Player One Apollo-M MAX Pro Mono IMX432 Cooled Solar Camera

IMX432 Global Shutter Sensor: 9µm Pixels and 100k e- Full Well

At the heart of the Apollo-M MAX Pro is the 1.1-inch IMX432 sensor, a chip purpose-built for the challenges of solar astronomy. The large 9µm pixels are exceptionally well-suited for long focal ratio instruments, such as SCTs paired with Daystar filters, providing ideal image sampling without needing a Barlow. Its massive 100k e- full well capacity is over three times that of previous-generation solar sensors, allowing you to capture incredible detail on the solar disk and in the faint corona simultaneously, minimizing the need for composite images.

The Sony Pregius 3rd generation global shutter is non-negotiable for high-resolution imaging through atmospheric turbulence. By reading the entire 1.7MP sensor at once, it completely eliminates the wobble and distortion that rolling shutters can introduce, ensuring that even during fleeting moments of good seeing, your data is geometrically perfect.

2-Stage Cooling: 40°C Delta-T and Active Anti-Dew Control

This camera integrates a 2-stage TEC cooling system capable of reducing the sensor temperature by 35°C-40°C below ambient. This aggressive cooling dramatically reduces thermal noise, a critical factor for teasing out low-contrast details in H-alpha, like spicules and plages. Unlike uncooled planetary cameras, the Apollo-M MAX Pro delivers clean, stable data suitable for both lucky imaging and longer exposures.

To combat dew formation, a common issue with cooled cameras, the Apollo-M MAX Pro includes an integrated, software-adjustable anti-dew heater for the protective window. This, combined with adjustable fan speed and target temperature settings in the ASCOM driver, gives you complete control over the camera's thermal environment for consistent results night after night.

Advanced Mechanics: 420g Carbon Fiber Body and Dual Tilter Plates

The Apollo-M MAX Pro features a housing constructed with carbon fiber, reducing its weight to just 420g. This lightweight design minimizes strain on your focuser and makes balancing your imaging setup easier. The camera also includes a versatile sensor tilting mechanism to achieve a perfectly flat field.

• Front 3-Point Tilter: The default configuration allows for quick and easy tilt adjustments for most standard imaging setups.
• Rear 4-Point Tilter: An included alternate plate, essential for complex image trains involving filter wheels or an OAG, allowing you to make precise adjustments without disassembling your setup.

126 FPS Capture with 512MB DDR3 Buffer

To ensure flawless data transfer at its maximum frame rate of 126 FPS, the Apollo-M MAX Pro is equipped with a 512MB DDR3 memory buffer. This onboard cache prevents dropped frames, even when connected to less powerful computers or over a USB 2.0 connection. The buffer secures the data stream from the camera to your PC, greatly reducing readout noise and ensuring that every valuable moment of stable seeing is captured without compromise.

Apollo-M MAX Pro vs. IMX174-Based Cameras: Pixel Size and Full Well

While cameras using the popular Sony IMX174 sensor have been a standard for solar imaging, the Apollo-M MAX Pro's IMX432 sensor presents a significant technological leap forward. The primary differences lie in pixel scale and dynamic range.

• IMX174 Advantage: The IMX174's smaller 5.86µm pixels can achieve critical sampling with shorter focal length telescopes, and it remains a proven, high-QE performer.
• Apollo-M MAX Pro Advantage: The IMX432's 9µm pixels are 1.5x larger, making it a perfect match for the long effective focal lengths of SCTs and dedicated solar telescopes. More importantly, its 100k e- full well capacity is more than triple the ~32k e- of the IMX174, delivering vastly superior dynamic range for capturing both surface and prominence detail in a single shot.