Two new Starlight Xpress Cameras have been recently introduced – the UltraStar PRO Imaging & Guide Camera and the Lodestar PRO Autoguider Camera.
Starlight Xpress Lodestar PRO Autoguider Camera
Starlight Xpress’s Lodestar PRO Autoguider Camera makes finding a faint guide star easy with fast download time and super low read noise figures.
The high sensitivity and low read noise are attributed to the Sony ICX829AL CCD chip, which was also used in the Starlight Xpress Lodestar and Lodestar X2 Although the Lodestar PRO is not cooled, the low dark signal and low readout noise are able to compensate for this to guide on stars that are beyond the reach of webcams and CMOS chip based guide cameras. The UltraStar PRO is equipped with a full-size RJ12 autoguider port, so you’re not forced to run extra cables from your computer to make corrections to your mount.
The Lodestar PRO is extremely compact in size (31.75mm dia x 85mm long), which is also the size of a 1.25 inch eyepiece push fit.
Specifications for the Lodestar PRO Autoguider include:
– ADC: 16 bit
– Back Focus: 12.5 mm
– Color or Mono: Monochrome
– Cooled: Uncooled
– Dynamic Range: 13 Stops
– Full Well: 45ke
– Mega Pixels: 0.4 MP
– Peak QE: 75%
– Pixel Array: 752 x 580
– Pixel Size: 8.2 microns
– Read Noise: 5.5e
– Sensor Diagonal: 7.8 mm
– Sensor Type: CCD
– Sensor: Sony ICX825AL
– Weight: 0.11 lb
Starlight Xpress UltraStar PRO Imaging & Guide Camera
Second among the new Starlight Xpress Cameras is the UltraStar PRO Imaging & Guide Camera which combines an autoguider with a live-stacking camera, making this entry-level imaging camera perfect for novice astrophotographers. With higher resolution and twice the active area of the Starlight Xpress Lodestar PRO, combined with similar low read noise and high QE, the UltraStar PRO provides extremely detailed images of the night sky.
The UltraStar PRO is extremely compact in size (the same as the Lodestar PRO at 31.75mm dia x 85mm long, the size of a 1.25 inch eyepiece push fit) and is powered/driven through a mini-USB connection, making it excellent for mobile setups and remote field operation.
The UltraStar PRO is multifunctional as both an autoguider and live-stacking monochrome camera when you use the appropriate software. When using “Starlight LIVE” software, the camera can be configured to take a series of continuous short exposure images and build up the image right in front of your eyes. You can capture both photons and imaginations with this concept, using the UltraStar PRO to introduce people to astro-images developing in real-time.
While this camera is uncooled, long-exposure imaging is still a practical option with the UltraStar PRO. Its dark signal is very low and warm pixels are easily removed by either applying hot pixel filters or by stacking “dithered” images. Starlight Xpress imaging software is equipped with conventional dark frame subtraction to assist as well.
The UltraStar PRO is equipped with a full-size RJ12 autoguider port, so you’re not forced to run extra cables from your computer to make corrections to your mount. Using PHD2 software, this camera functions as an outstanding guide camera that will help you find your guide star quicker to capture more night sky images.
Specifications for the Starlight Xpress’s UltraStar PRO imaging camera include:
– ADC: 16 bit
– Color or Mono: Monochrome
– Cooled: Uncooled
– Dynamic Range: 12.7 Stops
– Full Well: 23ke
– Mega Pixels: 1.4 MP
– Peak QE: 75%
– Pixel Array: 1392 x 1040
– Pixel Size: 6.45 microns
– Read Noise: 3.5e
– Sensor Diagonal: 11.2 mm
– Sensor Type: CCD
– Sensor: Sony ICX825AL
– Weight: 0.11 lb
You can learn more about these two new Starlight Xpress Cameras here.
And to make it easier for you to get the most extensive news, articles and reviews that are only available in the magazine pages of Astronomy Technology Today, we are offering a 1 year magazine subscription for only $6! Or, for an even better deal, we are offering 2 years for only $9. Click here to get these deals which only will be available for a very limited time. You can also check out a free sample issue here.