Want to use 224 mc for IR imaging

firstc8

Hello, I have had great success using 224 mc as a guide camera on Celestron OAG guider, its sensitivity really helped to make the difficult OAG work.

Now I want to expriment with it for IR imaging. Questions are:

1. How sensitive is 224 mc in the >750 nm region? From the spec sheet it looked decent but want to get some confirmation.

2. I believe it comes with an IR cut window, how to remove it?

3. Are there >750 nm or other IR filter out there can be easily attached to 224 mc for testing?

Thank you in advance.

riklaunim

ASI224 has a clear glass and have been used for infrared Uranus/Neptune imaging as well as Jupiter methane band imaging.

Among 1,25" filters you have Baader IR-Pass, ProPlanet 742, ProPlanet 804 and alike. Depends what you want to photograph.

firstc8

riklaunim wrote:
ASI224 has a clear glass and have been used for infrared Uranus/Neptune imaging as well as Jupiter methane band imaging.

Among 1,25" filters you have Baader IR-Pass, ProPlanet 742, ProPlanet 804 and alike. Depends what you want to photograph.

I will keep using it as a guide camera for now since it works so well for the OAG. But thinking of ways to fight seeing even better.

I read IR emission from guide star does much better in poor seeing.

I could not find such filter for the 224 mc nose piece, most of them are larger filters.

Are there dimensions on the 224 mc clear glass? Another option is find a right size IR glass filter simply replace the clear window.

firstc8

My bad, just saw the ZWO 850 filter for 224 mc, how long does it take to ship to CA if I order from ZWO?

riklaunim

Nosepiece is 1,25" standard. You don't need "special" filters, and there is no problem in getting infrared filters from local shops in that size.

Guiding doesn't require infrared filters as it always calculates a centroid with sup-pixel accuracy. Plus for OAG that can be a big dimming effect. Start with visual orange or red filters - which pass longer visual wavelengths and infrared. If atmospheric dispersion or else is distorting short wavelengths then those filters should help without dimming the image to much.

firstc8

I noticed when seeing was good PHD had much better guide performance. Unfortunately most time seeing is not good.

I also read most stars have strong emission in the near infrared, almost equal to that on visible light side, hopefully will not dim them too much.

It would be worth a try. I can always use the filter for other fun imaging purposes.☺