The CCD camera
The first steps was to gather all the part to create this system, including tube, drives, mount, optics .... This page aims to describe all the parts that have been used to achieve this system. Use also "save link as" to retrieve the full size images, because some images are large to fit into the screen.
- The CCD CAMERA
The CCD camera is a MAYA 2x2K, based on a 2x2K CCD frontside illuminated TH7899M from THOMSON, 14µm pixel size, this is an homemade system.
A complete description is visible here (in French)
The CCD can be read-out in 71sec in binning1x1 and 23sec in binning2x2, thru the parallel port (set in EPP mode). The readout noise is about 10 to 15e-. The whole system installed to the telescope's tube weights 4.0kg
Complete overview of the system, including power supplies and control box. Shutter open, the CCD chip is visible...Here some CCD frames can be checked out (at -10°C).
Bias frame, the gradient is due to dark current (it takes 71sec to readout the whole frame) Flat field frame with 200mm lens Dark frame (180sec), note the left bottom amplifier glowing