Re: [APML]: Adaptive Optics for Film Photography

[barber@sbig.com (Michael Barber)]

Mike, AF9Y wrote:

>Any plans to make the AO system available for use
>with conventional film photography?  Could you do 
>it by using a bino viewer after the AO mirror with
>the ST-7 (or maybe even the ST-4) on one side and
>the camera on the other?

For the time being the AO will only work with the ST-7/8 because it was
developed around the dual sensor head.  A separate head presents a number of
problems.  First, there must be a good correlation between the motion of the
guide star and the image.  The farther the guide star is from the imaging
chip the bigger the problem.  Second, the guiding sensor has to be quite
sensitive and readable at video rates.  The guiding CCD in the ST-7/8 is
much more sensitive than an ST-4 and the circuitry available in the head
made the whole thing work without alot of additional engineering.

Regards,
Michael Barber
SBIG