1. The Problem of Atmospheric Dispersion

Like a big glass prism or lens, the Earth’s atmosphere refracts or bends the light from stars or planets on its way to a telescope, and it bends light of different colors by slightly different degrees. This effect is called atmospheric dispersion and it results a greater refraction of blue and green light than red light, for example. It’s the same effect that causes the well-known ‘Green Flash’ on the upper edge of the Sun as it sets below the horizon.

Of course, when you’re imaging the planets or the Moon, especially when their light travels through the thick atmosphere above the horizon, dispersion is a big problem. If you’re doing color imaging of planets low near the horizon, dispersion results in color fringing of the image. It can be removed with processing but at the cost of detail and resolution. If you image in monochrome with separate LRGB frames, you still suffer from atmospheric dispersion in the luminance frame. Even visual observers can notice the effects of dispersion when observing planets and the Moon low on the horizon where the effects of atmospheric dispersion are greatest.

2. Dispersion Compensation for Astro-imagers and Visual Observers

The ZWO Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector (ADC) is an ingenious device that compensates for the effects of atmospheric dispersion. The ZWO ADC uses a pair of prisms that can be precisely adjusted with manual levers to apply the opposite dispersion induced by the atmosphere. The device then directs all colors of light to re-converge at the focal plane. The adjustment can range from null (no correction) to maximum refraction suitable for correcting for the well-understood effect of atmospheric dispersion at a range of altitudes above the horizon.

The effect of using the ZWO ADC? Greatly improved image resolution and detail for both imagers and visual observers, even when the planet is just above the horizon. You no longer need to wait hours for the planet to get higher in the sky during the night, or years for the planet to reach a more favorable opposition.

3. Designed for Ease of Use and Optimum Image Quality

The ZWO Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector consists of three pieces. The main body holds the corrective prisms and adjustment levers. The two lever slots overlap to allow both levers to move together over a wider range. A 1.25″; barrel adapter for the bottom of the main body and a 1.25″ adapter for the top of the body each mount into the female threads on the body to accept the camera/eyepiece and Barlow. The ZWO ADC works best at large focal ratios, so you get optimum results when you place the device between a Barlow lens and the camera or eyepiece.

The body of the ADC also has a white locking screw on the scale to mark the null point about which the levers are rotated to get the optimum correction of a given planet at a given altitude. This allows you to finely position the null point without having to rotate the body of the ADC. The levers also have an adjustable frictional resistance for ease of use.

The prisms in the ZWO ADC have a 2° deviation angle and are made from H-K9L (Schott BK7) glass with surfaces polished to 1/10 wave accuracy. All optical surfaces are AR-coated to ensure >98% transmission over the visible spectrum.

Priced at a fraction of competing ADC solutions, the ZWO Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector is one of the few devices available to counteract the distorting effects of our atmosphere. Designed by amateur astronomers for amateur astronomers, the ZWO ADC helps you extract maximum detail when observing or imaging the Moon and planets.

All our products are shippable. In all cases, full payment is required before our products are shipped. Currently Sidereal Trading Pty Ltd only ships to Australia, Australian Territories and New Zealand.

Deliveries are made via Registered Australia Post or TNT Australia. Tracking information and updates will be sent to the email address associated with the order. A link to the courier’s website tracking information may also be provided. All small items will be shipped via Australia Post – Parcel Post or if requested via Express Parcel Post. All large items will be Shipped via TNT Road Express or TNT Economy Express Export. Should you require Express Post for your order, please contact our staff to confirm any additional charges that may apply.

You may be required to sign for the delivery to confirm proof of receipt. If you are not there when the delivery is made, you may incur further charges from Australia Post or TNT Australia (not from Sidereal Trading Pty Ltd) to pick up the parcel from the nearest post office or depot.
Our Flat Rate delivery charges are determined per order depending on the category your products fall into. This will be specified once a postcode is entered at checkout.

Remote delivery destinations or other factors may cause the web-based shopping cart to underquote the shipping charges. Some regional areas of Australia and New Zealand will incur higher charges than specified at checkout. When this occurs, we will first contact you to confirm payment of the difference, or subsequently cancel the order and refund any payments made if this additional cost is prohibitive. At any time if you feel the shipping calculation does not seem correct, please contact us via phone or email so that we can fix the problem and raise the order for you with the correct shipping amount.

In-Store Pick Up is also possible. See Contact Us for Store Location.

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ZWO Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector

SKU: ZWO-ADC

$229.00

Available on back-order

✅ Expert Advice
✅ Australian Owned
✅ Lifetime Technical Support

    Need Expert Advice?

    Visual Astronomy, Astrophotography, Microscopy and Macro Photography can be a little complicated sometimes as there are a lot of options. If you'd like to check something before you purchase just let us know and we'd be happy to help!

    Enquire now or call us (03) 9042 2293

    ZWO Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector

    SKU: ZWO-ADC

    $229.00

    Available on back-order

    1. The Problem of Atmospheric Dispersion

    Like a big glass prism or lens, the Earth’s atmosphere refracts or bends the light from stars or planets on its way to a telescope, and it bends light of different colors by slightly different degrees. This effect is called atmospheric dispersion and it results a greater refraction of blue and green light than red light, for example. It’s the same effect that causes the well-known ‘Green Flash’ on the upper edge of the Sun as it sets below the horizon.

    Of course, when you’re imaging the planets or the Moon, especially when their light travels through the thick atmosphere above the horizon, dispersion is a big problem. If you’re doing color imaging of planets low near the horizon, dispersion results in color fringing of the image. It can be removed with processing but at the cost of detail and resolution. If you image in monochrome with separate LRGB frames, you still suffer from atmospheric dispersion in the luminance frame. Even visual observers can notice the effects of dispersion when observing planets and the Moon low on the horizon where the effects of atmospheric dispersion are greatest.

    2. Dispersion Compensation for Astro-imagers and Visual Observers

    The ZWO Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector (ADC) is an ingenious device that compensates for the effects of atmospheric dispersion. The ZWO ADC uses a pair of prisms that can be precisely adjusted with manual levers to apply the opposite dispersion induced by the atmosphere. The device then directs all colors of light to re-converge at the focal plane. The adjustment can range from null (no correction) to maximum refraction suitable for correcting for the well-understood effect of atmospheric dispersion at a range of altitudes above the horizon.

    The effect of using the ZWO ADC? Greatly improved image resolution and detail for both imagers and visual observers, even when the planet is just above the horizon. You no longer need to wait hours for the planet to get higher in the sky during the night, or years for the planet to reach a more favorable opposition.

    3. Designed for Ease of Use and Optimum Image Quality

    The ZWO Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector consists of three pieces. The main body holds the corrective prisms and adjustment levers. The two lever slots overlap to allow both levers to move together over a wider range. A 1.25″; barrel adapter for the bottom of the main body and a 1.25″ adapter for the top of the body each mount into the female threads on the body to accept the camera/eyepiece and Barlow. The ZWO ADC works best at large focal ratios, so you get optimum results when you place the device between a Barlow lens and the camera or eyepiece.

    The body of the ADC also has a white locking screw on the scale to mark the null point about which the levers are rotated to get the optimum correction of a given planet at a given altitude. This allows you to finely position the null point without having to rotate the body of the ADC. The levers also have an adjustable frictional resistance for ease of use.

    The prisms in the ZWO ADC have a 2° deviation angle and are made from H-K9L (Schott BK7) glass with surfaces polished to 1/10 wave accuracy. All optical surfaces are AR-coated to ensure >98% transmission over the visible spectrum.

    Priced at a fraction of competing ADC solutions, the ZWO Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector is one of the few devices available to counteract the distorting effects of our atmosphere. Designed by amateur astronomers for amateur astronomers, the ZWO ADC helps you extract maximum detail when observing or imaging the Moon and planets.

    All our products are shippable. In all cases, full payment is required before our products are shipped. Currently Sidereal Trading Pty Ltd only ships to Australia, Australian Territories and New Zealand.

    Deliveries are made via Registered Australia Post or TNT Australia. Tracking information and updates will be sent to the email address associated with the order. A link to the courier’s website tracking information may also be provided. All small items will be shipped via Australia Post – Parcel Post or if requested via Express Parcel Post. All large items will be Shipped via TNT Road Express or TNT Economy Express Export. Should you require Express Post for your order, please contact our staff to confirm any additional charges that may apply.

    You may be required to sign for the delivery to confirm proof of receipt. If you are not there when the delivery is made, you may incur further charges from Australia Post or TNT Australia (not from Sidereal Trading Pty Ltd) to pick up the parcel from the nearest post office or depot.
    Our Flat Rate delivery charges are determined per order depending on the category your products fall into. This will be specified once a postcode is entered at checkout.

    Remote delivery destinations or other factors may cause the web-based shopping cart to underquote the shipping charges. Some regional areas of Australia and New Zealand will incur higher charges than specified at checkout. When this occurs, we will first contact you to confirm payment of the difference, or subsequently cancel the order and refund any payments made if this additional cost is prohibitive. At any time if you feel the shipping calculation does not seem correct, please contact us via phone or email so that we can fix the problem and raise the order for you with the correct shipping amount.

    In-Store Pick Up is also possible. See Contact Us for Store Location.

    Reviews

    There are no reviews yet.

    Be the first to review “ZWO Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector”

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Need Expert Advice?

      Visual Astronomy, Astrophotography, Microscopy and Macro Photography can be a little complicated sometimes as there are a lot of options. If you'd like to check something before you purchase just let us know and we'd be happy to help!

      Enquire now or call us (03) 9042 2293