Specifications

AUTOSTAR CCD PHOTOMETRY i
Preface
There are at least two avenues to CCD photometry. First is for
someone who knows precisely what they want and digs into
learning how to achieve their goal. If they have previous
experience with single-channel photometry, the learning curve is
much easier. Another avenue to CCD photometry is for the
astronomer who starts with visual observing, moves to
astrophotography and then to CCD imaging. After taking many
“pretty pictures” this person decides there must be something more
that can be done with the equipment. Since the basis of CCD
photometry requires images being taken, this person has a “jump-
start” on learning CCD photometry. There is still a great deal to
learn in order to produce usable photometric data from the images,
however.
Many people are under the impression that a very expensive CCD
camera is needed. Certainly some of the upper-end CCD cameras
designed specifically for CCD photometry are excellent for the
purpose; however, the cost can be well out of sight for most
astronomers. Many people think you need a high-altitude, dark-sky
location to do useful photometry. This is not true. Unlike imaging
of faint deep-sky objects, most CCD photometry can be done
within an urban, light-polluted area. While it is true the darker the
location the fainter the stars you will be able to image, there are
many lifetimes’ worth of brighter objects just begging to be
observed.
Having worked with single-channel photometry for many years,
we decided to try CCD photometry, but without having to
mortgage our houses in order to buy high-end equipment. When
Meade Instruments came out with the monochrome Deep Sky
Imager DSI™ Pro for under $400, we decided that would be an
ideal CCD camera to work with. The price is well within the
budget of most astronomers, and the specifications for the camera
looked more than sufficient to experiment with CCD photometry.
In order to do filter photometry, we added a filter wheel and
standard BVRI photometric filters.