Orion - SteadyStar Adaptive Optics Guider

• High-speed refractive correction eliminates tracking errors far more effectively than regular autoguiding, resulting in better astrophotos with rounder and more pinpoint stars


• Overcome your mount's periodic error, combat wind-induced vibration, and even compensate for some of the negative effects of turbulent seeing


• Makes your imaging mount, even if a modest one, perform more effectively


• Broad compatibility - works with any Orion CCD camera and most other imagers including DSLRs, and works with the Orion StarShoot AutoGuider as well as most other autoguiders


• Fastest adaptive optics guider (used for amateur astrophotography) on the market today! Capable of making more than 40 corrections per second, depending on guide star brightness and computer speed


• SteadyStar software is included for full guiding control to both your mount and the AO Guider


• Communicates with MaxIm DL to enable advanced imaging features such as exposure sequences and dithering


• The 40mm diameter on-board optical window supports APS-C format sensors including DSLRs and amply-sized CCD cameras without any vignetting


• Compatible with Windows XP, Vista 32 and 64-bit, and Windows 7 Operating Systems. ASCOM compatible

If you're serious about astrophotography, Orion brings you a new way to assure the best tracking performance possible, even in adverse conditions.

The SteadyStar Adaptive Optics Guider (AO) makes any imaging-capable mount, even if a modest one, perform more effectively. Precise tracking is one of the most critical facets of astrophotography and this tracking is limited to the accuracy of your mount, plus external factors like wind and atmospheric seeing conditions. The SteadyStar AO Guider overcomes these limitations and challenges and takes control with super fast and accurate guiding.

Traditional autoguiding involves moving the mount and telescope, along with all of your attached imaging accessories to correct for tracking errors. Furthermore, autoguiding can typically only make a single correction every couple of seconds or so; during that time your tracking is vulnerable to periodic error from your mount, wind, and atmospheric seeing conditions.

Better Than Traditional Autoguiding

Seen below are two raw images of NGC 281 cropped at 100% zoom. They are a direct comparison of SteadyStar AO Guiding at 5 corrections per second vs. regular autoguiding at one correction every two seconds. The images were taken the same night in succession. Each image is a stack of 3 x 12 minute exposures taken with the Orion SSDSMI III and EON 120ED Refractor. The image taken without the SteadyStar AO Guider shows star elongation in R.A. as a result of periodic error.

Included Items:

SteadyStar Adaptive Optics Guider with built-in Off-Axis Guider
2" Nosepiece
Fine-focus guiding adapter
48mm threads to male T-thread adapter and rotation lock ring (for back side)
48mm thread to female T-thread adapter (for front side)
Three T-adapter extensions: (30mm, 17mm, 7mm)
Hard Carry case
10' USB Cable
10' autoguiding cable
12' 12 V DC cable
Software CD-Rom
Hex key