*2nd* Orion Parsec 8300M Monochrome Astronomical Imaging

Best for imaging

Deep sky
Imaging sensor

Kodak KAF-8300 with microlensing, monochrome
Imaging sensor size

17.96mm x 13.52mm
Pixel array

3326 x 2504 (8,328,304 total)
Pixel size

5.4 x 5.4
Imaging chip

Imaging chip

Short for "charge-coupled device," a CCD chip is a light-sensitive electronic detector used in making astronomical images. Sensitive over a wide range of wavelengths, and much more efficient than film in gathering light, CCDs are often used to image extremely faint objects.

Monochrome
Autoguider capability

Yes
Exposure range

0.002 sec to infinity
A/D conversion

A/D conversion

The Analog to Digital Converter (A/D Converter) transfers the raw analog signal captured by the camera to a digital value. The digital value is sent to the computer in ADUs (Analog to Digital Units). The A/D Converter also determines the bit resolution of the analog to digital conversion. The more bit resolution the A/D Converter has, the greater the range of ADUs, which yields a better range of image contrast from the camera. (If "X" equals the bit resolution of the A/D Converter, then 2expX = total range of ADUs.) For example, many commercial digital cameras use a 12-bit A/D Converter which has 4,096 ADUs, and high-end astronomical CCD cameras typically use a 16-bit A/D Converter which has 65,536 ADUs.

16 bit
Thermoelectric cooling

Thermoelectric cooling

A thermoelectric cooler draws heat away from the chip, which lowers the overall electronic "noise" in the resulting image. For every 6� drop in temperature, the dark noise in the image is reduced by half.

Yes
IR filter

IR filter

CCD cameras are very sensitive to a wide range of wavelengths, including farther out into the infra-red spectrum than we can see by eye. Normally this is never a problem when looking through the telescope, but a sensitive CCD camera will see this slightly out of focus region of the spectrum, resulting in fatter stars than normal. An IR filter will cut out this region of the spectrum leaving tightly focused stars and a better overall image.

No
Mounting

2" nozzle or t-thread
USB connection

High-speed 2.0
Software compatibility

Windows XP/Vista/7
Full well capacity

Full well capacity

The CCD full well capacity is the amount of signal electrons that can be properly collected and transferred by each pixel of the CCD. The higher the full well capacity, the more light the CCD pixels can collect without over saturating the signal.

25500e-
Read noise (RMS)

Read noise (RMS)

Read noise exists in all CCD chips.� It affects the image?s signal to noise ratio, but as long as the noise exhibits a normal distribution, the resultant image will not be greatly affected by noise after processing.

8e-
Dark signal (at 0� C)

Dark signal (at 0� C)

Every CCD camera produces a certain amount of dark signal (or dark current), which accumulates in the pixels during an exposure. The dark signal is produced by heat, and is a source of noise in images. Some pixels are warmer or colder and affect the amount of dark signal for that individual pixel. Most of the dark signal can be removed by subtracting a dark frame.

0.15e-/pixel/sec
Binning

Binning

Binning 1x1 simply means each pixel counts as one pixel. Binning 2x2 or more is a method of increasing the sensitivity of a CCD camera at the expense of resolution. Adjacent pixels are summed together into ?super-pixels? which have better signal-to-noise ratio.� So for example, binning 2x2 would cause 4 pixels to act as one larger pixel, providing a quarter of the resolution, but approximately four times the sensitivity.

1x1, 2x2
Max cooling

-40C from ambient
Full frame download time

11 sec
Backfocus distance (from T-threads)

29.24mm
Weight (oz.)

32
Other features

2nds are covered by Orion's Satisfaction Guarantee
Warranty

One year

Why Buy From Orion

Imaging chip

A/D conversion

Thermoelectric cooling

IR filter

Full well capacity

Read noise (RMS)

Dark signal (at 0� C)

Binning

Why Buy From Orion

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About Orion Telescopes & Binoculars

Why Buy From Orion

Imaging chip

A/D conversion

Thermoelectric cooling

IR filter

Full well capacity

Read noise (RMS)

Dark signal (at 0� C)

Binning

Why Buy From Orion

Why Buy From Orion

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About Orion Telescopes & Binoculars