Quickstart Guidev 2.2

From Wikipedia: “The Orion Nebula (also known as
Messier 42, M42, or NGC 1976) is a diffuse nebulasituated south of Orion’s Belt. It is one of the brightest
nebulae, and is visible to the naked eye in the night sky.
M42 is located at a distance of 1,344±20 light years
and is the closest region of massive star formation toEarth. The M42 nebula is estimated to be 24 light years
across.”Image by Rui Tripa (Atik 4000)

Page Introduction
Thank you very much for your purchase of an Atik camera.
Atik cameras represent the most affordable way to capture highquality astronomical images, whilst delivering superior performance and unparalleled ease-of-use. Your Atik camera is theresult of extensive research and development, and it has been
designed and built with the requirements of the most demanding
astrophotographer in mind. A wide range of accessories is alsoavailable in order to answer the needs of even the most ambitious
astro-imaging applications.
Your Atik camera incorporates state-of-the-art design and materials, and it will be your trusted astrophotography companion fora long time to come. However, modifications to the camera and/or accessories which are undertaken without the manufacturer’s
written permission will void the warranty. Repairs, servicing andupgrades are available through your local dealer or at www.atikcameras.com.
This guide will help you to get your Atik camera up and running injust a few minutes: please take the time to read it thoroughly, andyou will be ready to discover new worlds...

Page Setting up your camera
Installation of the camera is very straightforward, and by following
this guide you will be up and running with a minimum of effort.
Your camera is supplied with a 3 metre USB cable and a 1.8 metre
power cable with a car lighter plug. The car lighter plug will allow
you to connect the camera to most power tanks and emergency
battery packs available on the market today for field use.
An optional universal mains adaptor is also available, allowing you
to run the camera from a 110/220V mains supply. We recommendthat you purchase the approved mains adaptor if you intend topower the camera this way.
If you wish to supply your own adaptor, make sure it’s of goodquality, with a 2.1mm type plug, center positive, and capable ofsupplying a minimum of 1.5 amp (Atik Titan/314/320), or 2.5 amp(Atik 383/4000/11000).
WARNING: Mains power adaptors are intended for indoor orobservatory use only. There is a risk of electric shock if the adaptor
is used in damp environments or outside. If in doubt do not use theadaptor and consult a trained electrician.

Page Installing the camera in 3 steps:
1 - Power the camera on. The fan should start rotating immediately.
The Titan is USB powered, so no need to have external power unless you need to turn on the cooler.
2 - Plug the USB cable into the camera, then into your computer. A“New hardware found” message should immediately be visible.
3 - When asked for the drivers, point to the \Drivers folder on yourCD-ROM drive.
That’s it! The camera is now installed and ready to use.

Installing the Capture application
Your camera comes with a simple and easy-to-use application called“Artemis Capture”, which provides functions for image capture anddisplay; camera configuration; telescope focusing; autoguiding;and image sequencing with an optional filter wheel. Images can besaved in several popular formats for further processing with yourfavorite image processing application.
To install Artemis Capture, ‘simply run the installation file SetupArtemisUniversal on your CD and follow the prompts. During installation, you will be asked if you want to install optional plug-ins for
popular image capture applications. Plug-ins are supplied for Maxim
DL™, AstroArt, and CCDSoft™.

Page Using the camera and software for the first time
Full instructions for using the software are given in the user manual
which is provided on the installation folder in PDF format. However,the following information will help you get your first image with aminimum of effort.
After loading Artemis Capture, you will see this screen:

Operation is very simple. The top window controls exposure duration, binning and other camera options. You can leave most of thesettings at their default settings.
The bottom window controls the way the image is displayed. Keepin mind that the settings here only affect the display, not the datain the image itself.

Page The above image shows the main menu and tool bar. From left toright, the tool bar buttons are:Save: Saves the current image
Autosave: Auto saves all captured images, according to the settings in the Exposure window
Display: Toggles the display window on/off
Exposure: Toggles the Exposure window on/off
Cooler control: Controls the camera cooler and temperature (onsupported models)
Focus and Autoguider: Toggles focus-assist and autoguider
window on/off
Sub-frame: Selects a specific area of the image instead of the fullframe. Very useful for focusing.
Lock settings: Locks all exposure control settings
Expose: Initiates an exposure with duration as specified in theExposure window
Loop: Toggles the loop exposure on/off. Useful for focusing andcapturing sequences
Sequencer: Allows programming a sequence of images, which
can use different exposures/filters
Filter Wheel control: Controls the optional Atik EFW-U/EFW2 filter wheel

Page Cooler control (supported models)
Cooler control is available on some models,such as the Atik 314L+ and the large-format
series. Before starting your imaging session,
you should activate the cooler and selectthe required operating temperature, keeping in mind the cooling capacity of your specific camera model (forexample, the Atik 4000 can provide cooling of up to 40ºC below
ambient - please see page 13).

The first image
To begin, centre your telescope visually on amoderately bright star. Put the camera on thetelescope’s focuser and press the F1 key. This
will immediately initiate an exposure of 0.1s.
When the exposure is complete, you should
see a strongly defocused star on your computer
screen. Congratulations! Everything is working
as expected. If the star is grossly saturated (acompletely white circle), then you should manually select a shorter exposure in the Exposure
window.

Focusing
Depending on how out-of-focus the star is, click on the Sub-frame
button and select an area around the star. This will limit the size ofthe image which needs to be downloaded to the computer, making

Page the display update more rapidly. Click on the Loop button and thenon the Expose button. This will start an exposure that will repeat
until the Loop button is pressed again. Adjust your telescope focus
until the star image is sharp, rather than a large circle.
Artemis Capture offers a simple tool
to help you find the best focus. To
activate it, simply double-click on astar, and the Star Tracking window
will pop up, showing the brightness level and FWHM of the star.
Best focus is the point at which theFWHM is smallest and the brightness level is highest. Keep in mind
that this feature works best when
the image is not saturated, so if the star has a brightness levelapproaching 65000, you should either shorten your exposures or
select a fainter star.

Display Options Window
This window allows you to adjust the wayin which the 16-bit image is mapped to thePC’s display. Basically, it compresses the65000 brightness levels into a range which
can be displayed on a computer monitor.
Always keep in mind that the settings in thiswindow only affect the way the image is displayed, not the data in the image itself.
Hint: Use the reticle function to assist withcentring the reference stars of your Go-To mount.

Page Centering and final exposure
Assuming that your target object is already in the field of view ofthe CCD, you should now do a longer exposure to assist with centring. Choice of exposure length will depend a lot on your telescope
configuration and the object being observed, but 5 seconds should
be enough to record the position of most bright deep-sky objects.
Binning is also very useful, since it greatly enhances the sensitivity, and it also leads to a dramatic reduction in the time taken to
download the full frame. Try binning 3x3 (in the Exposure window)
or more to see the difference.
After centring, it is time for the final exposure. For this the exposure
duration will also depend on the telescope and object, but you’ll
want to do the longest exposure that your system can achieve,depending of course on the object being observed. For example,a 5 minute exposure on the Andromeda galaxy will burn out thecore for sure, but it will nicely record the outer arms. You can do
two exposures of different lengths, and then combine them using
image processing software.
An installer for Dawn is included on your CD, together with some
introductory videos.

Page Planetary (high-speed) Imaging
The Titan can take up to 15 frames per second and store them inuncompressed 16-bit format on a standard hard disk drive.
In order to operate in high-speed mode, the following steps must
be taken:● check the Pre checkbox in the Exposure dialog – thisenables the fast download mode;● set the exposure time in the Exposure dialog – note thathigh frame rates require short exposure times;● check the Autosave Images checkbox in the Exposure
dialog;● enter a suitable folder and file name prefix in the text box
below the Autosave Images checkbox (or use the browse
button alongside it);● select a suitable suffix scheme from the Seq fmt. dropdown list;● enter your desired starting sequence number in the Seq
No. text box;
● start imaging by selecting the Camera | Loop menu option or else by clicking on the Loop toolbar item;● stop imaging by deselecting the Camera | Loop menu option or by clicking on the Loop toolbar item again.
Please ensure that your hard disk has enough space for yourproposed observing run – in high-speed mode the Titan eats up
disk space very quickly! Performance will be improved by minimizing the number of other processes running on the system. If
the frame rate is reduced by hard disk performance limitations,Page 10

you might be able to improve it by using a RAM disk, such as theone provided by Dataram (see http://memory.dataram.com/products-and-services/software/ramdisk/download-ramdisk). A majoradvantage of operating in high-speed imaging mode is that it allows you to capture moments of steady seeing, which can then be
selected and stacked to produce far sharper images than could beachieved with longer exposure times. Registax is a freeware program which is designed to make this post-processing as easy as
possible: please refer to http://www.astrono mie.be/registax/index.
html for further details.
Registax will process andstack RGB images taken
through different colour
filters provided that thefiles are saved with thesuffixes _R, _G and _B,
to indicate the colour
channel. The easiest
way to achieve this is bysetting up an observing
sequence as shown on
the right.
Registax can also debayerize images taken with one-shot colourcameras.

Guider port diagram
On cameras that support this feature, the guider port
diagram is displayed on the right.

Page 11

Atik 383L+ specific information
The 383L+ is fitted with a mechanical shutter but, as is inevitablewith shuttered cameras, this imposes some constraints on theminimum advisable exposure length owing to the time it takes forthe shutter to open and close. A minimum
exposure time of at least 200ms is recommended in order to minimize the effects ofvignetting.
The “Dark” check box causes the shutter to remain closed during exposures, allowing darkframes to be taken. Please note that whilst
the shutter can be relied upon to keep lightout of the camera during night-time observing conditions, additional measures must betaken to ensure that the camera is light-tightwhen taking dark frames during the day.
Again, thank you for your trust in our products. We hope you enjoy
astro-imaging for years to come.

Page 12

Notes:

Page 13

Sony ICX424

Titan

1620x1220

Sony ICX274

320E

1392x1040

Sony ICX285

314L+

3362x2504

Kodak KAF-8300

383L+

2048x2048

Kodak KAI4022

4000LE2048x2048

Kodak KAI4022

4000

4008x2672

Kodak KAI11002

11000

Camera Specifications

659x494

9x9

Image sensor
Resolution

16 bit-38

13e

16 bit-40

11e

7,4x7,4-33

11e

Yes

16 bit7eYes

7,4x7,4-40Yes

16 bit4eYes

5,4x5,4-27

No

Yes

16 bit

3e

No

Yes

6,45x6,45-25

No

Yes

16 bit7e

No4,4x4,4-20No

16 bitReadout noiseNo7,4x7,4

Cooling DeltaNo

Pixel size (um)Regulated cooler

ADC

Water assist

0,001sUnlimited

USB20,001s

12VDC, 2A

Unlimited

USB20,001s

12VDC, 2A

UnlimitedUSB20,2s

12VDC, 1,5A

Unlimited

USB20,001s

12VDC, 2A

Unlimited

USB218mm

0,001s

12VDC, 900mA

18mm990g

M54x0,75

UnlimitedUSB

18mm990g

M42x0,75

0,001s

12VDC, 800mA

17mm

900g

M42x0,75

Unlimited

USB

12mm

700g

M42x0,75

Maximum exposure

12VDC, 550mA

13mm

400g

M42x0,75

Minimum exposure

Power requirements
13mm

350g

M42x0,75

PC Interface

Backfocus distance

350g

M42x0,75

Thread on front
WeightVisit www.atik-cameras.com for complete information, sample images,reviews, articles, etc. Don’t forget to check our line of accessories as well.

Page 14
Declaration of Conformity
EU Declaration of Conformity.
This product carries the CE Mark in accordance with the related European Directive. CE Marking
is the responsibility of:Perseu, SAR. Dr. Agostinho Neto, 1D
2690-576 Sta Iria da Azoia
Portugal
Critical Applications.
This product is not designed for any “critical applications”. “Critical applications” means life support systems, medical applications , connections to medical devices, commercial transportations,
nuclear facilities or systems or any other applications where product failure could lead to injury topersons or loss of life or catastrophic property damage.
This product is not a toy.
This is a class A product. In a domestic environment this product may cause radio interference inwhich case the user may be required to take adequate measures.
Disposal of the camera
When no longer required do not dispose of this electronic device with general household waste. To minimise pollution and protect the environment the camera should berecycled. Local recycling drop off points available under the Waste from Electrical andElectronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations which will accept the camera. For further
information contact Perseu SA at the above address, or the shop from which the camera was bought.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device,pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. Thisequipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and usedin accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference inwhich case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
Modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user’s authority to operated the equipment under FCC rules.

Page 15Warranty
The equipment is guaranteed against defective design, manufacture or materials for a period of one year from the date of purchase This means that Atik
Cameras will repair or replace the equipment at its sole option, at no charge tothe purchaser for parts or for labour, if the fault is reported within the guarantee
period, provided however that Atik Cameras is able to duplicate the defect orproblem at its facilities. This warranty does not apply to damage that occurred
as a result of abuse or misuse, abnormal service or handling, damage which
may have been caused either directly or indirectly by another product, or if
the equipment has been altered or modified in any way, or if the damage wascaused by repairs or service provided or attempted by anyone other than Atik
Cameras. This warranty does not include or provide for incidental or consequential damages.
To exercise your rights under this warranty, you must return the equipment tothe dealer from whom it was purchased together with proof of purchase and aclear description of the fault. If it’s not possible to return the equipment to yourdealer, you should contact Atik Cameras. Equipment returned to Atik Cameras
must be sent in appropriate packaging and at your expense (insurance is recommended), together with proof of purchase, a return address and a clear description of the fault.
This does not affect your statutory rights.

Page 16This page was left blank on purpose

From Wikipedia: “The Triangulum Galaxy (also known asMessier 33 or NGC 598) is a spiral galaxy approximately 3
million light-years away in the constellation Triangulum. The
galaxy is also sometimes informally referred to as the Pinwheel Galaxy by some amateur astronomy references and insome public outreach websites.”
Image by Paulo Bénard Guedes (Atik 16HR)

Imaging the Universe