SBIG Aluma CCD47-10 Mono

The 93% QE Teledyne e2v CCD47-10 Sensor

At the heart of the Aluma CCD47-10 is a research-grade, back-illuminated monochrome sensor designed for maximum sensitivity. With a peak Quantum Efficiency of 93%, this camera is built for faint signals. The large 13 µm pixels are well-suited for longer focal length instruments, typically with apertures greater than 40 cm.

The sensor's square 13.3 mm x 13.3 mm format gives an 18.8 mm diagonal. This architecture is built for applications where every photon counts, such as precision photometry and exoplanet detection.

16-bit ADC and a 100,000 e- Full Well

The Aluma CCD47-10 pairs its high sensitivity with immense dynamic range. The 16-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) renders images with 65,536 levels of gray, allowing you to capture subtle details in both the faint and bright parts of an object in a single exposure. This is critical for scientific work like photometry, where precise brightness measurements are paramount.

This is complemented by a deep 100,000 e- full well capacity, which helps keep bright stars from saturating while you gather sufficient signal on fainter targets in the same field. The combination of high QE, deep wells, and 16-bit digitization ensures your data has the depth and fidelity required for serious research and advanced imaging.

SmartCooling: A 50°C Delta for Thermal Stability

To realize the sensor's low-noise potential, the Aluma CCD47-10 employs a two-stage thermoelectric cooler (TEC) with a typical 50°C delta T below ambient temperature. This aggressive cooling dramatically reduces thermal noise, which is essential for the long exposures required in deep-sky imaging and scientific measurement.

SBIG's SmartCooling technology actively manages the cooling system, adjusting the twin variable-speed fan rates to optimize performance. This ensures rapid cool-down, maintains precise temperature regulation throughout an imaging session, and prevents the camera from overheating, providing the thermal stability needed for consistent and reliable calibration frames.

Even-Illumination Shutter and ~1 Second Downloads

Unlike cameras that use failure-prone iris-style shutters, the Aluma CCD47-10 incorporates a robust twin-vane mechanical shutter. This design provides highly repeatable, even illumination across the entire sensor, which is critical for accurate flat-fielding and photometric analysis. It ensures that every part of the sensor receives light for precisely the same duration, eliminating gradients that can corrupt scientific data.

Data is transferred to the host computer via a reliable USB 2.0 High Speed (480 Mb/s) interface. This connection is sufficient to download the full-resolution frame in approximately 1 second, balancing speed with the robust, long-cable stability that observatory environments demand.

Compact 101.6 mm Body with USB 2.0 and MaxIm LT

Engineered for robotic and remote observatories, the Aluma CCD47-10 packs its capabilities into a compact, 1000g chassis with a body length of just 101.6 mm. The front of the camera features a standard M42x0.75 T2 female thread, which takes the included 2" nosepiece adapter. Power is supplied via a 12V DC input, and the camera ships with a universal power supply.

Every Aluma CCD47-10 includes a license for MaxIm LT imaging software, providing comprehensive camera control, autoguiding, and image processing tools. The camera also supports third-party applications through ASCOM and native drivers.

Support for Filter Wheels, Guiders, and Adaptive Optics

The Aluma CCD platform is designed as the core of a complete imaging system. It natively supports a range of essential accessories for automated and high-resolution imaging, allowing you to build out your setup for specific research goals.

• Filter Wheels: The camera is compatible with SBIG's 8-position (AFW-8-36R) and 16-position (AFW-16-36R, via the ACC14 AFW to Small Format Camera Adapter) filter wheels for 36 mm filters, enabling multi-band photometry and color imaging.
• Off-Axis Guiding: For precise tracking on long-focal-length systems, the camera can be paired with the SBIG StarChaser SC-4C off-axis guider.
• Adaptive Optics: To correct for atmospheric turbulence in real time, the Aluma CCD47-10 works with the SBIG AO-8A adaptive optics unit.

Designed for Precision Photometry and Exoplanet Detection

The specific combination of a high-QE back-illuminated sensor, large pixels, deep full well, and 16-bit ADC makes the Aluma CCD47-10 an ideal instrument for light-measurement applications. These characteristics are essential for detecting the minute changes in stellar brightness required for exoplanet transit observations and variable star research.

Campus observatories are also an ideal home for this research-grade camera.

Aluma CCD47-10 vs. CCD77-00 and CCD8300

Within the SBIG Aluma series, the CCD47-10 occupies a specific niche defined by its balance of sensitivity and pixel scale. Understanding its place relative to its siblings helps in selecting the right tool for your telescope.

• vs. Aluma CCD77-00: The CCD77-00 uses the Teledyne e2v CCD77-00 sensor with larger 24 µm pixels and a 300,000 e- full well, against 13 µm pixels and a 100,000 e- full well for the CCD47-10.
• vs. Aluma CCD8300: The CCD8300 uses the KAF-8300 front-illuminated sensor with smaller 5.4 µm pixels and a larger 17.96 x 13.52 mm sensor. Its peak QE is 56%, against 93% for the CCD47-10.