Starlight Xpress Lodestar Autoguider

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About this product

Model: starlight_xpress_lodestar

This model has been replaced by the new Lodestar X2.

The Lodestar is a compact stand-alone USB2.0 guide camera featuring the large, sensitive Sony ICX429AL Exview CCD.

Suitable for most mounts with a standard autoguider input.

As small as a 1.25" eyepiece!

lodestar_size_comparison

Specifications:

CCD type: ICX429AL Sony Exview interline CCD with low dark current and vertical anti-blooming.
CCD Full resolution Pixel data: Pixel size: 8.2uM x 8.4uM, Image format: 752 x 580 pixels
CCD Image area: 6.4mm (Horizontal) x 4.75mm (Vertical).
CCD quality: Grade 1
Spectral Response: QE max at 620nM (~65%), 35% at 400nM and 770nM.
Readout Noise: Less than 15 electrons RMS - typically only 10 electrons.
Full-well capacity: Greater than 50,000 e- (unbinned)
Anti-blooming: Overload margin greater than 1000x.
Dark current: Dark frame saturation time greater than 1 hour. Less than 0.1 electrons/second @ + 10C ambient.
Data format: 16 bits.
System gain: 0.9 electrons per ADU
Computer Interface: Built-in USB 2.0 compatible interface.
Image download time: Typically 0.2 seconds at full resolution using USB 2.0.
Power requirements: USB powered.
Cooling system: Ambient air cooling.
Size: 32 x 72mm black anodised aluminium barrel with 25 x 0.75mm 'C mount' thread at the CCD window end & input/output plugs at rear.
Weight: approx. 50g.

Camera Field of View Simulator

Customer reviews

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The Lodestar

29 April 2012 | Anthony

The Lodestar...

What a cracking bit of kit. As always with SX kit it's well made and works as it should.

I always think that astronomy kit manufacturers need to get their house in order when it comes to software and drivers etc, but after a quick visit to SX website I had the 64bit drivers I needed and the camera worked with Win7.

I've been used to less sensitive guide cameras up to this point and used to seeing 1 or maybe 2 guide stars on the screen, on the first night I setup the Lodestar I was shocked to see in excess of 20 available stars to guide on. PHD and the Lodestar work very well together and to have a camera that is completely controlled by PHD is great - only a simple slider to control exposure.

Initially I used a USB lead that I had and had comunication problems between the laptop and Camera, the lead that came with the Lodestar worked flawlessly first time.

Fits perfectly with the SX Off Axis Guider, and is parfocal (with a minor adjustment) with the H9 camera and the OAG/FW combo.

Having two SX camera's installed does through up an error in Maxim when I connect to the main camera - stating that the software cannot find the guide camera (which is because I've already told the guide camera to talk to PHD). But this is a minor issue with Maxim that means clicking on an OK box!

Size: 72mm long x 32mm across.
Weight: around 49 grams.
Power: usb powered - works well with a generic powered hub.
Led colour: One of my pet hates is astro suppliers that use LED's that aren't RED!!! The lodestar has a faintish Orange LED.
Mount: Standard C mount

It is worth every penny!