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APM Professional Telescopes

APM Professional Telescopes

1m F/8 Ritchey Chrétien with dual Nasmyth Foci, Cape Town (South Africa)

Another large telescope for the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO). An 1m F/8 Alt-Az mounted Ritchey Chrétien for robotic use. It has dual Nasmyth Foci. The main telescopes used for research are located at the SAAO observing station (32°22.795’S 20°48,657’E) near Sutherland in the Northern Cape, a 4-hour drive from Cape Town.

ASA Telescopes

ASA600 with DDM200

ASA600 OTA is the perfect fit for the ASA direct drive mounts with absolute encoders. As all ASA telescopes the ASA600 is equipped with quartz glass optics from ASA.

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Please make your enquiries about the products you require here. We will contact you as soon as possible with a customised quote.

Andor Cameras

iKon-XL 231 CCD

Large Area CCDs for Imaging and Spectroscopic Surveys

Andor’s innovative approach to ultra-high performance has delivered iKon-XL, a very large area CCD platform that uniquely cools a back-illuminated 16.8 MEGAPIXEL sensor to -100°C. The 4 Megapixel iKon-L camera has long been the mainstay detector for many observing projects, including SuperWasp and Next Generation Transit Survey exoplanet programs.

  • 16.8 Megapixel back-illuminated CCDs (e2v)
  • TE cooling to -100 °C - NO liquid nitrogen or cryo-cooling
  • Near Infra-Red optimization - dwarf star detection
  • 18-bit Extended Dynamic Range technology

Key Application: Exoplanet detection (Transit and Radial Velocimetry), Wide Field Spectroscopic Survey, Photometry, Supernova detection.

iKon-XL 231 CCD

ikon xl 231

OVERVIEW

iKon Slow-Scan Large CCD Cameras for Physical Science

The iKon ‘slow scan’ CCD camera series deliver unique thermoelectric cooling to -100°C for industry-leading low noise performance, highly efficient back-illuminated photon collection across a broad spectral range and exceptional dynamic range. Very large field of view is available from the iKon-XL CCD camera range, ideal for large sky surveys in astronomy. The robust quality, low maintenance, hassle-free design is ideal for usage across many experimental set-ups, including at remote observatories.

The iKon ‘slow scan’ CCD camera series deliver unique thermoelectric cooling to -100°C for industry-leading low noise performance, highly efficient back-illuminated photon collection across a broad spectral range and exceptional dynamic range. Very large field of view is available from the iKon-XL CCD camera range, ideal for large sky surveys in astronomy. The robust quality, low maintenance, hassle-free design is ideal for usage across many experimental set-ups, including at remote observatories.

Andor’s iKon-XL is a thermoelectrically (TE) cooled, very large area CCD camera platform, accommodating large field of view sensors that are ideally suited to long exposure astronomy applications. Using the unique, patent-pending ColdSpace™ technology, the ultrasensitive iKon-XL is capable of TE cooling a 16.8 Megapixel sensor (e2v back-illuminated) down to -100 °C, avoiding the requirement for liquid nitrogen or unreliable cryo coolers. The iKon-XL also uses an exclusive Extended Dynamic Range technology, facilitating lowest noise and maximum well depth within one scan, complemented by up to 18-bit digitization capability. Flexible connectivity is standard through either USB 3.0 or a long distance direct fibre optic interface.

The iKon-XL 231 model uses the e2v CCD231-84 ‘astro’ back-illuminated sensor, offering a very large 61.4 x 61.4 mm imaging area from a 4096 x 4112 array format and 15 µm pixel size. Available with a range of sensor QE coatings, in both standard and deep depletion formats (the latter for extended NIR coverage), the model also offers the absolute best CCD performance available, combining exceptionally low read noise of 2.1 e- with a very large well depth of 350,000 e-. Facilitated by iKon-XL’s unique Extended Dynamic Range technology, even a non-binned image requires 18-bit digitization in order not to under-sample the resulting extraordinary dynamic range!

  •  – 100 °C TE cooled large area sensors
  • NO liquid nitrogen, NO cryo-cooler
  • Extended Dynamic Range (18-bit)
  • e2v CCD231-84 sensor (deep depletion available)

 

FEATURES

  • Thermoelectric Cooling to -100°C (Liquid/Water) - Patent-pending ColdSpace™ very large area TE cooling technology avoids need for liquid nitrogen or unreliable cryo coolers. Minimization of darkcurrent to below the zodiacal background.
  • 61.4 x 61.4 mm sensor - Very large field of view from 16.8 Megapixel, 15 µm pixel pitch sensor.
  • Extended Dynamic Range - Unique method to achieve lowest noise and maximum well depth within one scan. Supplemented by up to 18-bit digitization.
  • Peak QE over 95% (deep depletion available) - High photon collection efficiency for maximising SNR
  • Low noise readout - Intelligent low-noise electronics, combined with the ‘astro’ CCD231-84 sensor, deliver the lowest CCD noise available.
  • 350,000 e- well depth - Extremely high well depth for linear quantification of relatively bright signal.
  • UltraVac™ - Critical for sustained vacuum integrity and to maintain unequalled cooling and QE performance, year after year.
  • ‘Deep Cooled’ and ‘Compact’ versions - ‘Deep Cooled’ for -100 °C water/liquid (no air cooling). ‘Compact’ for smaller form factor and combined -80 °C water liquid; -60 °C air cooled.
  • Fibre-optic or USB 3.0 interface flexibility - Built-in robust plug and play interface options as standard. Fibre optic for long distance solution.
  • Balanced Quad-port readout - Tracking stability to ensure all readout circuits experience same temperature and operating conditions, yielding well balanced quadrants. Optional (software selected) single port readout mode.
 

 Resources

 


Upgrades/Accessories

  • XL-SH-STD - Replacement ‘standard’ shutter unit for the iKon-XL. For use between 0°C and +30°C ambient temperatures.
  • XL-SH-EXT - Replacement ‘extended temperature range’ shutter unit for the iKon-XL. For use between -30°C and +30°C ambient temperatures.
  • XL-F-CAB-ST-15M - 15 m camera cable with straight attachment for the CCU-500A (iKon-XL Flexi model) If this is ordered it will be provided instead of the standard 5 m cable.
  • XL-DC-CAB-ST-15M - 15 m camera cable with straight attachment for the CCU-500B (iKon-XL Deep Cooled model) If this is ordered it will be provided instead of the standard 5 m cable
  • FIBR-25M - Additional 25 m fibre optic cable, LC-LC patch lead OM2.
  • FIBR-100M - Additional 100 m fibre optic cable, LC-LC patch lead OM3.
  • XL-F-TRANS-CASE - Hard shell protective transport case for the iKon-XL Flexi model. Tailored to dimensions of the iKon-XL
  • Flexi model for secure transport to and from observing sites.
  • XL-DC-TRANS-CASE - Hard shell protective transport case for the iKon-XL Deep Cooled model. Tailored to dimensions of the iKon-XL Deep Cooled model for secure transport to and from observing sites.

 

Sensor Options

BV: Back Illuminated CCD231-84 sensor, mid-band AR coating
BB: Back Illuminated CCD231-84 sensor, broadband AR coating (blue optimized)
BEX2: Back Illuminated CCD (231-84) sensor and dual AR coating
BEX2-DD: Back Illuminated CCD (231-84) sensor, deep depletion with fringe suppression and
dual AR coating

QE 231

 

Software & Driver

Andor ASCOM Setup - 3.15.30065.0 (sCMOS)

Standalone installer to install software for ASCOM driver for sCMOS systems.

download treiber

More Driver (New Window, external Link):  here

Software Manuals

Please use our downloads section to view technical documentation and software assets. Please create an account to access User Guides, Quick Start Guides, Software Downloads and Software Guides (New Window, external Link).

User Manuals

Please use our downloads section to view technical documentation and software assets. Please create an account to access User Guides, Quick Start Guides, Software Downloads and Software Guides (New Window, external Link)..Software Downloads and Software Guides (New Window, external Link).

Astro.Control Astronomical CCD Cameras

Software for Andor Cameras

from Astro.tech
Astro.Control Astronomical CCD Cameras

 

APM Professional Telescopes

1m F/8 Ritchey Chrétien with dual Nasmyth Foci, Cape Town (South Africa)

Another large telescope for the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO). An 1m F/8 Alt-Az mounted Ritchey Chrétien for robotic use. It has dual Nasmyth Foci. The main telescopes used for research are located at the SAAO observing station (32°22.795’S 20°48,657’E) near Sutherland in the Northern Cape, a 4-hour drive from Cape Town.

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