Starlight Xpress SuperStar - Manual

SuperStar handbook Issue 1 March 2012
Handbook for the SX ‘SuperStar’ high resolution guide camera
Thank you for purchasing a Starlight Xpress ‘SuperStar’ guide camera. We hope that you will be very
pleased with the performance of this product.
The SuperStar is a high resolution, very compact guider/imager which is powered and operated via a
single USB2.0 computer connection. It also provides an opto-isolated output connection for direct
control of most mounts, via their ‘Autoguider’ sockets. This output is compatible with the ‘ST4’ style
of RJ12 connection and supplies 4 ‘pull down’ direction lines and a common return. Alternatively, you
may send the mount control signals via a serial connection from the guider control computer.
The SuperStar utilises a sensitive Sony ‘SuperHAD’ CCD (the ICX205AL) with an array of 1392 x
1040 pixels in a ‘half-inch’ format. Although the chip is not cooled, it has a very low dark signal and
very little readout noise, so it can be used to guide on faint stars that are beyond the reach of webcams
and CMOS chip based guide cameras. The small pixel size allows accurate guiding with very short
focal length guide telescopes and even ‘C’ mount camera lenses. When guiding at longer focal lengths
(greater than about 200mm) operating in bin 2x2 mode is a better option. In addition, the small pixel
size gives good resolution of Solar, Lunar and planetary images, so the SuperStar also makes a
versatile general purpose imaging camera.
The SuperStar specification:
CCD - Sony ICX205AL monochrome CCD
Pixel count - 1392(H) x 1040(V)
Pixel size - 4.65 x 4.65uM
Barrel size - 32mm dia. x 72mm long (1.25 inch eyepiece push fit size)
Barrel thread - 25.4mm x 0.75mm ‘CS’ mount lens thread
Input connection - ‘Mini B’ USB socket for USB2.0
Output connection - 5 way JST ‘ZH’ style 1.5mm pitch plug to RJ12 autoguider plug
Output type - Opto-isolated 4 lines (N,S,E & W) pull down with common return line
Download rate - Approx. 3 frames per second in bin 2x2 mode (recommended for guiding)