Starlight Xpress SXV-M8C - Manual (Page 5)

Handbook for the SXV-M8C Issue 1 Jan 2005
5
Connect up the power supply and switch it on. You can start the ‘SXV_M8C’
software by double clicking on the icon and you should see the main menu and image
panel appear. If the USB connection is OK, a message box will inform you of the
‘Handle’ number for the SXVIO interface and various other version details etc. The
main program window will now be seen.
If you press the ‘Camera’ button at the top left, the program will warn you that the
‘Program Defaults’ have not been set, but pressing ‘OK’ will allow you to continue.
The camera default settings are not important for current purposes and may be left as
the software start-up values for now, but the warning message may be removed by
selecting ‘Set program defaults’ from the ‘File’ menu and then saving the defaults
window by pressing the ‘Save changes’ button. Once the camera control panel is seen,
you are all set to take your first images!
Recording your first image:
We now have the camera and computer set up to take pictures, but an optical system
is needed to project an image onto the CCD surface. You could use your telescope,
but this introduces additional complications, which are best avoided at this early
stage. There are two simple options, at least one of which is available to everyone:
1)
Attach a standard ‘M42’ SLR camera lens to the SXV-M8C, using the 25mm
spacer to achieve the correct focal distance.