User manual MEADE DSI

[. . . ] Meade ® Deep Sky Imager: The Basics Parts Listing When first opening the packing box, note carefully the following parts: · · · · · · · Deep Sky Imager camera Parfocal ring USB cable DB-9 to RJ-11 adapter LX200 serial cable Autostar #497 serial cable CD ROM, including the Operating Instruction in . pdf format Recommended Minimum System: PC running Windows 98SE with 96 MB and 100 MB free disk space. To get the best view and resolution for the images in this manual, zoom in to 200% using the viewing controls in the Acrobat Reader control bar. 2 Install the Autostar Suite Software The following procedure is also found on the printed Quick Start Guide supplied with this product. Before you can operate the Deep Sky Imager camera, you must install the Autostar Suite software. Do not plug the USB cable into your PC at this time. [. . . ] Also "Take Dark" is on this list; see "Dark Frames, " page 34, for more information. Kernel Filter: The chosen sharpening filter is applied to the composite image as it is saved and is displayed in the live Display Image after about 10 images are accumulated. 3 levels of sharp filters, 1 edge only filter and "None" (no filter) are available. The settings for this filter appear when terrestrial or Moon is selected from the Image Process (10) list. Click on the Min Quality % spin box (9) to change the minimum quality level. Evaluation Count (9) allows you change number of images accumulated and evaluated to determine a quality baseline when the Start button is pressed. Normally, 10 images are evaluated (this is the default number). Click in the spin box to change the number of images used. Combine check box: Normally, you will leave this box checked. If you wish to take raw images that are not combined into a composite image (you may wish to process the images yourself), uncheck this box and check the Save Every Image box. The Deep Sky Imager camera will take images and save them in the Image directory. 21 Image Processing Controls2 Object Name (11): Type in a name for the object. Each time the Deep Sky Imager program begins to accumulate a new composite image, it renumbers the image in a new tab, using your original name. For example, if you named the first image "Building, " the next images will be named "Building 2, " then "Building 3" and so forth, so that it doesn't overwrite the previously saved images. If a name/number was previously saved as a file name, the program will choose the next available number. For example, if "Building 7" was previously saved, the next file will be named "Building 8" and will not overwrite the file "Building 7. " Save Process (13): Click on this button to select the type of file format in which to save your picture. Beginners are recommended to save their pictures in "Jpeg" format. However, if you wish to perform further image processing, select "BMP" or "Fits. " The last two formats, "Fits" and "Fits3P" are "raw" formats, are for use by advanced users. "Tif" files usually take up the most memory, but may be a useful format if you plan to use Adobe Photoshop. See "Time-Lapse Settings, " page 27. Save Every Composite Image (13): Normally images are added together make up a composite image or if they have too low of a quality level, they may be discarded. However, you may choose to save every composite image the camera creates by selecting Save Every Image Combine in the Save Options box. These images are not displayed as separate images; only the last saved composite image is displayed. [. . . ] The software and/or databases may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the agreement. It is against the law to copy the software on any medium except as specifically allowed in the license agreement. The purchaser may make one copy of the software for backup purposes. No part of this manual and/or databases may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means; electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval systems, for any purpose other that the purchaser's personal use, without the express written permission of Meade Instruments Corp. [. . . ]