A Practical Guide to Ccd Astronomy,9780521590631

A Practical Guide to Ccd Astronomy

by
ISBN13: 9780521590631
ISBN10: 0521590639
Format: Hardcover
Pub. Date: 1997-11-28
Publisher(s): Cambridge University Press
List Price: $145.00

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Summary

High-performance CCD cameras have opened up an exciting new window on the Universe for amateur astronomers. This book provides a complete, self-contained guide to choosing and using CCD cameras. We start with a no-nonsense introduction to how a CCD camera works and just what determines its performance. We are then shown how to use a CCD camera and calibrate accurately the images we obtain. A clear review is then provided of the software available for visualising, analysing and processing digital images. Finally, we are guided through a series of key areas in astronomy where we can make the best use of our CCD cameras. This handy volume is packed with practical tips. It provides a clear introduction to CCD astronomy for novices and an indispensable reference for more experienced amateur astronomers.

Table of Contents

Foreword xiii
Preface xvii
CCD equipment for astronomy
1(54)
The CCD detector
1(22)
From photography to CCD
1(3)
What does a CCD detector look like?
4(1)
Geometric characteristics
4(1)
1-D and 2-D arrays
4(1)
Pixel size
5(1)
The sensitive surface and dead zone of a pixel
6(1)
Color CCDs and black and white CCDs
7(1)
The number of pixels and the size of the array
8(1)
The operation of the CCD
9(1)
The reading of the CCD
9(2)
The integration of an image
11(3)
CCD performance
14(1)
The sensitivity of a CCD
14(2)
The capacity of a pixel
16(2)
The linearity of a CCD
18(1)
Transfer efficiency
19(1)
The dark current
20(3)
Electroluminescence
23(1)
Defective pixels
23(1)
CCD camera electronics
23(15)
Clock generation
24(1)
The definition of a clock
24(4)
Read time and window mode
28(1)
Binning
28(3)
TDI mode
31(1)
Hardware and software sequencers
31(1)
Reading the signal
32(1)
Analog processing of the video signal
32(1)
Analog and digital signals
33(1)
Digitization of the video signal
34(1)
The electronic design of a CCD camera
35(3)
Thermal and mechanical aspects
38(11)
General points concerning cooling
38(1)
The need for cooling
38(1)
The production of cold
39(1)
The thermal load
39(2)
Cooling with thermoelectric elements
41(1)
Peltier modules
41(1)
Peltier module characteristics
41(2)
The removal of heat
43(3)
The power supply and temperature regulation of Peltier modules
46(1)
The problem of frost
47(2)
The camera body
49(1)
The computer environment
49(6)
The computer
49(3)
Software
52(1)
Acquisition software
52(1)
Image processing and display software
53(2)
CCD camera characteristics and performance
55(33)
Geometric characteristics
55(4)
The number of pixels
55(3)
The shape and size of pixels
58(1)
Electronic and thermal characteristics
59(7)
Read-out noise
59(1)
The origin of read-out noise
59(2)
The influence of read-out noise
61(1)
The thermal load and noise
62(2)
Sensitivity to interference
64(1)
Levels of digitization
64(2)
Photometric characteristics
66(9)
The capacity of pixels
66(1)
Sensitivity and detection thresholds
67(5)
Photometric precision
72(1)
Photon noise
72(1)
The evaluation of photometric precision
73(1)
The precision and linearity of the converter
74(1)
CCD quality
75(2)
Acquisition functions
77(7)
Exposure
77(1)
Automatic mode
78(1)
Read time
78(1)
Windowing
79(1)
Binning
79(2)
Types of shutter
81(1)
Planetary image acquisition
82(2)
TDI mode
84(1)
User friendliness
84(2)
Automatic guiding
86(2)
Image production
88(31)
The camera mounting
88(14)
Choice of optical combinations
88(1)
The resolution
88(1)
The field of view
89(2)
Mechanical integration
91(1)
The chromatic aberration of refractors
92(3)
Guiding problems
95(3)
The filter assembly
98(3)
The mounting for TDI mode
101(1)
The first images
102(1)
Pointing the telescope
102(2)
Focusing
104(5)
Photometric correction of images
109(2)
Dark acquisition
111(2)
Flat field acquisition
113(4)
A night of observations
117(2)
Display and image analysis functions
119(18)
The concept of the CCD image
119(5)
The image on the CCD detector
119(1)
The image in memory
120(1)
The screen image
121(1)
The image on disk
122(1)
The screen copy
123(1)
Display functions
124(8)
Classic display
124(4)
Blink display
128(1)
True color display
129(1)
Isophote display
129(1)
Polarization card display
130(1)
Cross-sectional display
131(1)
Perspective display
132(1)
Analysis functions
132(5)
Display help
132(2)
Photometric analysis
134(1)
Photocenter calculation
135(2)
Image processing functions
137(47)
Image processing
137(1)
Preprocessing
137(12)
The bias image
138(1)
Dark subtraction
139(1)
The classic method
139(1)
The generic dark method
140(1)
The dark optimization method
140(2)
The nonlinearity of darks
142(1)
The flat field division
142(2)
Cosmetic corrections
144(1)
Preprocessing automation
145(4)
Point to point operations
149(6)
Arithmetical operations
149(2)
Statistical point to point operations
151(1)
Transformations in color space
152(2)
Transformations in polarization space
154(1)
Geometric transformations
155(6)
Translations, rotations, and mosaics
155(1)
Translations
155(1)
Rotations
156(1)
Mosaics
156(1)
Permutation
157(1)
Enlargements and reductions
157(2)
Anamorphs
159(2)
Convolutions
161(11)
Spatial convolutions
162(1)
High-pass filters
162(2)
Low-pass filters
164(1)
The unsharp mask technique
165(1)
Morphological filters
166(1)
Frequency convolutions
167(1)
Fourier transformations
168(3)
Convolutions in Fourier space
171(1)
Image restoration
172(8)
Direct algorithms
174(1)
The Van Cittert algorithm
175(1)
The Lucy-Richardson algorithm
176(1)
The maximum entropy algorithm
177(2)
Diverse algorithms
179(1)
Application areas for different methods
179(1)
Modeling
180(2)
Stellar modeling
180(1)
Isophotal modeling
181(1)
Modeling of the sky background
182(1)
Choosing image processing software
182(2)
CCD applications in astronomy
184(54)
The advantages of the CCD
184(2)
Image quantification and linearity
184(1)
Detectivity
185(1)
Spectral sensitivity
185(1)
Real time work
185(1)
A restriction: the wide field
186(1)
High resolution work
186(16)
Planetary surfaces
187(1)
Image acquisition
188(2)
Basic image processing
190(1)
Use of data
190(4)
Filtering of planetary images
194(1)
Double stars
195(1)
Image acquisition
196(1)
Data reduction
197(4)
The Sun
201(1)
Images and detection of faint objects
202(5)
The field of study
202(1)
Image acquisition
202(2)
Multiple exposures and tracking comets
204(1)
Image processing and analysis
205(2)
Photometry
207(15)
Areas of application
207(3)
Stellar photometry
210(1)
The use of filters
210(2)
The magnitude constant
212(1)
Absolute magnitude calibration
213(5)
The use of AAVSO and AFOEV maps
218(1)
Photometry of extended objects
219(1)
Integral photometry--comets
219(1)
Surface photometry--galaxies
220(1)
Rapid photometry
221(1)
Astrometry
222(2)
Areas of application
222(1)
Image acquisition and analysis
222(1)
Alleviating the field problem
223(1)
Spectrography
224(6)
Areas of application
224(2)
Wavelength calibration
226(1)
Chromatic calibration
227(1)
Factors limiting performance
228(1)
Analysis software
229(1)
Example application
230(1)
Sky surveillance
230(8)
The area of study
230(1)
Limited zone searches
231(1)
Supernova searches
231(1)
The rediscovery of periodic comets
232(3)
Extended zone searches
235(1)
A particular case--TDI mode
236(2)
Conclusion 238(1)
Bibliography 239(2)
Index 241

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