Player One Artemis-M Pro Mono IMX492 Cooled Astrophotography Camera

Player One Artemis-M Pro: A 47 MP Camera for Advanced DSO Imaging

The Artemis-M Pro is designed for imagers who require both high resolution and high sensitivity. The 4/3" format is very popular for deep-sky imaging. As a monochrome camera it records colour through separate LRGB or narrowband filters.

The camera has amp glow, more visible in BIN2 or at higher gain; note this before buying (see below).

The Sony IMX492 Sensor: 4/3" Format with 2.315µm Pixels

At the heart of the Artemis-M Pro is the Sony IMX492, a back-illuminated CMOS sensor based on STARVIS technology. The sensor has a 23.2mm diagonal. In its native resolution mode (BIN1), it has 8288×5648 pixels; Player One stresses that the 47 megapixels are native and need no unlocking.

The pixels are 2.315μm in BIN1 and the sensor measures 19.2mm × 13mm.

Dual-Mode Readout: 65.8Ke Full Well and 1.2e Read Noise

BIN1 and BIN2 change the full well, frame rate and readout noise.

• BIN1 Mode (High Resolution): In its native state, the camera captures a full 47 MP image. This mode is defined by a full well capacity of 18.6Ke and a read noise profile ranging from 1.46e to 7.7e.
• BIN2 Mode (High Dynamic Range): By activating hardware binning, the sensor groups pixels into 2x2 blocks. This gives an 11.7 MP image with 4.63µm pixels. In this mode the full well is 65.8Ke and the readout noise runs from 7.8e down to 1.2e. Hardware binning is BIN2 only (Average BIN); software binning adds BIN3 and BIN4, with Sum BIN and Average BIN.

12-bit vs. 14-bit ADC and ≈90% Peak Quantum Efficiency

Tied to the dual hardware modes is a change in analog-to-digital converter (ADC) depth. The BIN1 mode outputs data at a 12-bit depth, providing 4,096 distinct brightness levels. When you switch to the hardware BIN2 mode, the ADC depth extends to 14-bit, capturing 16,384 levels.

Complementing the ADC is the sensor's high quantum efficiency (QE), which peaks at approximately 90%.

2-Stage TEC Cooling: A 40°C Delta-T for Ultra-Low Dark Current

The Artemis-M Pro has a 2-stage thermoelectric cooling (TEC) system with a standard delta T of 40°C (±2°C) below ambient, measured at 30°C ambient with the fan at 100% and the dew heater at 10%. The recommended settings are 35°C below ambient, fan 70% and dew heater 10%, for a power consumption of 40 to 60%. The fan speed is adjustable and defaults to 70%.

With the cooler active, the dark current is reduced to just 0.0021e/s/pix at 0℃, and an even lower 0.0004 e/s/pix at -20℃. The dark current curve is almost a straight line. An adjustable anti-dew heater is integrated at the front of the camera; dew is the biggest enemy in astro imaging. In the ASCOM window you set the target temperature, fan speed and anti-dew power.

512MB DDR3 Cache: Stable 33 FPS Capture over USB 3.0

The Artemis-M Pro has a 512MB DDR3 cache. It stabilizes data transmission, effectively avoids frame dropping and greatly reduces readout noise, and the camera no longer needs a powerful computer and still performs very well on a USB 2.0 port. The back has two Type-C data ports; the main one is USB 3.0. Recording speed also depends on your disk, and a good solid state drive is recommended.

Frame rates over USB 3.0:

• 8288×5648 (BIN1): 8 FPS (Raw8) / 4 FPS (Raw16)
• 4144×2824 (BIN2): 33 FPS (RAW8)
• 1920x1080 (ROI): 122 FPS (Raw8) / 78 FPS (Raw16)

Amp Glow and Dark Frames

The Artemis-M Pro has amp glow, more obvious in BIN2 mode or at higher gain; note this before buying.

Two original dark frames let you see it: one in BIN1 and one in BIN2, both at gain 110, offset 5, 300s and -10°C.

Mechanical Precision: 4-Point Tilt Plate and 12.5mm/17.5mm Back Focus

The Artemis-M Pro has a rear-adjustment 4-point sensor tilt plate. A tilt plate gives a much smaller field curvature of the telescope when imaging deep-sky objects, and with 4 points it is easier to know which corner needs adjusting.

The camera provides two back focus distances to accommodate different imaging setups.

• 17.5mm: With the tilt plate installed.
• 12.5mm: With the tilt plate removed.

The camera connects by M48x0.75, 2" and 1.25", and ships with 17.5mm and 20mm M48 extenders and an M48-M42 adapter. The front has 6 M2.5 screw holes on R31.

Monochrome Imaging: The Artemis-M Pro Advantage for LRGB and Narrowband

Unlike a one-shot-colour camera, which has a colour filter matrix over the pixels, a mono sensor records the light through the chosen filter at every pixel.

You shoot separate Luminance, Red, Green and Blue (LRGB) exposures for colour, and you can image emission nebulae one line at a time through narrowband filters (H-alpha, OIII, SII).

Power Management: 12V 5A Cooling and Uncooled USB Operation

The Artemis-M Pro's cooling system requires an external power source to operate. A 12V 5A DC power supply with a 5.5x2.1mm plug is necessary to power the 2-stage TEC cooler and anti-dew heater. This power supply is not included with the camera.

If you connect only the main Type-C port, the camera works as an uncooled camera. Player One builds in overvoltage and overcurrent protection.

Drivers, ASCOM and Getting Started

Player One provides its drivers, including the ASCOM driver, on its software download page. The manual mentions SharpCap 4, whose Sensor Analysis function lets you test the readout noise yourself.

Install the Player One drivers, connect the camera to the main USB 3.0 Type-C port and, for cooling, connect a 12V 5A supply. Exposure, gain and binning are set in the capture program; the ASCOM window holds the target temperature, fan speed and anti-dew power.