SBIG AO-8A Adaptive Optics

Product Description

AO-8 Adaptive Optics is available with several different mounting plates and cables.  The AO-8 works with the following hardware:

• STC series with StarChaser SC-2
• Aluma CCD series with SC-2 or FW8G-Aluma

Note:  When using with StarChaser SC-2 with AO, you will need a StarChaser to AO-X/AO-8T Adapter Cable.

AO Results

The images below are actual star images showing the effect of image wander corrected at 1 Hz and 10 Hz:

1 Hz Corrections

10 Hz Corrections

And the resulting size of the star image in a long exposure:

1 Hz Corrections

10 Hz Corrections

Other data gathered by Brad Wallis of JPL (Brad Wallis and Benoit Schillings developed the prototype for the original AO-7) show the the effect of rapid corrections on poor seeing.  At 1 Hz the larger, slower component is reduced, but the amplitude of the jitter remains about the same:

However, at a 5Hz correction rate, the faster jitter is reduced:

And at a 10 Hz correction rate, significant improvement is seen:

The improvement in stellar profiles can also be seen at corrections above 1 Hz.  First by looking at the non-AO guided image:

And comparing the non-AO guided image to the AO guided image there is again significant improvement in the FWHM of the star profile:

Telescope mounts cannot correct faster than about once per second.  The 10Hz rate of the AO will clearly result in improved resolution under the right conditions.