

 Maestro

Combine Color (RGB, LRGB)

Y

Y

Y

Y

Color Stack

Y

 

Y

Y

Split Tricolor

Y

Y

Y

Y

Convert to Mono

Y

Y

Y

Y

Pseudo Color

Y

 

Y

Y

Convert Color (de-bayer)

Y

Y

Y

Y

Color Balance

Y

Y

Y

Y

White Balance

Y

 

Y

Y

Realign Planes

Y

 

Y

Y

Adjust Saturation

Y

 

Y

Y

Remove Background Color

Y

 

Y

Y

Color Smoothing

Y

 

Y

Y

Color Adjust (graphical)

Y

 

Y

Y

Narrowband Blending

Y

 

Y

Y

Quick Color

Y

Y

Y

Y

 

 

     

Other

IP

LT

Pro

Maestro

Supernova Search Tool support

Y

 

Y

Y

Supports third party control software

 

 

Y

Y

 

* Please see notes below.

FFT Filters

If a command optionally utilizes FFT filters, and FFT filters are not supported in the product level used, they will not be available for that command.

Cameras Supported by MaxIm DL Pro

All available models including all third-party plug-ins and ASCOM camera drivers.

For a complete list of all known supported cameras, please see Camera and Autoguider Setup. Plug-ins for additional camera models may be available directly from the camera manufacturer.

Equipment Supported by MaxIm LT

All SBIG Aluma (CCD) and Aluma AC (Advanced CMOS) models.

All SBIG StarChaser models.

All SBIG STC models.

All SBIG STF, STT, STXL, and STX models manufactured since 2014. (Older USB models may function but are not guaranteed to work.)

All SBIG filter wheels designed to be compatible with the above cameras.

SBIG AO-8A and AO-X adaptive optics accessories. (Older models may function but are not guaranteed to work.)

Melotte15 1

Melotte 15 courtesy Tolga Gumusayak
FLI Kepler KL4040 camera
   Read More

 

kl6060 top

The New Low-Noise Cooled sCMOS Camera from Finger Lakes Instrumentation (FLI) Provides High Speed Imaging with an Exceptional Field of View

Available with a front-illuminated sensor or high-QE back-illuminated sensor, the Kepler KL6060 camera is capable of taking up to 19 frames per second, using the optional QSFP fiber interface. This affordable camera is a game-changing solution for Space Debris Detection and Space Situational Awareness applications and is ideal for universities or dedicated amateurs who want to capture every possible photon.

Our products are characterised by quality.

  • Remote telescope in use

    Our project near Munich. 600mm RC tube on a DDM100 mount. As observation platform a dome from Astroshell with 3m diameter. The complete system is designed as a remote telescope.
  • SBIG CCD/CMOS Cameras

    SBIG CCD/CMOS Cameras

    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. The Aluma AC4040 is available in Front Illuminated (FSI) and ultra-sensitive Back-Illuminated (BSI) versions. BSI versions are offered with VIS-NIR and UV-VIS optical coating options.
  • Shelyak Spectrometer

    The UVEX is the most versatile instrument in the range. Achromatic by design, it can explore far into the ultraviolet and infrared – at the very limits of what today’s cameras can achieve. The interchangeable gratings (in option) allow different resolutions. Combined with its motorization module, it can be operated remotely. The motorization integrates the control of the calibration module (equivalent to the SPOX module). So it’s easy to do your dark, flats and calibration images remotely. The motorized UVEX is the ultimate version of the UVEX, allowing remote operation. You can remotely control the central wavelength (grating angle) and adjust the spectroscope’s focus.
  • Astroshell Domes

    The Clamshell dome is the preferred observatory dome for LASER COMMUNICATION and BIG-APERTURE telescopes. It is not necessary to synchronize the telescope with the dome. Both "shutters" can be moved and positioned independently to allow wind shading of the optical group. All of our domes are equipped with rugged belt drive systems powered by high performance DC or AC motors and feature industrial grade gears. If you need fast dome opening, we offer a special fast opening shutter drive system. Built up individually or in combined with the SRQ-200 DIMM station, our clamshell dome is the way to go for successful astronomy! 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!
  • ASA Direct Drive Technology

    New design based on 15 years of experience with Direct Drive mounts. Ready for the most demanding applications in pointing and tracking accuracy, like laser comunication, satellite tracking and general astronomical research.

    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.

    Our Team

    • Markus Ludes CEO

      Markus Ludes CEO

      Markus Ludes CEO has been managing APM Telescopes for more than 30 years.
    • Dr. (Ing.) Diethard Jakobs, Manager and Controller

      Dr. (Ing.) Diethard Jakobs, Manager and Controller

      Dr. (Ing.) Diethard Jakobs Managing Director and Controller at APM Telescopes. He is responsible for planning and execution of major projects.
    • Angelika Jakobs

      Angelika Katharina Jakobs International Relations
    • Daniela Lambert

      Daniela Lambert Assistant to the management
    • Michael Conrad

      Michael Conrad Distribution
    • Andreas  Pietsch

      Andreas Pietsch

      Product Manager Andreas Pietsch great passion is astronomy. At APM Telescopes, he mainly takes care of astrophotography. He has a lot of experience in this field. He also knows a lot about building and operating large telescopes.

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      Feel free to contact us if you have any questions

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