Welcome to the Guide to CCD Imaging

Basics of CCD Imaging

• Introduction to CCD Imaging
  • How CCD Cameras Work
  • CCD Imaging for Amateur Astronomers
  • CCD vs. Digital Camera Astrophotography
  • Digital Cameras, Webcams & Video Cameras
• CCD Equipment Basics
  • Telescopes for CCD Imaging
    • Refractors
    • Newtonians
    • Schmidt-Cassegrains
    • Other Designs
    • Mounts
  • CCD Cameras
  • Digital Cameras
  • Webcams & Video Cameras
  • Accessories
  • Understanding Image Scale & Field of View
• Basics of Taking CCD Images
  • Setting Up a Telescope for Imaging
    • Assembling the Telescope
    • Balancing
    • Polar Alignment
    • Attaching the CCD Camera & Accessories
    • Firing Up the Computer
  • Focusing
  • Finding Objects
    • Aligning a Computerized Telescope
    • Choosing a Target
    • Finding Celestial Objects
  • Capturing Images
    • Capturing Images, Page 2
  • Color Imaging
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Focusing
    • Autoguider Calibration
    • Exposure Times
  • Capturing Images with a Webcam
• Image Processing Basics
  • Image Calibration
  • Image Display
  • Combining Images
  • Image Processing Filters
  • Color Imaging
• Frequently Asked Questions

Advanced CCD Imaging

• Advanced CCD Equipment
  • Filters for Imaging
  • Planetary Imaging Equipment
  • Telescopes & CCD Cameras
    • Telescopes
    • Mounts
    • CCD Cameras
  • Accessories
• Advanced Imaging Techniques
  • Advanced Imaging
    • Calibration Images
    • Imaging Sequences
    • Color Imaging
  • Planetary Imaging
  • Getting the Most Detail
  • Imaging Special Events
  • Comets, Asteroids & Supernovae
    • Imaging Comets
    • Imaging Asteroids
    • Imaging Supernovae
    • Searching for Comets, Asteroids & Supernovae
  • Making Mosaics
  • Narrowband Imaging
    • What is Narrowband Imaging?
    • Methods for Combining Colors
    • Taking Narrowband Images
    • Processing Narrowband Images
• Advanced Image Processing
  • Calibrating Images
  • Combining Images
  • Image Processing Filters
    • Unsharp Mask
    • Low-Pass Noise Removal
    • Filters for Removing Artifacts
  • Color Imaging Techniques
  • Creating a Dynamic Range Mask in Adobe Photoshop
  • Super-Unsharp Masking in Adobe Photoshop
• CCD Imaging Projects
  • Faint, Fainter, Faintest
  • The Search Begins
  • Running a Marathon
  • Backyard Astrophysics
• Imaging Theory
  • Focusing
  • Nyquist Theorem
  • True Color Imaging
  • Optimum Exposures

Software Instructions

• Capturing Images
  • CCDOPS
    • Camera Setup
    • Focusing
    • Finding Targets
    • Basic Imaging
    • Advanced Imaging
      • Advanced Imaging, Page 2
    • Self-Guiding
  • MaxIm DL
    • Camera Setup
    • Focusing
    • Finding Targets
    • Basic Imaging
    • Advanced Imaging
    • Self-Guiding
  • Webcam Imaging
• Processing Images
  • CCDOPS
    • Image Calibration
    • Basic Processing
    • Color Images
    • Saving Files
  • MaxIm DL
    • Image Calibration
    • Basic Processing
      • Display Stretching
      • Permanent Stretching
      • Using Filters to Enhance Detail
      • Combining Images
    • Color Images
    • Advanced Processing
      • Digital Development Processing
      • Deconvolution Processing
    • Saving Files
  • Photoshop
    • LRGB Images
    • Aesthetic Image Adjustment
      • Cloning
      • Adjusting Levels
      • Color Balance & Saturation
      • Adjusting Curves
      • Cropping
    • Processing RAW Files
    • Mosaics
      • Basic Techniques
      • Advanced Techniques
      • Color Mosaics
    • Web Images
    • Starglow Effect
    • Cheap Tricks
    • Creating a Dynamic Range Mask
    • Using an H-Alpha Image as a Luminance Channel
    • Using Clipping Masks to Create Color Images
    • More Narrowband Color Techniques
    • Super-Unsharp Masking
  • Zone Mask Photoshop Plugin
  • Levelizer Photoshop Plugin
  • Registax
  • Imaging Examples
    • Imaging NGC253
    • Imaging Mars

HyperStar Imaging

• What is HyperStar Imaging?
• Equipment for HyperStar Imaging
• Setting Up the HyperStar System
  • Quick Reference
• Taking Images with HyperStar
• HyperStar Imaging with a CPC-Series Telescope & SXV-H9C Camera
  • Taking HyperStar Images
  • Processing HyperStar Images

CCD Calculators

• Pixel Resolution & Field of View
• Equivalent Exposures
• Ideal Exposure
• Flat Field Value
• Eyepiece Projection

CCD Imaging Resources

• CCD Imagers' Websites
• CCD Imaging Articles
• Glossary of Terms

What's New?