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Planetary & Solar Cameras

Planetary imaging works differently from deep-sky imaging. Instead of long exposures, you record thousands of very short frames as video, then software picks the sharpest moments when the atmosphere was steady and stacks them. A fast, sensitive camera with small pixels is what makes this technique work.

We carry planetary and solar cameras from ZWO, Player One (Mars, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn and Apollo), QHYCCD QHY5III, SVBONY, iOptron iCAM and Celestron NexImage. Many also serve as excellent guide cameras.

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$199.00 USD - $199.00 USD
$199.00 USD
$199.00 USD - $199.00 USD
$199.00 USD

Player One Neptune-C II IMX464 Color Planetary Camera

4.2 Megapixel Sony IMX464 Color Sensor 9mm Sensor Diagonal (1/1.8" Format) 2.9µm Pixel Size 93 FPS at Full 2712x1538 Resolution Read Noise as low ...

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$199.00 USD - $199.00 USD
$199.00 USD
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$199.00 USD
$439.00 USD - $439.00 USD
$439.00 USD
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$439.00 USD

Player One Uranus-M IMX585 Mono Planetary Camera

8.3 MP Monochrome Sony IMX585 Sensor 3856 x 2180 Resolution 1/1.2" Sensor Format (12.85mm Diagonal) 46 FPS at Full Resolution (RAW8) 12-bit ADC 25...

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$439.00 USD - $439.00 USD
$439.00 USD
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$439.00 USD
$749.00 USD - $749.00 USD
$749.00 USD
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$749.00 USD

Player One Saturn-M SQR IMX533 Mono Planetary Camera

9 Megapixel Sony IMX533 monochrome sensor 1-inch square format (11.31mm x 11.31mm) 3.76μm pixel size Full well extended to 73k e- Up to 43 FPS at ...

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$749.00 USD - $749.00 USD
$749.00 USD
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$749.00 USD
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$449.00 USD
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$449.00 USD
$404.00 USD
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$404.00 USD

ZWO ASI676MM Mono Camera

12.6 MP Square Sensor (3552 x 3552) 2µm Pixel Size 83% Peak Quantum Efficiency 0.56e Ultra-Low Read Noise Zero Amplifier Glow Description FAQ S...

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$449.00 USD
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$449.00 USD
$404.00 USD
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$404.00 USD
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$499.00 USD
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$499.00 USD
$449.00 USD
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$449.00 USD

ZWO ASI585MM Mono

8.29 Megapixel (3840 x 2160) Monochrome Sensor 2.9µm Pixel Size 91% Peak Quantum Efficiency 46.9 FPS at Full Resolution Description FAQ Specifi...

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$499.00 USD
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$499.00 USD
$449.00 USD
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$449.00 USD
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$249.00 USD - $249.00 USD
$249.00 USD
$249.00 USD - $249.00 USD
$249.00 USD

QHYCCD QHY5III462M Mono

2.0 Megapixel Sony IMX462 BSI CMOS Sensor 2.9µm pixels and 1920x1080 resolution Exceptional Near-Infrared (NIR) sensitivity Ultra-low 0.5e- read n...

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$249.00 USD - $249.00 USD
$249.00 USD
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$249.00 USD
$399.00 USD - $399.00 USD
$399.00 USD
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$399.00 USD

QHYCCD QHY5III568C Color

Color CMOS Sensor Planetary Imaging Camera Autoguiding Camera USB 3.0 Interface ST-4 Guide Port Description FAQ Specifications In the Box Downl...

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$399.00 USD - $399.00 USD
$399.00 USD
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$399.00 USD
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$399.00 USD
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$399.00 USD

QHYCCD QHY5III568M Mono

Monochrome Planetary & Guide Camera High-Sensitivity for Short Exposures Compact 1.25" Form Factor Ideal for "Lucky Imaging" and Autoguiding ...

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$399.00 USD - $399.00 USD
$399.00 USD
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$399.00 USD
$349.00 USD - $349.00 USD
$349.00 USD
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$349.00 USD

QHYCCD QHY5III585M Mono

Monochrome Sony IMX585 BSI CMOS Sensor 3856 x 2180 (8.4 MP) Resolution 2.9 µm Pixel Size 41.5 FPS at 8-bit Full Resolution 512 MB DDR3 Image Buffe...

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$349.00 USD - $349.00 USD
$349.00 USD
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$349.00 USD
$299.00 USD - $299.00 USD
$299.00 USD
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ZWO ASI462MM Mono

2.1MP Sony IMX462 Monochrome Sensor Exceptional Near-Infrared (NIR) Sensitivity 136.1 FPS at Full 1936x1096 Resolution Ultra-Low Read Noise as low...

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$299.00 USD - $299.00 USD
$299.00 USD
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$299.00 USD
$399.00 USD - $399.00 USD
$399.00 USD
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$399.00 USD

QHYCCD QHY5III585C Color

8.4 Megapixel Sony IMX585 BSI Color Sensor Large 1/1.2-inch sensor format with 2.9µm pixels 512MB DDR3 image buffer for stable, high-speed capture...

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$399.00 USD - $399.00 USD
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$629.00 USD - $629.00 USD
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QHYCCD QHY5III174M Mono

1/1.2-inch Sony IMX174 monochrome sensor Electronic Global Shutter eliminates motion artifacts 2.3 Megapixel resolution (1920x1200) with 5.86μm pi...

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$629.00 USD - $629.00 USD
$629.00 USD
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$629.00 USD
SVBONY SC311 Pro WiFi connection to a phone
SVBONY SC311 Pro WiFi astronomy camera, rear panel
$194.00 USD - $194.00 USD
$194.00 USD
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$194.00 USD

SVBONY SC311 Pro WiFi Astronomy Camera IMX662 for EAA

2.1 Megapixel Sony IMX662 Color Sensor 30-Second Maximum Exposure Time 2.4G WiFi Control via Phone/Tablet App 4-Hour Internal 2500 mAh Battery 12-...

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$194.00 USD - $194.00 USD
$194.00 USD
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$194.00 USD
iOptron iE5100 Planetarium Imager
$168.00 USD - $168.00 USD
$168.00 USD
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$168.00 USD

iOptron iE5100 Planetarium Imager

Description FAQ Specifications In the Box Warranty iOptron iE5100 Planetarium Imager The iOptron iE5100 Planetarium Imager is a digital c...

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$168.00 USD - $168.00 USD
$168.00 USD
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$168.00 USD
SVBONY SC001 WiFi Camera for Spotting Scopes and Telescopes
SVBONY SC001 WiFi Camera for Spotting Scopes and Telescopes
$84.79 USD - $84.79 USD
$84.79 USD
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$84.79 USD

SVBONY SC001 WiFi Camera for Spotting Scopes and Telescopes

Captures 1920x1080 resolution photos and video Built-in 2.4G WiFi hotspot for wireless control via a free app Features a 2M pixel sensor with 2.8μ...

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$84.79 USD - $84.79 USD
$84.79 USD
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$84.79 USD
SVBONY SC002 WIFI Electronic Eyepiece Camera for Birding & Digiscoping
$59.99 USD - $59.99 USD
$59.99 USD
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$59.99 USD

SVBONY SC002 WiFi Electronic Eyepiece Camera

Full HD 1920x1080 Resolution 2.4G WiFi with 10-Meter Range Includes 32GB TF Storage Card 1500 mAh Internal Battery 3µm x 3µm Pixel Size Descrip...

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$59.99 USD - $59.99 USD
$59.99 USD
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$59.99 USD
SVBONY SV205 Electronic Telescope Eyepiece: 8MP CMOS Camera for Moon & Planet
$76.00 USD - $76.00 USD
$76.00 USD
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$76.00 USD

SVBONY SV205 Electronic Eyepiece Camera IMX415

7.05 Megapixel resolution (3264x2160) for detailed planetary images 1/2.8" Sony IMX415 CMOS sensor for high sensitivity Small 1.45µm pixels are id...

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$76.00 USD - $76.00 USD
$76.00 USD
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$76.00 USD
$1,850.00 USD - $1,850.00 USD
$1,850.00 USD
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Pegasus SmartEye Electronic Eyepiece

9MP Sony IMX533 Color CMOS Sensor (3008x3008) Ultra HD 2560x2560 Display 90° Apparent Field of View 2-Stage TEC Cooling up to 30°C Below Ambient D...

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$1,850.00 USD - $1,850.00 USD
$1,850.00 USD
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$1,850.00 USD
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$699.00 USD
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ZWO ASI183MM Mono

20.2 Megapixel (5496 x 3672) 1" Monochrome CMOS Sensor 2.4µm Pixel Size for High-Resolution Sampling 84% Peak Quantum Efficiency (BSI Sensor) 1.6e...

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$699.00 USD
$699.00 USD - $699.00 USD
$699.00 USD
$629.00 USD
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$629.00 USD
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iOptron iCAM464C Planetary Camera
$199.00 USD - $199.00 USD
$199.00 USD
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$199.00 USD

iOptron iCAM464C Planetary Camera

Sony IMX464 4.2MP Color CMOS Sensor 93 FPS at Full 2712 x 1538 Resolution 2.9 µm Pixel Size for High-Resolution Sampling Ultra-Low Read Noise Down...

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$199.00 USD - $199.00 USD
$199.00 USD
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$199.00 USD
iOptron iCAM178M Mono Camera
$269.00 USD - $269.00 USD
$269.00 USD
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$269.00 USD

iOptron iCAM178M Mono Camera

6.4 Megapixel Sony IMX178 Mono Sensor 2.4µm Pixel Size for High-Resolution Sampling 60 Frames Per Second at Full Resolution Low Read Noise of 1.3e...

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$269.00 USD - $269.00 USD
$269.00 USD
$269.00 USD - $269.00 USD
$269.00 USD
SVBONY SV305C Color Telescope Camera IMX662
SVBONY SV305C Color Telescope Camera IMX662
$130.00 USD - $130.00 USD
$130.00 USD
$130.00 USD - $130.00 USD
$130.00 USD

SVBONY SV305C Color Telescope Camera IMX662

2.1 Megapixel SONY IMX662 Sensor 1920x1080 Max Resolution 2.9μm Pixel Size Up to 91% Peak Quantum Efficiency 128MB DDR Image Buffer USB 2.0 Data P...

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$130.00 USD - $130.00 USD
$130.00 USD
$130.00 USD - $130.00 USD
$130.00 USD
SVBONY SV105 Planetary Camera IMX307
SVBONY SV105 Planetary Camera IMX307
$50.00 USD - $50.00 USD
$50.00 USD
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$50.00 USD

SVBONY SV105 Planetary Camera IMX307

2.07 Megapixel (1920x1080) SONY IMX307 Sensor Captures video at up to 30 FPS for planetary imaging 2.9µm pixels offer a good balance of resolution...

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$50.00 USD - $50.00 USD
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$499.00 USD - $499.00 USD
$499.00 USD
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$499.00 USD

Player One Apollo-C IMX174 Color Solar Camera

2.3 Megapixel Sony IMX174 color CMOS sensor Global shutter design eliminates motion artifacts from atmospheric turbulence Captures up to 164 FPS a...

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$499.00 USD - $499.00 USD
$499.00 USD
$499.00 USD - $499.00 USD
$499.00 USD

What Makes a Good Planetary Camera

  • High frame rate: More frames per second means more chances to catch moments of good seeing. USB 3.0 and a region of interest help.
  • Small pixels: 2 to 3 µm pixels let you reach the right image scale with less Barlow magnification.
  • Low read noise: Short exposures mean little signal per frame, so low read noise is essential.
  • Colour or mono: Colour cameras are simplest for Jupiter, Saturn and Mars. Mono with filters gives more detail, and is the best choice for the Moon, the Sun and infrared or methane imaging.

Matching the Camera to Your Telescope

A common rule is a focal ratio of about 5 times the pixel size in microns. With 2.9 µm pixels, that is around f/15. An f/10 SCT then needs a 1.5x Barlow. A Barlow or telecentric brings any telescope into the right range.

What We Help With

  • Image scale: We suggest the Barlow or Powermate that suits your telescope and pixel size.
  • Filters: UV/IR cut, IR pass and methane filters each have a role. We tell you which you actually need.
  • Solar safety: For solar imaging we confirm that the filter system in front of the camera is safe and complete.

Planetary Cameras: Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a planetary camera for deep-sky?

For bright targets and short exposures, yes, especially with live stacking. For long exposures, a cooled camera gives much lower noise.

Do I need a laptop?

Yes, or a controller like ASIAIR. Planetary video needs fast USB 3.0 and an SSD for high frame rates.

Which planets are best to start with?

Jupiter and Saturn are bright and forgiving. Mars is excellent near opposition. The Moon is a great practice target any month.

Ready to capture the planets?

Tell us your telescope and whether you also want to image the Sun or guide. We will recommend the camera and Barlow.