My CCD Camera is a ST-7E manufactured by SBIG (USA) and supplied via BCF in London. (picture of ST-7)

The ST-7 camera uses the KAF-400E CCD chip (765 x 510 pixels, with pixel dimension of 9 x 9 microns).  A non-ABG camera was ordered, but it is currently suspected that the camera supplied is actually an ABG camera (details)

Camera control is performed via CCDSoft v5 program written by Software Bisque. The software was supplied with the camera.

[ Technical specification of ST-7 camera (at SBIG Website) ]
[ Technical specification of CCDSoft v5 program (at Software Bisque Website) ]

Some of the first pictures taken with my ST7 camera are shown below. They don't really to justice to the capabilities of the ST7 camera, but they show my first achievements.  For more recent images look at my Imaging Sessions page.

Initial Teething problems and solutions are listed below

• Problem :  Focus control and @Focus not working from within CCDSoft although focus control working from within TheSky

Solution :  Telescope / Server Settings modified in the TheSky to allow remote connections/allow focus control   (solution originally provided to me by Software Bisque technical support )

• Open TheSky. 

• Open menu item Telescope |  Server Settings. 

• Click on  'Allow remote connections'

• Then within the 'Remote client capabilities' section, click on 'Allow focus control'

• Finally click on Ok

• After this you small window that comes up called 'TheSky Server' which
  contains a note indicating that Sky is 'Listening on port 9032'

• Problem :  Telescope running away in Declination when ST7 is connected to LX200, making it impossible to keep a star image stationary on the CCD chip
  Temporary Workaround: Remove cable (Autoguider consequently not available)
  Solution:  SBIG diagnosed a probable reverse wiring problem with the RC-Adapter and sent a replacement by Airmail.  This new adapter fixed the problem.

CCDSoft
CCDSoft appears to be fully capable for acquiring CCD images using the ST-7.

Some bugs noticed in 5.00.041
a) Problem : Offset time field on the FITS Modifier form will not accept '-1'. Error given as soon as '-' is entered. Workaround : Enter '1' first, then left arrow and then enter '-'

Autosave/Image numbering
I use the Autosave facility in CCDSoft, with an image numbering system with format, sssssnnn, where sssss records the imaging session number and nnn records the consecutive images taken during the session. eg 00006001 is the 1st image taken during the 6th observing session.

At the start of each session I set the Autosave Starting number to  sssss001 (eg 6001) and the autosave folder to ../Ccd Imaging/New/yyyy-mm-dd/  where yyyy-mm-dd is the observing date.

Mechanical Connection to Scope
The standard connection provided with ST-7 is a 1.1/4" nose piece. When connected into a 1.1/4" eyepiece holder with a single thumb-screw, the ST-7 is in danger of falling out and/or slop.

I've now bought a #62 T-Adapter, which allows the ST-7 to be screwed securely to a T-Thread. In practice I connect the ST-7 and T-Adapter to a Thread to 2" nose adapter, which I insert into a JMI-NGF-S focusser and tighten with a pair of thumb-screws.

An assessment of CCD Imaging Performance from my first 4 months use of the camera is documented. (CCD Imaging Performance 2001-09 to 2002-01)

 

CCD Operating Temperature

Graph showing CCD Operating Temperatures used in SBIG through year.
(note SBIG 7e camera cools up o ~ 30 deg below ambient)

 

The principal accessories associated with the CCD camera are
- 3D Counter Weight system 
- JMI NGF-S focusser controlled via CCDSoft and TheSky

Books that I own and have read on the subject are as follows

• Choosing and Using a CCD Camera
  by Richard Berry  (Willmann-Bell, Inc, 1992)
  A practical, nuts and bolts kind of book with aim of helping the reader decide if CCDs are for them, and then help them plan and execute successful imaging sessions. This was my first book on the subject and helped me to decide that I needed to get into CCD imaging one day.

• The Art and Science of CCD Astronomy, 
  edited by David Ratledge (Springer-Verlag London Ltd, 1996)
  Describes the equipment, techniques and solutions of 12 amateur astronomers with various CCD targets. One of the chapters is by David Strange who belongs to the Wessex Astronomy Society.

• A Practical Guide to CCD Astronomy
  by Patrick Martinez and Alain Klotz (Cambridge University Press, 1997)
  Gives a clear description about how CCD cameras work and what factors determine their performance. I  found Chapters 4 and 5 (Display and image analysis functions, Image Processing functions ) very useful and helped clarify to me how image processing works. 

• The New Astronomy
  by Ron Wodaski  (2001) ( http://www.newastro.com/)
  A practical, up to the minute description of modern amateur CCD imaging.  Most useful if you own a SBIG camera and use CCDSoft.

I've also borrowed and read the following book 

• Handbook of CCD Astronomy 
  by Steve B. Howell (Cambridge University Press, 2000)
  Describes the electronic workings of Charge-Couple Devices (CCDs). Chapter 5 on photometry and astrometry useful. Last chapter about use of CCDs in Space.  More of a book for university students than the CCD amateur.

 

BST times are 1 hour greater than UT times

To analyse FITS images for a minor planet using CCDSoft/TheSky, times (TIME-OBS, DATE-OBS) must be in UT times.

CCDSoft's | Research | Analyse Folder of Images | FITS modifier | can be used to correct BST times to UT times.    Use Offset Time (hours) of -1 
(Need to be careful to apply change only once)