Specifications

First Images

Actual exposure is performed from the “Exposure” tab of the CCD Camera

tool.

Illustration 15: Exposure tab of the CCD Camera Control tool

It is necessary to define few parameters before the first shot. First, it is

necessary to define the image type – choose “Light” from “Exposure” combo

box. Then choose the exposure time. If you experiment with exposures in the

dark room with a camera connected to some f/6 refractor, start with 1 second.

Do not forget to review the image handling options on the right side of the

“Exposure” tab. Let the “Open new Light image window” and “Overwrite

image in selected window” check-boxes checked, uncheck other options for

now (we do no plan to save our first images).

Then click the “Start Exposure” button. Camera will open the shutter, perform

1 s exposure, close the shutter and download the image. Image is then opened

in new image window. If this is the first shot, it will probably be far from sharp

focused image. Alter the focuser and try again.

Notice that options determining the new image handling on the right side of this

tab changes with every change of the exposure type. SIMS remembers these