Astronomy Technology Today

ContentsCover Story - 29Three versions of the Quantum Scientific Imaging 500 Series scientific medium format,thermo-electrically cooled CCD cameras are pictured superimposed over an image ofNGC 6992, the Veil Nebula, composed by Richard Berry using one of the two QSI 532wsimagers that he tested for this issue. The QSI532ws employs a 3.2 megapixel KodakEnhanced Response full-frame CCD imagesensor with microlens technology. Its highquantum efficiency, wide dynamic range andexceptionally low noise performance makethe 532 ideal for a broad range of demandingastronomical, scientific and industrial imagingapplications. The Veil Nebula (and surroundingrich, starry region of Cygnus) wascaptured by Berry with the QSI 532ws in lessthan one hour of data collection. L = 10 x 60second, R = 11 x 60 seconds, G = 12 x 60 seconds,and B = 15 x 60 seconds.ASTRONOMYTECHNOLOGY TODAYYour Complete Guide to Astronomical EquipmentTHE ORIGINAL TEETER’S TELESCOPE • GLATTER’S LASER COLLIMATORTWO LOOKS AT THE STELLARVUE SV102EDVolume 2 • Issue 2February 2008 $5.00 USTesting QSI’s532ws ScientificCCD CameraIndustry News11 KENDRICK ASTRO INSTRUMENTSTo Focus Exclusively on theKendrick Brand11 20/20 TELESCOPESNow a Vixen Optics StockingDealer12 OPTEC, INC.Completes New SSPDataQ2Software14 GREAT RED SPOT ASTRONOMYNow a Dealer for Lumincon15 SBIGTo Announce the Recipients ofthe Excellence in AstronomicalImaging AwardIn This Issue8 Editor’s NoteThe Big NewsBy Gary Parkerson29 Testing QSI’s 532WSScientific CCD CameraAn In-depth Look for AstronomersWho Are Looking for a Top-NotchCamera Suitable for Imaging andScience PurposesBy Richard Berry49 The Stellarvue SV102EDA Comparative ReviewBy Josh Walawender56 Using The SV102ED ForAstrophotographyAn Excellent Imaging Platform at aModest PriceBy Jon Talbot59 The War Of The BeanieCelestron’s Newly Launched Line ofClothing ProductsBy Penny Distasio62 The Original “Teeter’s Telescope”Stellafane Helps a Young Boy GoFrom “Eight to Great”!By Robert J. Teeter, Jr.65 Howie Glatter’s Laser Collimator“Straight and True”By Erik Wilcox68 Astro Tips, Tricks, andNovel Solutions“Uncle Rod” Mollise Provides aWealth of Knowledge with TheUrban Astronomers Guide16 SKYSHEDNow Available in Australia andNew Zealand16 DENKMEIEROffers New Upgrades to itsDenk II Series Binoviewers17 STARK LABSAnnounces Nebulosity Upgradesfor Mac’s Leopard OperatingSystem17 TETON TELESCOPEOffers Limited Supply of TMBSupermono Eyepieces.18 AMATEUR ASTRONOMYMAGAZINESpring 2008 issue Now AvailableAstronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY 5

Contributing WritersRichard Berry writes books and computer software from his home on the wetwestern side of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon. His books include TheHandbook of Astronomical Image Processing with its AIP4Win software (withJim Burnell), Build Your Own Telescope, The Dobsonian Telescope, a PracticalManual for Building Large Aperture Telescopes (with Dave Kriege), and The CCDCamera Cookbook (with Viekko Kanto and John Munger)—all published withWillmann-Bell. You can find more on his tests of the QSI 532ws plus pictures ofComet Holmes, etc., etc., on his website at www.wvi.com/~rberry/index.html.And of course, he has another couple of books percolating…Penny Distasio has worked for Meade Instruments as a dealer support rep, andeven did a stint at the McDonald Observatory Visitor's Center in Fort Davis,Texas, but her main connection in the world of astronomy continues to beOceanside Photo & Telescope, where she has worked for the past twenty years.Penny also writes articles for the Oceanside Photo & Telescope AstronomicalSociety's quarterly newsletter, Arc Minutes. She lives with her husband, Tony,and their two cats, Abbey & Pippin, in Vista, California.Jonathan B. Talbot is the Chief Flight Meteorologist for the Air Force Reserves“Hurricane Hunters,” who track all the tropical cyclones for the NationalHurricane Center. He has been doing the hurricane flying for about 22 yrs andhas flown through hurricanes nearly 100 times. He started out in Astronomyabout 7 yrs ago when he bought a Meade 4” reflector and has added to his collectionmany times since then! He built a home observatory in Ocean Springs,Mississippi which has a limiting magnitude 4.5 sky.ContentsNew Products20 PROTOSTARNow OffersMetric ThreadOptions forSecondaryMounts20 STELLAR TECHNOLOGIESINTERNATIONALNow Offers Meade DSI Pro IIICompatible Series IV StilettoFocuser23 SCOPESTUFFIntroduces More HandyNew ProductsRob Teeter is a telescope builder and owner of Teeter's Telescopes, where hehas produced over 50 custom Truss-Dobsonians since 2002. Rob graduatedfrom Rutgers University in 2005 with a degree in Environmental Policy and fromMontclair State University in 2007 with a Master's Degree in EnvironmentalManagement. Rob's current day job is as an environmental regulatory complianceconsultant for a private New Jersey firm.Dr. Josh Walawender has been an avid amateur astronomer since childhood,including building a telescope at age 13 as part of a class with the San DiegoAstronomy Association. His childhood interest led to a career in research astronomy.With degrees from UC Berkeley and the University of Colorado, he is nowworking as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Astronomy in Hilo, Hawaiiand enjoys frequent observing sessions under The Big Island’s pristine skies.Erik Wilcox works for a natural foods distributor in South San Francisco,California, and is a long-time moderator on the popular astronomy forum, “CloudyNights.” He enjoys star parties and public outreach and, in addition to amateurastronomy, he spends his time playing in a rock band.Subscribe Now!Now accepting Canadian and InternationalSubscriptions in addition to U.S. Subscriptions!www.astronomytechnologytoday.com24 LUNT SOLAR SYSTEMSAnnounces 60-mm Ha Systems25 PETERS ASTROIntroduces Image ProcessingTutorials27 JMIIntroduces Several NewProducts6 Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY