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Handbook for the SX remote control Spectrograph    Issue 1, 17/8/20 

Dear Observer, 

Thank you for purchasing a Starlight Xpress CCD Imaging System. We are confident that you will gain much satisfaction 
from this equipment, but please read carefully the accompanying instruction manual to ensure that you achieve the best per-
formance that is capable of providing. 

As with most sophisticated equipment a certain amount of routine maintenance is necessary to keep the equipment operating 
at its optimum performance. The maintenance has been kept to a minimum, and is fully described in the manual. 

In the unfortunate instance when the equipment does not perform as expected might we recommend that you first study the 
fault finding information supplied. If this does not remedy the problem, then contact Starlight Xpress for further advice. Our 
message board service on the Starlight Xpress web site will often provide solutions to any problems. 

The equipment is covered by a 12-month guarantee covering faulty design, material or workmanship in addition to any stat-
utory Consumer Rights of Purchasers. 

CONDITIONS OF GUARANTEE 

1) The equipment shall only be used for normal purposes described in the standard operating instructions, and within the 
relevant safety standards of the country where the equipment is used. 

2) Repairs under guarantee will be free of charge providing proof of purchase is produced, and that the equipment is re-
turned to the Service Agent at the Purchaser’s expense and risk, and that the equipment proves to be defective. 

3) The guarantee shall not apply to equipment damaged by fire, accident, wear and tear, misuse, unauthorised repairs, or 
modified in any way whatsoever, or damage suffered in transit to or from the Purchaser. 

4) The Purchaser’s sole and exclusive rights under this guarantee is for repair, or at our discretion the replacement of the 
equipment or any part thereof, and no remedy to consequential loss or damage whatsoever. 

5) This guarantee shall not apply to components that have a naturally limited life. 

6) Starlight Xpress’s decision in all matters is final, and any faulty component which has been replaced will become the 
property of  Starlight Xpress Ltd. 

 

For further info. or advice, please call: 

Mr Michael Hattey, 

Starlight Xpress Ltd., 

Unit 3, Brooklands Business Park, 

Bottle Lane, 

Binfield 

Berkshire, 

England.  RG42 5QX 

Tel: 01184026898 

Email: 

[email protected]

  

Web site: 

http://www.s

xccd.com 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Summary of Contents for SX Spectrograph PRO

Page 1: ...automated most of the spectrograph functions The remote spectrograph allows you to change slits adjust the imaging camera focus and wavelength setting and switch on a calibration lamp or flat field l...

Page 2: ...es a Lodestar X2 guide camera which observes the image field via a 10 90 beam splitter cube The slit is not directly visible in the field but its position co ordinates are provided and marked by a cur...

Page 3: ...the wavelengths of the lines from any external source A typical calibration spectrum imaged with an M25C colour camera A spectrum with wavelength markers is provided in the appendix The optical input...

Page 4: ...d of the cross slide This function is pro vided in the Spectrograph control software As the grating is designed for a compact optical system the available back focal distance for the imaging camera is...

Page 5: ...Handbook for the SX remote control Spectrograph Issue 1 17 8 20 A general view of the optical and mechanical layout...

Page 6: ...bottom info strip The spectrograph is automatically started with the slit set to the highest resolution position Number 1 20 microns wide x 1 mm high This is usually the best setting for general purpo...

Page 7: ...have the Lodestar drivers and software installed please follow these instructions To install the Lodestar driver use the supplied stick to copy the appropriate driver files to a convenient folder on y...

Page 8: ...size of the spectrograph slit assuming that the 1 mm x 20 uM slit is in use The slit cursor position will probably need adjusting to match your spectrograph The nominal setting will be provided on a l...

Page 9: ...ee several stars when using a 1 or 2 second exposure and be able to refine the focus until the stars are sharply defined If you have a test target in mind slew to this object and find a good bright gu...

Page 10: ...ry slew ing the scope slightly East or West before taking another image The Adjust lock position in the Tools menu of PHD2 is good for this If the brightness falls off for both directions then the sli...

Page 11: ...e such as RSpec see below These simple instructions are sufficient for capturing a spectrum but you will probably want to identify spectral lines and perhaps perform further analysis of the data To th...

Page 12: ...the calibration chart The small double peak at the right is caused by sodium light pollution and is not in the calibration chart You can see that the spectrum is quite linear and matches the referenc...

Page 13: ...lected slit The slit widths available 1 20uM x 1mm 2 30uM x 2mm 3 55uM x 2mm 4 115uM x 2mm 5 325uM x 2mm 6 3mm diameter clear aperture For maximum light input with point sources stars or small nebulae...

Page 14: ...with the angle to achieve a different spectral width or line shape The theoretical best angle is marked by a groove in the floor of the spectrograph but a varia tion of two or three degrees in either...

Page 15: ...2 mm Position 5 325 uM x 2 mm Position 6 3mm x 3 mm circular Input Output Female T2 thread 42 x 0 75 mm input Male T2 thread output Input back focal distance approximately 37 mm Output back focal dist...

Page 16: ...1 The equipment shall only be used for normal purposes described in the standard operating instructions and within the relevant safety standards of the country where the equipment is used 2 Repairs u...

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