Orion G3 User Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Orion® StarShoot™ G3

Deep Space Imaging Cameras

Color #53082, Monochrome #53083

Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975

OrionTelescopes.com

Customer Support [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

Corporate Offices [phone]

89 Hangar Way, Watsonville, CA 95076

© 2011 Orion Telescopes & Binoculars

IN 400 Rev. B 11/11

DC power cable
with lighter plug

StarShoot G3
Deep Space
Imaging Camera

1.2 5"
Nosepiece

2" Mounting base

Standard 1.25"
filter threads
(M28.4x0.6 )

T-threads
(M42x0.75)

USB cable

Dust cap 1.2 5"

Figure 1. StarShoot G3 Imaging Camera and included items.

Contents

1. Introduction ......................2

1.1. The StarShoot G3 .............3

1.2. Feature Highlights .............3

2. Getting Started ...................4

2.1.PartsList. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2.2. System Requirements ..........4

2.3. Software and Driver Installation ..5

3. Software Walk‑Through ............6

3.1 Camera Control ............. 6

3.2 Capture ...................7

3.3 Histogram .................9

3.4. Analysis ................. 10

4. Astronomical Imaging .............11

4.1. F ocus i n g ...................11

4.2. Using the Thermoelectric Cooler

(TEC) ......................12

4.3. Imaging Deep Sky Objects .....14

5. Image Processing ................17

5.1 Save and Export ..............19

6. Using the StarShoot G3 as an

Autoguider ......................20

7. Optional Accessories ..............21

8. Specifications ...................22

nosepiece

(removeable)

1. Introduction

Welcome to the exciting world
of astro-imaging. Your new
StarShoot G3 Deep Space
Imaging camera is capable of
capturing impressive celestial
objects like galaxies, star clus­ters, and nebulae, as well as
the planets, Moon, and the Sun
(with an optional solar filter).
Additionally, the StarShoot G3
can be used as a dedicated
autogudier for any other astro­imaging camera you might use
like a DSLR camera or large
array CCD camera. This man­ual will show you how to install
and use your new StarShoot
G3. In a short time, you will
be capturing astrophotos and
sharing them with friends, fam­ily, and the world!

Software CD

T-threads

Figure 2.1. The G3 can be connected
to your telescope in three different ways,

1.25", 2", or T-thread.

1.1. The StarShoot G3

The StarShoot G3 is an astronomical imaging CCD camera with a 16-bit image
output and a regulated thermoelectric cooler to enable maximum imaging perfor­mance. Both the G3 Color and G3 Monochrome are very sensitive and capable
of detecting faint deep sky objects in a short exposure; and longer exposures
can reveal extremely deep fields with subtle nebulosity and galaxies in the
background.

You may also choose to use the G3 as a dedicated autoguider. The highly sensi­tive, low noise, 16-bit camera allows faint guide stars to be detected. The on­board autoguiding output allows you to connect the autoguide cable directly from
the camera to your ST-4 compatible mount.

1.2. Feature Highlights

• Simpleinterface:A USB port is all that’s needed to connect the G3 to your
computer (Figure 3). The power port is used to power the thermoelectric
cooler, which is recommended for the best imaging performance.

• Regulatedcooling:Enables you to set the exact temperature within the
cooling range of the camera. This allows you to take calibration images like
dark frames at the exact same temperature as your light frames, making
for the cleanest images possible. Additionally, since you can match the
CCD temperature at any time (within the range of the cooler), you have the
freedom to take dark frames when it’s most convenient for you, so you don’t
have to use up valuable imaging time to take dark frames.

• Vibration-freeMagLevCoolingFan:This essential component of the
cooling system vents out the head generated by the TEC.

• Autoguideroutput:(Figure 3)When used as an autoguider, the G3
can connect the autoguider relays directly from the camera body to your
equatorial mount. This eliminates the need to relay an additional adapter
from your PC.

Figure 2.2. Standard 1.25" filter
threads add versatility to allow additional
accessories to be used.

2 3

2. Getting

Cooling fan

Started

2.1.PartsList(Figure 1)

• StarShoot G3 Deep Space
Imaging Camera

• USB Cable

• DC power cable with lighter plug

• Software CD

• Removable 1.25" nosepiece

(threaded to camera)

• Dust cap for 1.25" nosepiece

2.2. System Requirements

Telescope

The StarShoot G3 fits any telescope equipped with 1.25" or 2" focusers, or it can
also fit to any focuser or camera adapter with male T-threads (M42 x 0.75). Refer
to Figures 2.1 and 2.2.

Caution: Be sure to always firmly tighten the thumbscrew(s) that secure the
StarShoot G3 in the telescope focuser, or it could fall out and onto the ground!

If your telescope has T-threads for direct camera attachment, a more secure
connection can be made. First, unthread the nosepiece from the G3. This
exposes the camera’s T-threads. Then, simply thread the camera onto your tele­scope (Figure 2.2).

BackfocusRequirement

The G3 only requires 3.5mm of inward focus travel (also sometimes called
backfocus) when connecting it to a 2" focuser on your telescope. If using
the 1.25" nosepiece, the backfocus is 23mm; if connected via T-threads the
backfocus is 19mm.

Mount

Deep sky imaging with the G3 requires an equatorial mount with a right
ascension (R.A.) motor drive. The goal for your mount is to seamlessly track the
apparent movement of the sky as the Earth rotates. The tracking must be very
accurate, or the object you want to image will drift and blur across the camera’s
field of view while the exposure is taken. Even a small amount of drift will cause
a star to look oblong instead of a round point. We recommend using a high­quality equatorial mount which utilizes periodic error correction (PEC) or has the
ability to interface with an autoguider.

Autoguider
relay port

Power port (for
TEC and fan only)

Figure 3. The USB, power, and
autoguider ports.

USB port

Computer

The G3 requires a PC to operate the
camera. For astro-imaging in the field
at night, a laptop computer is highly
recommended. The included software
is Camera Studio which requires
Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 to
operate.

The following hardware is also
required:

• Processor – 700 MHz speed or
higher, Pentium

™

III equivalent or

Figure 4.1.

higher

• Recommended minimum memory
size is 512 MB.

• Disk Space – 55 MB for software
installation, 500 GB or more to
store images is recommended.

• Video Display – 800 X 600 or
higher, 16-bit color or higher.

• Mouse

• High-speed USB 2.0 port

Figure 4.2.

Power

The StarShoot G3’s thermoelectric cooler (TEC) requires 12 volts DC (12VDC)
with approximately 1 ampere of current. The camera itself can operate without
the cooler just by connecting to the computer’s USB port. For the best imaging
performance, we recommend using the TEC. The supplied 12V power cable will
plug into a cigarette style socket commonly available on power supplies or field
batteries available from Orion. If you have access to an AC outlet at your imag­ing site, you can use a 110VAC to 12VDC adapter for the camera, available
from Orion.

2.3. Software and Driver Installation

Before the camera can be used, the software and camera drivers must be
installed onto your computer. Turn on your computer and allow the Windows
operating system to load as normal. Insert the included software CD into your
computer’s CD-ROM drive, and the OrionG3SetupWizardwill appear (Figure

4.1). This allows you to install the camera drivers, Camera Studio software,
ASCOM drivers, and any additional prerequisites you may need. The wizard will
automatically detect which prerequisites you need and prompt you to install them
(Figure 4.2).

4 5

Once your prerequisites have been
installed, you will be prompted to
install the G3 ASCOM driver and
Camera Studio software (Figure 4.3).
Note that ASCOM is only required
if you intend to use the camera in
another program, such as Nebulosity
and MaxIm DL, or if you wish to use
the camera as an autoguider. Click
OrionCameraStudioApplication to
install the software.

Do no plug the StarShoot G3 camera
into your computer until you have com­pleted the software and driver instal­lation.

ConnectingtheCameratothePC

After the software and drivers have
been installed, connect the camera to
the USB port on your computer using
the supplied USB cable. You do not
need to plug in external power yet.
Windows will automatically detect the
camera and install it onto your com­puter. Wait for the message to appear,
DeviceInstalledSuccessfully.

Figure 4.3.

Figure 5. Camera Control window.

3. Software
Walk-Through

Camera Studio is an easy to use yet comprehensive imaging program that
controls your G3 for image capture, and provides the processing tools to
assemble your image and export it. The following section of the manual will walk
you through the basic features of the software – CameraControl, Capture,
Calibrate, Process and Save&Export.

3.1 Camera Control (Figure 5)
The CameraControl tab first appears on the right hand side of the screen when

you open CameraStudio. This tab allows you to connect to the camera, activate
the cooler and set the cooling temperature, adjust the gain and offset (not rec­ommended), or enable faster readout for quick image downloads.

Connect/Disconnect

Connects the G3 and instantly dis­plays the CCD temperature. The G3
camera must be plugged into your PC
before you click Connect.

Cooling

The CCDTemperature will always
display while the camera is connected.
To use the TEC, plug the 12V power
cable from your power source (field
battery or other) to the G3 camera.
The fan will automatically power on.
Click CoolerOn. Set the Target(°C)
to approximately 7°C lower than the
current CCD temperature reading. Do
not click CoolerOn until external power has been plugged into the G3.

Gain

This feature allows you to manually adjust the analog gain and offset. The
default values have been selected for your camera and should normally not need
adjustment. However, you may make adjustments to customize your settings.
Default values are Offset 127 and Gain185.

3.2 Capture (Figure 6)
The Capture tab sets your exposure time, exposure type, save path, subframing,

and other options.

Exposure

Set the exposure time in seconds. You can also specify fractions of seconds, like

0.5 seconds or 1.75 seconds, for example.

Type

Choose from Light, Dark, Flat, and Bias. Most of the time you will only need to
choose from Light and Dark frames, but for the best results, you can also take
Flat frames. See “Astronomical Imaging – Dark Frames, Flat Fields”. To start
imaging or focusing, take Light frames.

Bin

You can bin 1x1, 1x2, 2x1, and 2x2. For most imaging, you should always keep
the setting at 1x1, which provides the full resolution of the camera. Binning 1x2
or 2x2 for example, will group the pixels together to collect more light at the
expense of resolution. 1x2 will group 2 vertical pixels for every 1 horizontal pixel,
2x2 will group 2 horizontal and 2 vertical pixels, and is most commonly used to
quickly find and frame a celestial object. Binning in these modes provides faster
download times and greater sensitivity.

Figure 6. Capture window.

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