ST-5C

ST-5C Description and Specifications

Model ST-5C CCD Imaging Camera

The original SBIG Model ST-5 and the later Model ST-5C achieved much acclaim when used at the F/1.9 prime focus of Celestron's Fastar SCT telescope.  The Model ST-5C is a great introductory camera emphasizing Quality Imaging at an Affordable Cost.  This model was originally made by SBIG for Celestron and marketed as the Pixel 255 Camera.  Later, SBIG sold the same product under its own name as the ST-5C.  The camera has 10 micron square pixels in an array of 320 x 240 pixels. The small pixels generate outstanding high resolution images when used with fast focal ratio telescopes or standard camera lenses with focal lengths from 50 to 400 mm.  The optical head is 3.25" in diameter.  The CCD head can be directly mounted at the prime focus of Celestron’s Fastar SCT, into an eyepiece holder, or mounted with a T-Thread or C-Mount Adapter to a standard SCT.

The imaging camera communicates with the PC through the standard parallel port and is supported by the same CCDOPS software that controls the other SBIG imaging cameras.  The readout electronics utilize a 16-bit A/D converter and double correlated sampling. The imaging camera system consists of a thermoelectrically cooled CCD head with a cable that connects to a small separate processor.  This is an early model which also included a fan that was later removed from production ST-5C cameras.  The processor has cables, which connect directly to power and the parallel port of a PC.  A separate cable connects to the telescope to interface the Autoguider and Track & Accumulate functions.  The ST-5C also found its place as an excellent planetary imager.  The samples below were all taken with the ST-5C.  f you are interested in high resolution planetary imaging where structure and detail are prominent, the Model ST-5C, used with longer focal length refractors or SCT’s, is an ideal system.

Mars taken with CFW5C filter wheel through a 10” SCT by Antonio Cidadao

Saturn through a 10" SCT @ f/20 by Antonio Cidadao

Jupiter through a 10" SCT @ f/20 by Antonio Cidadao

Model ST-5C Typical Specifications

CCD Specifications

CCD:  TI TC-255
Pixel Array:  320 x 240 pixels, 3.2 x 2.4 mm
Pixel Size:  10 x 10 microns
Full Well Capacity:  50,000e
Dark Current:  5e-/pixel/sec at 0° C
Antiblooming:  Variable Rate

Readout Specifications

Shutter:  2 Position Wheel, Optional Internal RGB Ready
Exposure:  0.01 to 3600 seconds
Correlated Double Sampling:  Yes
A/D Converter:  16 bits
A/D Gain:  2.0e-/ADU
Read Noise:  25e- RMS
Binning Modes:  1 x 1, 2 x 2
Pixel Digitization Rate:  30 kHz
Full Frame Acquisition:  Less than 3 seconds

Optical Specifications (8” f/10)

Field of View:  5.4 x 4.0 arcminutes
Pixel Size:  1.0 x 1.0 arcseconds
Limiting Magnitude:  Magnitude 14 in 1 second (for 3 arcsec FWHM stars)
                                      Magnitude 18 in 1 minute

System Specifications

Cooling:  Single Stage Thermoelectric –25 from Ambient Minimum
Temperature Regulation:  ±0.1°C
Power:  12 VDC at 1.2 Amps, Wall Transformer (Provided) or Cigarette Lighter Adapter (12VDC with NEGATIVE CENTER PIN)
Computer Interface:  Standard Parallel Port
Computer Compatibility:  PC - MS-DOS, Windows
Guiding:  Autoguiding and Track & Accumulate

Physical Dimensions

Optical Head:  3” (7.5 cm) dia. x 1.8” (4.5 cm), 1.0 pounds / 0.5 Kg
CPU:  8 x 10 x 2 inches / 20 x 25 x 5 cm, 2.4  pounds / 1.1 Kg
Mounting:  T-Thread, 1.25" nosepiece
Backfocus:  0.64 inches / 1.6 cm

Items included

CPU Box, Camera Head with cable, Parallel cable, New Power Supply, Tracking cable, Doskocil carrying case.

Available for Free Download (from SBIG)

CCDOPS Software, CCDOPS User Manual, ST-5C Users Manual

PENDING CERTIFICATION