My understanding is that it essentially helps provide faster guide inputs with the AO-X performing corrections through the built in lens. The goal is for it to help poor seeing conditions and decrease the FWHM for tighter star sizes. SBIG has some additional information here: diffractionlimited.com/product/ao-x/
A few years back, adaptive optics was absolute off limits for a consumer. Look at this gem now. Matt would it be possible to photograph uranus and neptune in detail, using lucky imaging with this instrument from home? Maybe with a long focal length telescope?
I think a few folks have been trying that lately and it is pretty amazing even just seeing the color on Neptune and Uranus. Using special filters help as well when shooting planets, especially when folks want to try and get some structure out of clouds on Venus for example.
Active optics, not adaptive optics. An adaptive optics requires a wave front sensor and it has to deform the mirror (or other element in the OP). This SBIG AO is just a deviating plate which shifts the complete image in two axis. A adaptive optics would be able to fix single pixel groups in the image by flattening the wavefront. Those technologies are completely different.
What a cool piece of kit! I had a chance to test out the SBIG AO with an 8300. Too bad for me I didn't have enough backspacing to make it work. Looking forward to the next video!
Ya definitely have to have ample backfocus. Good thing is the CMOS models occupy less backfocus. What telescope were you putting that imaging train on?
I have a SBIG ST-10XME CCD which I really love, but this one is awesome. Very nice unit. It is also very important to have a clean beard when you assemble the unit, so check for loose beard-hairs. I like that workbench. Where did you buy that couch ?
These are active optics, so they essentially are providing more accurate guiding corrections during long exposures. At the end of the day, seeing is the limiting factor for the performance of these systems as long as your telescope optics are diffraction limited.
It was cloudy on the night of the installation and I didn't capture an install video for that trip. I do have another video coming where I show the complete install of this SBIG imaging train on a PlaneWave CDK600 system.
@@MattDieterich thanks but I mean this video was 8 months ago and you’ve uploaded at least a dozen videos since this one, using your DSLR and such, I have not seen you use this SBIG system in any of your videos since you assembled it. What happened? Did you get rid of it?
Unfortunately the backfocus isn't long enough on the Raptor to run the both this. Raptor only has 55mm of backfocus with their field flattener installed.
@@MattDieterich Just let me know if you plan to have a garage sale.... Pretty sure I will find some good stuff there😋 Thank you for making me dream. I really love this hobby.
This is the stuff astro dreams are made of. A Planewave system with this imaging train. I would love it. Very cool. Thank you.
Absolutely Ron! A well designs system and I like the integrated AO and guiding units. Pretty easy to setup and high quality from SBIG.
Nice setup , can't wait for some images. You realize it's going to be cloudy for weeks now.
Haha ya it was cloudy on the night of the install, typical astrophotography luck!
I can hardly wait to see your test images. Great post
Thanks for watching Walter!
@@MattDieterich Seriously I've wanted to see what the 4040 + Ao can do, will you be taking any images soon??
@@Kev376 I'll be working with this client again, who we installed this for, at the end of June so hopefully will have clear skies to shoot!
@@MattDieterich Excellent, last question which planewave model is it being installed on?
@@Kev376 I installed this imaging train on a CDK24 :)
Good stuff Matt! Nice looking camera.
Thanks Ian! Was a fun imaging train to assemble!
How does the adaptive optics actually work?
My understanding is that it essentially helps provide faster guide inputs with the AO-X performing corrections through the built in lens. The goal is for it to help poor seeing conditions and decrease the FWHM for tighter star sizes. SBIG has some additional information here: diffractionlimited.com/product/ao-x/
A few years back, adaptive optics was absolute off limits for a consumer. Look at this gem now. Matt would it be possible to photograph uranus and neptune in detail, using lucky imaging with this instrument from home? Maybe with a long focal length telescope?
I think a few folks have been trying that lately and it is pretty amazing even just seeing the color on Neptune and Uranus. Using special filters help as well when shooting planets, especially when folks want to try and get some structure out of clouds on Venus for example.
Active optics, not adaptive optics. An adaptive optics requires a wave front sensor and it has to deform the mirror (or other element in the OP). This SBIG AO is just a deviating plate which shifts the complete image in two axis. A adaptive optics would be able to fix single pixel groups in the image by flattening the wavefront. Those technologies are completely different.
Thanks for the clarification Peter, appreciate your comment!
What a cool piece of kit! I had a chance to test out the SBIG AO with an 8300. Too bad for me I didn't have enough backspacing to make it work.
Looking forward to the next video!
Ya definitely have to have ample backfocus. Good thing is the CMOS models occupy less backfocus. What telescope were you putting that imaging train on?
A CFF 250 F8 RC, 98mm of backfocus available with the corrector. I think the sbig with filterwheel and ao was over 100mm
@@tombutts919 ah ya just a bit too long for that system.
@@MattDieterich Maybe someday I can get my hands on a CDK14 😁
@@tombutts919 ample 11.09" of backfocus on the CDK14 :)
I have a SBIG ST-10XME CCD which I really love, but this one is awesome. Very nice unit. It is also very important to have a clean beard when you assemble the unit, so check for loose beard-hairs. I like that workbench. Where did you buy that couch ?
Haha ya that hotel room made for a fun spot to film a tutorial!
Are these good enough to reduce atmosphere distortion by alot like will i be able to reach the diffraction limit of my 10 inch telescope.
These are active optics, so they essentially are providing more accurate guiding corrections during long exposures. At the end of the day, seeing is the limiting factor for the performance of these systems as long as your telescope optics are diffraction limited.
Nice..looking forward to images from that monster..........
Such a beautifully designed camera!
Did I miss the video where you actually put this system to use?
It was cloudy on the night of the installation and I didn't capture an install video for that trip. I do have another video coming where I show the complete install of this SBIG imaging train on a PlaneWave CDK600 system.
@@MattDieterich thanks but I mean this video was 8 months ago and you’ve uploaded at least a dozen videos since this one, using your DSLR and such, I have not seen you use this SBIG system in any of your videos since you assembled it. What happened? Did you get rid of it?
@@ohroonoko this was for a client's telescope.
Hi! Very interesting video. How much is the linearity range of this camera? Is it suitable for professional use in photometry? Thank in advance
Hi Angelo! While I haven't used the 4040 for photometry, I recommend contacting SBIG to see which model best suits your photometric project.
Omg....that is just the dogs danglies, will it fit my Rasa 11 or Edge 11 😂
Hahah might leave you with about 1" aperture on the RASA 11 😂
@@MattDieterich i think the Rasa would be more like 0 aperture with that dustbin lid sized filter wheel!
@@DavesAstrophotography Haha ya would lose just a few photons lol!
can we use it with Raptor 61 f/4.5
Unfortunately the backfocus isn't long enough on the Raptor to run the both this. Raptor only has 55mm of backfocus with their field flattener installed.
only 14k$ for the camera only..
Ya definitely is not an inexpensive option! I am looking forward to their back illuminated version to see the performance comparison.
How many millions of $$$ is that? 😂
For that rig it is about 22-23k.
@@MattDieterich
😳This’s more then 5 times the price of my entire rig.
@@NGC7000 ya they're definitely not inexpensive!
@@MattDieterich
Just let me know if you plan to have a garage sale.... Pretty sure I will find some good stuff there😋 Thank you for making me dream. I really love this hobby.
@@NGC7000 such fun gear to work with!
Best job in the world, especially if he doesn’t have to pay for it.
Hi Harold, this gear was for a client's installation, so I wanted to document how to assemble the system for me to reference in the future.
If you don’t get to keep it, at least you get to play with it. Still not bad.