SBIG ST-8XE CCD CAMERA


ST-8XE, AP130 F/6


Field-Flattener AP130 F/6


SBIG CFW8A

SBIG ST-8E CCD CAMERA

SBIG ST-8E & Takahashi FS102

Click on image for full-sized view.


SBIG ST-8E CCD camera with ECP (Enhanced Cooling Package)


SBIG ST-8E CCD camera, True Technology Filter Wheel

Bias frame (-10 ºC)
Dark frame 1m (-10 ºC).
Flat frame (-5 ºC)

ST-8E (cleaning the CCD)
ST-8E (cleaning the CCD)
Flat-field (before cleaning)
Flat-field (After cleaning)

First Imaging Session (20030110). Takahashi FS102 F/6 (reducer/corrector), ST-8E.

M001 and Saturn. Median Sum 5x30s.
M034. Median Sum 5x30s.
M035. Sum 5x1m.
M036. Median Sum. 6x1min.
M037. Median Sum 5x1min.
M038. Median Sum 5x1min.
M042. Median Sum (log scaled) 5x1min.
M045. Median Sum 5x15s.
M081. Sum 5x2min.
M082. Sum 3x2min.

First LRGB images (M42,M35). Second Imaging Session (20030113).
Takahashi FS102 F/8, ST-8E, True Technology Filter Wheel.

M42. Sum 5x30s, log scaled (LRGB image).
M42. LRGB optimized.
M35. Sum 5x60s, log scaled (LRGB image).

Second imaging Session (20030113)
Takahashi FS102 F/8, ST-8E, True Technology Filter Wheel.

M35. Sum 5x1min.
M41. Sum 5x1min.
M42. Sum 5x30s, log scaled.
M46. Sum 6x1min.
M47. Sum 5x1min.
M50. Sum 3x1min.
M79. Sum, 5x1min.

Winter deep-sky objects (20030127)
B33, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 20min, 10x2min (Sum).
M001, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 20min, 5x2min (Sum).
M042, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 25s, 5x5s (Sum).
M042, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 2.5min, 5x30s (Sum).
M042, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum).
M051, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 12min, 6x2min (Sum).
NGC1778, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum).
NGC1857, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum).
NGC1893, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum).
NGC2237, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum).
NGC2261, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum).
NGC2264, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 10min, 5x2min (Sum).
NGC2281, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum).
NGC2331, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum).
NGC2354, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum).
NGC2362, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum).
NGC2395, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum).
NGC2420, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum).
NGC2506, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum).
NGC3115, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 10min, 5x2min (Sum).

Spring deep-sky objects (20030510)
Abell 1656, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST8E, 10min, 5x2min (median Sum)
Abell 2151, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST8E, 16min, 8x2min (median Sum)
M3, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST8E, 3min, 3x1min (Sum) Log scaling
M13, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum) Log scaling
M51, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST8E, 14min, 7x2min (Sum)
M53, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST8E, 3min, 3x1min (median Sum)
M57, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum)
M63, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST8E, 8min, 4x2min (Sum)
M64, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST8E, 10min, 5x2min (Sum)
M84 group, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST8E, 10min, 5x2min (Sum)
M92, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST8E, 3min, 3x1min (Sum) Log scaling
M101, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST8E, 10min, 5x2min (median Sum)
NGC4565, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST8E, 10min, 5x2min (Sum)

Spring deep-Sky objects (20030521)
Abel 1367, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 10min, 5x2min (Sum)
Abell 1656, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 10min, 5x2min (Sum)
M3, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 4min, 4x1min (Sum) Log scaling
M4, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum) Log scaling
M9, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum) Log scaling
M10, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 3min, 3x1min (Sum) Log scaling
M11, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 10min, 10x1min (Sum) Log scaling
M11, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 10min, 10x1min (Sum)
M12, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 3min, 3x1min (Sum)
M13, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum) Log scaling
M14, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum) Log scaling
M19, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum) Log scaling
M22, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum) Log scaling
M28, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum) Log scaling
M51, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 10min, 5x2min (Sum)
M56, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum) Log scaling
M57, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum)
M59, M69, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 6min, 4x4min (Sum)
M62, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum) Log scaling
M65, M66, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 8min, 4x4min (Sum) Log scaling
M71, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (Sum) Log scaling
M80, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 3min, 3x1min (Sum)
M85, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 4min, 4x2min (Sum)
M86 Group, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 16min, 8x2min (Median)
M87, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 8min, 4x2min (Sum)
M101, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 16min, 8x2min (Sum)
NGC4535, NGC4526, Takahashi FS102 F/6 + ST-8E, 8min, 4x2min (Sum)

Summer deep-Sky objects (20030707)
M11, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (sum)
M11, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (sum), log scaling
M11, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, LRGB total integration time 20min
M13, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, LRGB total integration time 20min
M27, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 10min, 5x2min (sum)
M27, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, 10min, 5x2min (sum), log scaling
M57, Takahashi FS102 F/8 + ST-8E, LRGB total integration time 25min

Summer deep-sky objects (20030803)
M11, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 2min, 2x1min (sum)
M13, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 10min, 10x1min (sum)
M13, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 10min, 10x1min (sum) log scaling
M57, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (sum)
M57, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 15min, 3x5min (sum) self-guided
M57, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 15min, 3x5min (sum) self-guided log scaled

Summer deep-sky objects (20030804)
M11, Takahashi FS102 F/8, + ST-8E, 10min, 10x1min (sum)
M27, Takahashi FS102 F/8, + ST-8E, 68min, LRGB 20:15:15:18 (sum)
M27, Takahashi FS102 F/8, + ST-8E, 68min, LRGB 20:15:15:18 (sum) log scaling
M27, Takahashi FS102 F/8, + ST-8E, 20min, 10x20min (sum)
M27, Takahashi FS102 F/8, + ST-8E, 20min, 10x20min (sum) log scaling
M56, Takahashi FS102 F/8, + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (sum)
M57, Takahashi FS102 F/8, + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (sum)
M71, Takahashi FS102 F/8, + ST-8E, 10min, 10x1min (sum)

Summer deep-sky objects (20030824)
M11, Takahashi FS102 F/8, + ST-8E, 10min,5x2min (sum)
M11, Takahashi FS102 F/8, + ST-8E, 10min, 5x2min (sum) log scaled
M15, Takahashi FS102 F/8, + ST-8E, 8min, 4x2min (median)
M15, Takahashi FS102 F/8, + ST-8E, 8min, 4x2min (sum) log sacled
M27, Takahashi FS102 F/8, + ST-8E, 20min, 10x2min (sum)
M27, Takahashi FS102 F/8, + ST-8E, 20min, 10x2min (sum) log scaled
M57, Takahashi FS102 F/8, + ST-8E, 6min, 3x2min (sum) log scaled
M71, Takahashi FS102 F/8, + ST-8E, 10min, 5x2min (sum) log scaled
NGC6888, Takahashi FS102 F/8, + ST-8E, 14min, 7x2min (sum) log scaled

Summer deep-sky objects (20030826)
Double Cluster, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x2min (sum)
M8, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 15min, 5x3min (sum)
M8, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 15min, 5x3min (sum) log scaled
M8, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 15min, 5x3min (sum) log scaled, anti-blooming software
M11, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 10min, 5x2min (sum)
M11, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 10min, 5x2min (sum) log scaled
M20, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 15min, 5x3min (sum)
M20, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 15min, 5x3min (sum) log scaled
M20, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 15min, 5x3min (sum) log scaled, anti-blooming software
M22, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (sum)
M22, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (sum) log scaled
M27, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 21min, 7x3min (sum)
M27, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 21min, 7x3min (sum) log scaled
M27, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 21min, 7x3min (sum) log scaled, anti-blooming software
M57, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 15min, 5x3min (sum)
M57, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 15min, 5x3min (sum) log scaled
M57, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 15min, 5x3min (sum) log scaled, anti-blooming software

Autumn deep-sky Objects (20030923)
M15, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 10min, 10x1min (sum)
M15, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 10min, 10x1min (sum) log scaled
M15, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 10min, 10x1min (sum) log scaled, anti-blooming software
M32, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 6min, 3x2min (sum)
M32, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 6min, 3x2min (sum) log scaling
M33, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 60min, 15x2min + 10x3min (sum)
M33, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 60min, 15x2min + 10x3min (sum) log scaling
M103 Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (sum)
NGC7789, Takahashi FS128 F/8.1 + ST-8E, 10min, 10x1min (sum)

Autumn deep-sky Objects (20031024)
Double Cluster, Takahashi FS60C + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (sum)
Double Cluster, Takahashi FS60C + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (sum), antiblooming software
M31, Takahashi FS60c + ST-8E, 60min, 30x2min (sum), log scaling, antiblooming software
M31, Takahashi FS60c + ST-8E, 60min, 30x2min (sum), DDP, antiblooming software
M33, Takahashi FS60c + ST-8E, 60min, 20x3min (sum), log scaling, antiblooming software
M33, Takahashi FS60c + ST-8E, 60min, 20x3min (sum), DDP, antiblooming software
M45, Takahashi FS60c + ST-8E, 20min, 10x2min (sum), log scaling, antiblooming software
NGC7789, Takahashi FS60C + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (sum)
NGC7789, Takahashi FS60C + ST-8E, 5min, 5x1min (sum), log scaling, anti-blooming software

M2 (5min, 5x1min, 1x1 binning, log scaled). Takahashi FS102 F/6, ST-8E (Pedro Ré & Martin Pugh)
M11 (6min, 6x1min, 2x2 binning). Takahashi FS102 F/6, ST-8E (Pedro Ré & Martin Pugh)
M11 (5min, 5x1min, 1x1 binning). Takahashi FS102 F/6, ST-8E (Pedro Ré & Martin Pugh)
M15 (5min, 5x1min, 1x1 binning, log scaled). Takahashi FS102 F/6, ST-8E (Pedro Ré & Martin Pugh)
M16 (8min, 4x2min, 1x1 binning). Takahashi FS102 F/6, ST-8E (Pedro Ré & Martin Pugh)
M17 (10min, 5x2min, 1x1 binning). Takahashi FS102 F/6, ST-8E (Pedro Ré & Martin Pugh)
M27 (10min, 5x2min, 1x1 binning). Takahashi FS102 F/6, ST-8E (Pedro Ré & Martin Pugh)
M33 (18min, 9x2min, 1x1 binning). Takahashi FS102 F/6, ST-8E (Pedro Ré & Martin Pugh)
M31 (5min, 5x1min, 1x1 binning). Takahashi FS102 F/6, ST-8E (Pedro Ré & Martin Pugh)
M56 (5min, 5x1min, 1x1 binning). Takahashi FS102 F/6, ST-8E (Pedro Ré & Martin Pugh)
M57 (8min, 4x2min, 1x1 binning). Takahashi FS102 F/6, ST-8E (Pedro Ré & Martin Pugh)
M71 (5min, 5x1min, 1x1 binning). Takahashi FS102 F/6, ST-8E (Pedro Ré & Martin Pugh)
NGC7331 and Stephan's Quintet (10min, 10x2min, 1x1 binning). Takahashi FS102 F/6, ST-8E (Pedro Ré & Martin Pugh)
M35 and NGC2158. Takahashi FS128 F/8, ST-8E (Martin Pugh)
Saturn. Takahashi FS128 F/8, ST-8E (Martin Pugh)

The Model ST-8E is identical to the Model ST-7E except that it is furnished with a 4x larger CCD detector with a Full Frame Resolution of 1530 x 1020. Since the ST-7E and ST-8E CCD detectors are pin to pin compatible, SBIG designed the CCD head to accept either detector. As a result the Model ST-7E is easily upgraded to the Model ST-8E. The large CCD active area of 13.8 x 9.2 mm allows the user to image large fields of view. The various binning modes of 9, 18, and 27 micron pixels allow you to match the focal length of a wide range of telescopes and lenses to this imaging camera. The imaging camera includes an electro-mechanical shutter, 16 bit analog to digital (A/D) converter, regulated temperature control with all of the electronics integrated into the CCD head. Communication to the PC or Mac is through the parallel port.

Model ST-8E CCD Specifications

CCD Kodak KAF-1602E
+ TI TC-211
Pixel Array 1530 x 1020 pixels,
13.8 x 9.2 mm
Total Pixels 1,500,000
Pixel Size 9 x 9 microns
Full Well Capacity ABG ~50,000 e-
Full Well Capacity NABG ~100,000 e-
Dark Current 1e¯/pixel/sec at 0° C
Antiblooming Standard
(Non-ABG as option)

Readout Specifications

Shutter Electromechanical
Exposure 0.11 to 3600 seconds, 10ms
resolution
Correlated Double Sampling Yes
A/D Converter 16 bits
A/D Gain 2.3e¯/ADU
Read Noise 15e¯ RMS
Binning Modes 1 x 1, 2 x 2, 3 x 3
Pixel Digitization Rate 30 kHz
Full Frame Acquisition under 60 seconds

Optical Specifications (8" f/10)

Field of View 24 x 16 arcminutes
Pixel Size .9 x .9 arcseconds
Limiting Magnitude Magnitude 14 in 1 second
(for 3 arcsec FWHM stars) Magnitude 18 in 1 minute

System Specifications

Cooling - standard Single Stage Thermoelectric, Active Fan, -25 C from Ambient Minimum
Cooling - optional Two Stage Thermoelectric,
Active Fan, Liquid assist,
-40 C from Ambient Minimum
Temperature Regulation ±0.1°C
Power 5 VDC at 1.5 amps, ±12 VDC at 0.5 amp Desktop Power Supply Included
Computer Interface Standard Parallel Port
Computer Compatibility PC - MS-DOS, Windows 95/98/NT, Macintosh With Optional MAC SCSI adapter
Guiding Dual CCD Self-Guiding

Physical Dimensions

Optical Head 5 inches diameter x 3 inches 12.5 cm diameter x 7.5 deep 2.2 pounds/1 Kg
CPU All electronics integrated into Optical Head, No CPU
Mounting T-Thread, 1.25" and 2" nosepieces included
Backfocus 0.92 inches/2.3 cm

Relative size of common of astronomical imaging CCD's