Features of the SBIG Remote Guide Head . . .

The remote guiding CCD is in a small separate head that attaches to the main camera body by a short cable. There is no separate power supply or communication cable required. The remote head contains its own TE cooler and shutter. With the optional remote guiding head attached to the main camera body, self-guiding is accomplished by selecting either the internal TC-237 tracking CCD or the remote TC237 CCD using the camera control software. The benefits of this flexibility are obvious. Internal guiding eliminates the need for a guide scope and separate autoguider. It also eliminates the problem of differential deflection of the guide scope or differential motion of the primary mirror relative to the guide scope. However, some users prefer to use an external guider when imaging through dark infrared band or narrow band filters, or for RGB color imaging in regions of the sky with sparse guide stars. The remote guiding head may be used in an off-axis guiding accessory or attached to a separate guide scope. There is only one small cable between the remote head and the main camera body. The remote head can be left connected and the user may freely switch between the internal or the remote TC-237 for self-guiding. All the guiding functions are controlled by the same camera software that normally controls the internal guider.

The remote guiding head contains a cooled, 16 bit 657x495 TC-237H CCD indentical to internal self-guiding CCD in the STL camera body. The remote head is equipped with t-threads on the front cover and it will accept the eFinder assembly for guiding, a camera lens adapter, a T to C adapter, or the provided 1.25" nosepiece for use with an external guide scope. The external guider will also control the AO-8 or AO-L when used with an off-axis assembly or pellicle splitter.