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INTRODUCTION

A CCD is an area image sensor, a 2-D detector which is an electronic equivalent of a photographic plate. Its enormous attractions for astronomers are threefold: linearity, dynamic ranges of 10,000 being realised; speed, with quantum efficiencies of up to 90%, and wavelength response, some devices being usable from the near UV (< 300nm) to the near IR (> 1 m).

Chapter 1 of this manual attempts to take the reader from a position of ignorance about CCDs (section 1.1) through design of the observations (sections 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4) to carrying out the observations themselves (sections 1.5, and 1.6). It also provides a short summary for experienced users in section 1.7. Chapter 2 and chapter 5 of the manual describe the software commands associated with the CCD and the acquisition system, respectively.

• What CCDs are and how they work
• Operational requirements
• Limitations, Extra Observations, and the First Stages of Analysis