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MX916 CCD CAMERA
MX916 CCD camera
M51 images (Integration times- 1Min, 2Min, 3Min) (2x2 binning) The 'MX916' is a brand-new introduction to the Starlight Xpress 'X' range of cameras and is designed to offer an exceptionally high sensitivity across the entire visible spectrum and into the near UV. The latest in 'microlens' technology from Sony has almost eliminated the 'dead area' from this CCD and has increased the quantum efficiency to more than 60% over much of the visible spectrum. This compares very favourably with the low values (< 40%) offered by many commonly used full-frame CCDs in astronomical cameras. In addition, the exceptionally low dark signal of less than 0.1 electrons per pixel per second, gives a very flat background on even long exposure images. Dark frame 1minDark frame 2min Flat (median sum of 5 images)
This large format CCD (8.7 x 6.7mm) is well suited to longer focal length optical assemblies, and the large (23.2 x 22.4 uM) near-square pixels are ideal for very deep-sky supernova and asteroid searches. Take a look at a few (dark subtracted and flat fielded) images obtained with the C14 at F/6 (integration times between 3 and 6 Min).M1,M1,M2,M3, M3,M4,M8,M9, M10,M11,M12,M13, M15,M16,M17,M19, M20,M22,M27,M28, M42,M42,M43,M51, M51,M51,M53,M56, M57,M57,M62,M63, M65,M65,M66,M66, M71,M74,M75,M77, M78,M80,M79,M81, M82,M87,M88,M88, M92,M94,M95,M96, M97,M98,M100,M101,M105, M106,M107,M108,M109, NGC2403,NGC2841,NGC2903. Click on images for full-sized view. M5,M8, M12,M17,M20, M22,M27,M42,M51,M57. LRGB images obtained with the same equipment. LRGB uses a conventional (and in many cases low quality) RGB color image and combines it with a high quality (high S/N) greyscale image of the same object. This combination is done so that only the color information is taken from the RGB image, thereby “dumping” the noise often present in these images. The clarity of the final product, or “luminance” (hence the “L” in LRGB), comes largely from the clear, high S/N, greyscale image. The result is a much cleaner, more esthetic image.
M42 (comparison image RGB/LRGB). Mosaic Images (RGB and LRGB) (M13, M51, M57, M27) (M11, M17, M20, M12) (NGC7009, M5, M80, M22) (M8, M94, M16, M51)
The MX916 is constructed in a robust black anodised aluminium barrel, 63mm in diameter and 95mm long and is supplied complete with both 2 inch and 1.25 inch drawtube adaptors. The 2 inch adaptor may also be used as a M42 'Pentax' thread lens mount and extension tube. In common with other Starlight Xpress cameras, the MX916 is driven from the parallel port of a PC computer and comes complete with Windows-based control and processing software.
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