Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector Planetary Photography Guide

Adjustable prism device that corrects atmospheric dispersion - essential for imaging below 40-45° altitude. Learn how to get the best results with your setup.

Typical Settings for Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector

Common capture parameters for atmospheric dispersion corrector

Frame Rate

Same as camera

Format

Same as camera

Resolution

Same as camera

Challenges

Common issues when using atmospheric dispersion corrector

-Requires adjustment for each altitude - dispersion changes as object rises/sets
-Two-prism design: each prism rotates independently for fine correction
-Poor quality ADCs introduce chromatic aberration or astigmatism
-Can vignette with fast f-ratios (below f/10) or large sensors

Pro Tips

Get better results with these tips

-Most effective below 40° altitude - above 50° dispersion becomes negligible
-Adjustment technique: slowly rotate each prism until RGB edges merge on planet limb
-Place ADC AFTER Barlow lens in optical train (closer to camera)
-ZWO ADC and Pierro Astro ADC are well-regarded options
-At 30° altitude: ~2 arcsec dispersion without ADC - ruins resolution on good nights
-Re-adjust every 15-20 minutes as object altitude changes significantly