I haven’t had a chance to take my new Atik16ic out for a test run yet, but I did try a dark frame and I’m a little concerned. Is it normal to see a darkframe like this?

This was 20 seconds with the lens cover on. I was hoping for a completely black image and was very surprised to find this light area across the image. I ran several test frames using  ArtemisCapture and this image was one of the last when the camera had been on for several minutes. The image was taken indoors, the room temperature was around 20°C any feedback would be very helpful.

The sky has been overcast for a couple of weeks with no sign of a break in the near future – I blame all the astro kit that people had for Christmas! (and that includes me )

As well as the Atik 16IC I was surprised to have another SPC900NC under the tree which is just what I need for planetary work. Since modifying my first SPC900 I’ve found it’s great for the long exposure work but a bit hit and miss in video mode. I think this is down to me not connecting the ground of the camera to the ground of the parallel port – but that’s another story.

Anyway, in order to get the camera into the 1.25″ eyepiece tube I need to fit an adapter, which I happen to have from my first camera which is now rehoused. The process is very simple and I’ve taken some photos to demonstrate how:

Firstly I removed the stand from the back of the camera by gently twisting it.

Next you need to remove the light grey cap which surrounds the lens.

Ease a small screwdriver into the gap between the cap and the camera body and it’ll pop out.


This picture shows the grey cover removed and the black lens assembly in place. The lens is unsrewed with your fingers, no fancy tools required.

You can see a scratch where I wasn’t too careful with the screwdriver – oops.

Here the lens has been unscrewed clearly showing the IR filter which looks pink on the back of the lens.

I’ve tweaked the image to show the CCD.

Finally screw the 1.25″ eyepiece adapter into the camera. Don’t forget the CCD is now exposed so if you have a cap to cover the end of the adapter now would be a good time to fit it. I don’t have a cap but my balow lens does so I leave it attached to the camera when not in use.


This is not a “modded” camera in the true sense as the circuitry hasn’t been moddified but with the simple alteration the camera is now ready to point at Mars on the next clear night.