Starlight Xpress MX7C CCD Camera

I use the Starlight Xpress STAR2000 guidance system with my Meade LX90 and LX200GPS telescopes. I had some problems getting guidance to work with both telescopes: see my STAR2000 page for information and my settings with both LX90 and LX200GPS telescopes.

Note that I prefer to use a flip-mirror diagonal with the MX7C to help with finding and focussing my images: the MX7C on the flip-mirror diagonal will focus at f/10 and at f/6.3 (with focal reducer), however, with the f/3.3 focal reducer focus is not achievable with the flip-mirror in the setup. Focus with the f/3.3 focal reducer is only achievable with the MX7C tube directly connected to the f/3.3 reducer at the rear of the OTA. I have recently played with a Meade DSI imager which has a shorter 1.25" nose than that as standard on the Starlight Xpress camera - both 'noses' have the same mounting thread at their camera ends so are interchangeable: if you are nearly there with the focal path length try an exchange of noses!


LX90 with Starlight Xpress MX7C Focus with f/3.3 focal reducer		LX90 with Starlight Xpress MX7C Focus with f/6.3 focal reducer and at f/10

Deep Sky

First 'light' from my Starlight Xpress MX7C CCD camera as I try to get longer exposures than those capable with my home-built Astrocam.

The MX7C is a 'one shot colour' cooled CCD camera with 752 x 582 pixels in a 6.5mm x 4.8mm active area (Sony EXview). I have it connected through a USB1 connection.

This image is the result of my first attempts at getting to know the camera on the telescope. Now I have got this far, it is back to the instruction manual to digest the fine print!

Comparative fields of view using Starlight Xpress MX7C at prime focus on Meade LX90 telescope at f3.3 and f10

Messier: M3

M3: Globular cluster - Magnitude 6.2, Distance 30,000 lightyears
Dorridge, UK 3 iv 2003
Meade LX90 f10 with Starlight Xpress MX7C CCD 20secs exposure

Asteroids move across the sky relatively quickly as they move through the Solar system. Their position in the sky can be seen to change within hours: I revisited the location shown in the picture on the left below several days later and Vesta has moved on.

	The same area of sky revisited 9 days later (under poor seeing conditions) - Asteroid Vesta has moved on.
Meade LX90 with MX7C Starlight Xpress CCD Dorridge, UK 21:45UT 5 v 2003 30secs @ f6.3	Meade LX90 with MX7C Starlight Xpress CCD Dorridge, UK 22:05UT 14 v 2003 20secs @ f6.3

See more images using Starlight Xpress MX7C CCD camera on Messiers and Observations pages on this site