Orion PARSEC 10100C Manual Download Page 6

10

11

to install the camera driver:

1.  Insert the CD-ROM into the 

computer. The 

Launcher will 

appear (Figure 6). (For Windows 7 
and Vista computers, the 

AutoPlay 

window will appear first. Select 
Run Launcher

.

exe, then the 

Launcher will appear.)

2.  In 

Launcher screen, select Install 

FTDI. This installs the driver files 
for the Parsec camera.

3.  Connect the Orion Parsec to a USB port on the computer with the supplied 

USB cable.

4.  Plug the supplied power cable into a 12VDC power source and connect the 

cable to the Parsec. LED status indicator and cooling fan will automatically 
power on. Windows will automatically detect the camera and install it 
onto your computer. Wait for the message to appear, 

Device Installed 

Successfully.

Note: 

Your computer must have a high-speed USB 2.0 port available. If your 

computer has multiple USB ports, you will need to install the driver again if the 
Parsec is connected to a different USB port.
The Parsec uses FTDI drivers which are WHQL certified by Microsoft for both 
32-bit and 64-bit Windows operating systems including Windows XP, Vista and 
Windows 7. We recommend regularly checking 

www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/

D2XX.htm for updates.

3.  Software Walk-through

MaxIm DL 5 is a powerful imaging program which offers complete control for your 
Parsec camera, autoguider, telescope, and imaging accessories such as a motor-
ized filter wheel and focuser. In addition to controlling your camera and accesso-
ries for image capture, MaxIm DL also provides all the necessary processing tools 
to assemble your astro-image.

For the most detail regarding all of the 
features in MaxIm DL, please con-
sult the comprehensive help tutorial 
in MaxIm’s 

Help Topics. The following 

section of the manual will walk you 
through the basic features mostly found 
in the 

Camera Control Window.

The Parsec includes a free 60-day trial 
of MaxIm DL 5 Pro. Start by opening 
MaxIm DL, and you will be prompted 
with the 

User Registration window 

which requires your license informa-
tion (Figure 8). Refer to the registration 
label on the envalope of your software 
CD and enter the information exactly 
as it is shown on the label. Once your 
information is entered correctly, the 

OK 

button will become available, click 

OK 

to proceed. You will only have to enter 
your software license once.

3.1. the Camera Control 

Window

The 

Camera Control Window con-

trols your Parsec camera, as well as 
your autoguider if you are using one. 
The window has three tabs, 

Expose

Guide, and Setup.
To access the 

Camera Control Window, Open MaxIm DL and go to View, then 

select 

Camera Control Window, or you may click on the icon found in MaxIm 

(Figure 7) or press 

Control W.

the Setup tab and Connecting the Parsec 

(Figure 9.1)

We recommend selecting 

More on the bottom right of the Setup (Figure 9.2) tab 

which will reveal more information such as the cooler status, exposure progress, 
and more.
Camera 1 should be used for your Parsec. Camera 2 should be used for your 
autoguider if you are using one.
To connect your Parsec camera to MaxIm DL.
1.  Plug the Parsec into your computer’s USB port.
2.  Plug the power cable into the Parsec, with your 12VDC power source already 

connected. The cooling fan and LED status indicators will automatically 
power on.

Figure 7. 

Access the 

Camera Control Window from the View menu, or pressing Ctrl + 

W, or selecting the icon.

Figure 9.1. 

The 

Setup tab in the 

Camera Control Window.

Figure 9.2. 

The 

More/Less button 

reveals more detailed information about 
the camera status, such as the cooler 
temperature, exposure progress, and more.

Figure 8. 

User Registration Window.

Summary of Contents for PARSEC 10100C

Page 1: ...ec 10100C Color 52078 instruction Manual Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975 OrionTelescopes com Customer Support 800 676 1343 E mail support telescope com Corporate Offices 831...

Page 2: ...eep Sky Objects 20 5 Image Processing 26 5 1 Image Calibration 26 5 2 Convert Raw to Color For Parsec 8300C and 10100 27 5 3 Stacking Combining Images 28 5 4 Filter 32 5 5 Color Balance 32 6 Multiple...

Page 3: ...ludes 1x1 full resolution 2x2 3x3 and 4x4 This CCD chip offers the unique ability to image in color at 1x1 mode as well as 2x2 mode This is advantageous when imaging with different focal lengths In ge...

Page 4: ...edge darkening may occur Caution Be sure to always firmly tighten the thumbscrew s that secure the Parsec in the telescope focuser or it could fall out and onto the ground If your telescope has T thr...

Page 5: ...plorer 4 or higher required to display on line help High speed USB 2 0 port Power The Parsec requires 12 volts DC 12VDC with approximately 2 amperes of cur rent Power to the entire camera including th...

Page 6: ...he following section of the manual will walk you through the basic features mostly found in the Camera Control Window The Parsec includes a free 60 day trial of MaxIm DL 5 Pro Start by opening MaxIm D...

Page 7: ...it a few seconds for the image to appear It may be over exposed or grossly out of focus Adjust the telescope s focus and adjust the exposure time as needed to get a focused image 4 Look at the Pixel v...

Page 8: ...image has a different histogram depending on how much of the image is bright or dark Directly viewing the histogram of your image in the Screen Stretch Window provides an easy interface for making de...

Page 9: ...se The camera will only download the area you previously selected which makes each image download significantly faster than the whole frame Note If the Parsec is grossly out of focus no object will ap...

Page 10: ...quality of your focus Caution Once you have achieved focus be sure to click the Reset but ton in the Subframe box otherwise the camera will crop all your images into a small square 4 2 Setting the Coo...

Page 11: ...eep sky object into the field of view of your eyepiece If you are using a mount with an accurate computerized go to system you can keep the camera installed in your telescope s focuser without using t...

Page 12: ...iminate most of the camera noise you can take several dark frames average them then subtract them from your astro images also called light images Note Make sure the cooler set point and CCD temperatur...

Page 13: ...flat frames it s a good idea to assign a preset such as F to better organize your different images 4 Set the Seconds to 0 1 for now and click OK then Expose You want the Max Pixel to read somewhere ar...

Page 14: ...s appear in the window 3 Select the Source Folder where you saved your dark frames Figure 23 4 Click Auto Generate and MaxIm DL will automatically find all of your calibration images such as darks and...

Page 15: ...ged into groups according to their FITS header You can open the groups to view the files by clicking on the sign If you would like to view an individual file right click it and select Display Image Al...

Page 16: ...e Add Folder option calibration files are automatically ignored the other methods for adding files will include them Usually you don t want to stack the calibration files automatically since the Set C...

Page 17: ...re a background level adjustment This is accomplished by bringing the background level or bias in each color plane down to zero Each of the Background Level values is subtracted from every image pixel...

Page 18: ...ting of 10 means that the Parsec attempts to track out 100 of the motion whereas a setting of 1 means that the Parsec only tracks out 10 of the motion Usually a setting of around 8 or 9 provides the b...

Page 19: ...mpensation in the mount is turned off On most telescopes the Right Ascension drive likes to have some load pushing against sidereal tracking If the mount is balanced such that it is pulling the mount...

Page 20: ...drift and correct by moving the mount in the appropriate direction To perform the drift method of polar alignment 1 Do a rough polar alignment by pointing the R A axis of the mount at Polaris the Nor...

Page 21: ...ng images of wide field deep sky objects such as the Andromeda Galaxy or the Pleadies star cluster Focal reducers will usually thread onto the nosepiece of the Parsec Barlow lenses increase the focal...

Page 22: ...ith anti reflection coatings Backfocus Distance from T threads 29 24mm 1 15 Weight 900g 32 oz Autoguider capability Yes Mounting 2 nosepiece or T thread Parsec 10100C CCD Sensor Kodak KAI 10100 CXC CC...

Page 23: ...wing two conditions 1 this device may not cause harmful interference and 2 this device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation Changes of modifi...

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