Using the Celestron NexImager

NexImage is a complete CCD solar system imager capable of producing high quality planetary images with greater light sensitivity and color fidelity than comparable CMOS imagers. Combined with the NexImage software package, NexImage can bring out tremendous detail and reveal a final image that will rival those taken with astronomical CCD cameras costing thousands of dollars more.

Reducer lens for the nexImager increases your field of view by over two times for wide field lunar and filtered solar imaging. The NexImage Reducer Lens replaces the 1.25" barrel and threads directly into the NexImage housing.

Specifications:

  1. 1.25" adapter barrel makes NexImage compatible with most any telescope
  2. 1.25” adapter is threaded for standard eyepiece filters and can be removed and replaced with optional focal reducer lens
  3. CHIP 1/4" format, HAD, color CCD chip
  4. CAMERA RESOLUTION VGA 640x480
  5. SIZE 3.6mm x 2.7 (4.5mm diagonal)
  6. PIXEL SIZE 5.6 micron square
  7. SENSITIVITY <1 lux
  8. USB CABLE 7ft

Recommended Minimum System Requirements

  1. * PC running Windows 98SE or better
  2. * 333Mhz Pentium II or better
  3. * 128 MB of RAM
  4. * 40 MB of hard drive space
  5. * Screen resolution of 1024x768 or higher

Software for image capturing is supplied along with RegiStax but a later version should be downloaded than the version supplied on the CD.

Instruction manual in pdf format.

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Registax version 5.1 release as of April 7, 2009

Testing the Celestron NexImager

Testing was carried out indoors due to inclement weather. The camera was placed at the prime focus of the TV102 refractor through the window of my office and centered on a light standard approx. 350 M away, specifically the daylight sensor module of the light. Conditions were light snow falling in flat overcast lighting through a double glass pane window at a 20 degree angle. Exposures were run at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 frames per second after adjustment of the gamma, gain, contrast/brightness controls. Video run time was 30 seconds at each speed.

Resulting AVI's were then processed in Registax ver. 4.0.1 with identical wavelet, RGB, gamma, and histogram settings. A raw image is included to allow comparison with the processed images.

Raw image from 900 frame avi.

5 frames per second.

10 frames per second.

15 frames per second.

20 frames per second.

25 frames per second.

30 frames per second.

Obviously the best results under these circumstances are at 5 to 15 frames per second, this will be kept in mind when we get this setup locked onto a planet. I also look forward to using the reducer on the PST for some H-alpha solar imaging

Recommended Camera settings for Planetary Imaging:

  1. Brightness: 50%
  2. Gamma = 0 (or near to 0)
  3. Saturation = 75%
  4. Gain = < 10%
  5. shutter speed of 1/25 seconds or 1/33 seconds (or even 1/100 seconds in the case of Mars)

Use an ultraviolet/infrared (UV/IR) blocking filter.

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