Vernikos-Eugenidis optical CCD imaging camera (VEC)
This camera, funded through the “ARISTEIA” program undertaken by the “X-ray & Cosmology group” and the “Eugenides Foundation”. It is constructed by the Astronomical Research Cameras, Inc. and it consists of a 4096 x 4096 (15 microns) Fairchild, back illuminated chip. It is a liquid nitrogen CCD, giving a fov of 10’x10’ (side port).
Model: Astronomical research cameras, Inc, GENIII
Status: To be commissioned
Detector: 4kx4k Fairchild
FOV: 10’x10′
Scale (“/pixel): 0.17
CCD sensor: Fairchild imaging CCD486, back-illuminated, Grade 1
CCD Format: 4096×4096, 15 micron pixel size (~0.17″)
CCD field of view: 10 arcmin
Installation: AGU’s side port (current use ~10′ FOV)
AGU’s side port + focal reducer (future use ~30′ FOV)

Camera filter wheel
The filter unit contains 2 filter wheels with 6 filter stacks each with an optically free diameter of 62 mm. The filter unit can be attached to the four side ports and to the main port.
- Wheel 1 is free for use by the astronomer with changeable filters with a thickness up to 5mm. There are 6 filter adapters, which can easily be disassembled from the wheel.
- Outside of the filter unit the required filter can be mounted. A protection ring fixes the filter inside the adapter. Then the adapter can be assembled back to the filter wheel by fixation of one screw.
- Wheel 2 is occupied with filters U, B, V, R, I and a neutral glass with a thickness of 3mm and an optically free aperture of 64 mm.
Aristarchos filters for CCD imaging
Emission line | CWL (Å) | BW (Å) | T max (%) | Diameter (mm) |
---|---|---|---|---|
[O II] 3726+ [O II] 3729 | 3731 | 25 | 69.91 | 64 |
He II 4686 | 4690 | 30 | 76.57 | 64 |
Ηβ 4861 | 4865 | 30 | 77.70 | 64 |
[O III] 5007 | 5011 | 30 | 83.91 | 64 |
[O III] 5007 gal. set | 5035 | 80 | 85.34 | 64 |
[O III] 5007 gal. set | 5100 | 80 | 88.33 | 64 |
[O III] 5007 gal. set | 5200 | 80 | 88.35 | 64 |
CONT. BLUE | 5700 | 70 | 90.81 | 64 |
[O I] 6300 | 6304 | 30 | 87.22 | 64 |
Hα 6563 | 6567 | 17 | 69.60 | 64 |
Hα 6563+[N II] 6583 | 6578 | 40 | 88.02 | 64 |
[N II] 6583 | 6588 | 17 | 79.60 | 64 |
CONT. RED | 6680 | 100 | 77.57 | 64 |
[S II] 6717 + 6731 | 6727 | 40 | 81.60 | 64 |