Why choose the Uranus-M mono over a color camera with the same IMX585 sensor?
The monochrome Uranus-M records light at every pixel through the filter you choose, while a colour camera's Bayer matrix gives each pixel only red, green or blue. With narrowband filters every pixel records each emission line.
What is the advantage of the Uranus-M's large 1/1.2" sensor for planetary imaging?
At a given focal length, a larger sensor covers more sky, which makes a planet easier to find and keep in the frame, and a lunar mosaic needs fewer panels. The 1/1.2" size is quite big for imaging.
How does the Uranus-M's 46 FPS frame rate help when imaging Jupiter with an 8" SCT?
Jupiter's rotation limits a single capture to a few minutes. At 46 FPS at full resolution, a few minutes gives several thousand frames, and a smaller region of interest around the planet runs faster (187 FPS at 1920x1080). Stacking the sharpest frames is how planetary images are made.
Can I use the Player One Uranus-M for deep-sky imaging?
Yes, within limits. It is uncooled, but the Uranus-M is very powerful for EAA and lucky imaging, where many short exposures are stacked. The optional ACS can be used at night for that, keeping the camera about 7°C above ambient. Readout noise goes down to 0.7e-, and a 300s dark frame shows no amp glow.
What is the benefit of the "Non-Amp-Glow" feature on the Uranus-M?
The Uranus-M's dark frame is totally dark, with no amp glow however much it is stretched, and this gives a very clean background, which makes high-quality images easier to get.
How does the 256MB DDR3 cache help my imaging sessions?
The 256MB DDR3 cache is a buffer that stabilizes data transmission, effectively avoids frame dropping and greatly reduces readout noise; with it the camera still performs very well on a USB 2.0 port.
What accessories do I need to start color imaging with the Uranus-M?
To produce full-color images with the monochrome Uranus-M, you will need a filter wheel and a set of LRGB (Luminance, Red, Green, Blue) filters. You will capture separate videos through each filter and then combine them in processing software to create a final, high-resolution color image.
What is STARVIS 2 technology in the Uranus-M's IMX585 sensor?
STARVIS 2 is Sony's latest generation of back-illuminated pixel technology for CMOS sensors.
When does the HCG mode activate on the Player One Uranus-M?
The High Conversion Gain (HCG) mode activates automatically at a gain of 210. No further HCG figures are given for this camera; readout noise in the specification runs down to 0.7e-.
How do I use the built-in sensor tilt plate on the Uranus-M?
The 2nd generation tilt plate adjusts the sensor angle against tilt in the imaging train, which otherwise leaves stars in one corner out of focus. It gives a much smaller field curvature when imaging deep-sky objects. The hex wrench for it is in the box.
