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CCD & Photographic

A CCD camera is essentially an electronic version of a 35mm camera for astrophotography that saves the images in your computer, rather than on a roll of film. A CCD camera can take snapshots of the Moon and planets and long exposure photos of deep sky nebulas, galaxies, and star clusters. Because the CCD camera has to store up the faint light of deep space objects before it can display an image, just as a 35mm film camera does, a CCD can't give you real-time or instant images of deep space objects.

Because a CCD camera is more sensitive than 35mm film or your eye, it can store up more information during an exposure. Software supplied with the camera, or available separately, allows you to manipulate the image later to bring out details that would be washed out or invisible in a 35mm negative or while observing visually. CCD cameras are surprisingly unaffected by city light pollution, allowing deep sky photography from even heavily light polluted sites.

CCD cameras typically vary in price according to their image size, with large cameras running into the multiple thousands of dollars. Even at their largest, however, their image covers less of the sky than a 35mm film camera on the same scope. CCDs are best at recording small and very faint objects rather than large and bright objects, although excellent images of large objects can be recorded by taking multiple overlapping images and combining them in the computer.

It has been said that CCD cameras on amateur-size telescopes can record fainter objects than the 200" scope at Mt. Palomar could record only 10 or 15 years ago with conventional film cameras. By some measures, CCD cameras can be said to have an effective film speed (ASA or ISO rating) of 20,000, making them ideal for recording very faint objects.

Some CCD cameras can act as autoguiders to take the tedium out of guiding long exposure 35mm photos. Some CCD cameras have their own autoguider built in for recording images automatically and untended; others come with separate guiders or have them available as an option.

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$Astro-Tech 0.8x reducer/field flattener for Astro-Tech AT80EDT triplet apo refractor$ $Astro-Tech 0.8x reducer/field flattener for Astro-Tech AT80EDT triplet apo refractor$

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Astro-Tech 0.8x reducer/field flattener for Astro-Tech AT80EDT triplet apo refractor

$169.95

3 Review(s)

This economical 0.8x focal reducer and field flattener is designed specifically for astrophotography with the Astro-Tech AT80EDT 80mm f/6 triplet apo refractor.
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Celestron LPR imaging filter for Celestron RASA 11

$699.00

The Celestron #93617 RASA Light Pollution Imaging Filter was custom-designed for the Celestron RASA Schmidt-Cassegrain astrograph by Astrodon - the world's leading imaging filter company.
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Celestron RASA 8 Camera Adapter for Sony Mirrorless Camera

$59.95

The perfect adapter to connect your Sony Mirrorless camera to your RASA 8
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Celestron RASA 8 Camera Adapter of Canon Mirrorless Cameras

$59.95

The perfect adapter to connect your Canon Mirrorless camera to your RASA 8
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Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro Pack 2i

$520.00

3 Review(s)

Ideal for wide-field photography, or lightweight celestial viewing
Multiple preprogramed speeds, including sidereal, solar and lunar
Illuminated polar finderscope for easy alignment with Polaris
DSLR camera interface with automatic shutter control
Built in Auto-guider port (ST-4)
V-style dovetail saddle, with ability to mount ball head for easier camera movement
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ZWO ASI2600MC PRO USB 3.0 COOLED COLOR ASTRONOMY IMAGING CAMERA

$1,799.00

The ZWO ASI2600MC Pro is designed for the astro-photographer that is looking for a high-end camera using an APS-C style sensor.
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ZWO ASI1600MM Pro MONOCHROME Cooled CMOS Imaging CAMERA

$1,280.00

The ZWO ASI1600MM Pro provides the imager in us all with excellent performance for astrophotography.
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ZWO ASI1600MM MONOCHROME CMOS Imaging CAMERA

$999.00

The ZWO ASI1600MM was ZWO's first entry into deep space imaging. Don't let that fool you as it handles planetary imaging as well.
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ZWO 12V 5A AC to DC adapter for cooled cameras American Standard

$29.00

This is required for cooling your ZWO camera American Standard Sockets AC to DC 12 Volts at 5 Amps
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Astro-Tech .8x Reducer Field Flattener For the 60ED Optical Tubes

$139.95

1 Review(s)

Looking to make your Astro-Tech (or variant) scope faster and flatter for photography? Then the .8x reducer/flattener is exactly what your are looking for.