Ceres 462M USB3.0 Mono Guide Camera

Product Overview

The Ceres 462M is a compact monochrome guide and planetary camera from Player One Astronomy, built on Sony's 1/2.8" IMX462 CMOS sensor. Its 2.1-megapixel array (1944×1096, 2.9 µm pixels, 6.5 mm diagonal) reaches a peak quantum efficiency near 91% and a low minimum read noise of 0.7 e−, giving it the sensitivity to lock onto faint guide stars. A small 40 mm body, 1.25" / M28.5×0.6 fit and ST4 port make it a natural fit for guide scopes and off-axis guiders.

Who It's For

This is a good match if you need a sensitive, small guide camera for a guide scope or off-axis guider, and want the option to use the same camera for high-frame-rate monochrome planetary capture. The ST4 port supports direct pulse guiding, and the sensitivity helps pick up faint stars in a small guide-scope field.

Key Features & Design

• Sony IMX462 mono CMOS: back-illuminated sensitivity with peak QE around 91%.
• Low read noise: 2.6 e− down to 0.7 e− (minimum at gain 80), helping detect faint guide stars.
• Compact 40 mm body: light and small enough to hang off a mini guide scope or OAG.
• ST4 guide port: direct pulse guiding to compatible mounts.
• 136 fps readout: RAW8 at full resolution over USB3.0 for planetary lucky imaging.
• Super AR window: D21×1.1 mm multi-layer anti-reflection glass.

Optical / Mechanical Design

The IMX462 is a 1/2.8" monochrome CMOS with 2.9 µm pixels across a 5.6 mm×3.2 mm active area, rolling shutter. Full-well capacity is 12k e−, read noise ranges 2.6 e− to 0.7 e−, digitised at 12-bit, with peak QE near 91%. Full-resolution readout reaches 136 fps in RAW8 over USB3.0. Sensor-to-flange backfocus is 7.5 mm — short enough to reach focus in most guide scopes and off-axis guiders — behind the D21×1.1 mm AR window. The 40 mm body uses a 1.25" / M28.5×0.6 interface and runs from USB power alone.

Recommended Uses

• Autoguiding: a sensitive guide camera for guide scopes and off-axis guiders, guiding via ST4 or the imaging software.
• Planetary imaging: high-frame-rate monochrome lucky imaging on a small scope with a Barlow.
• Utility imaging: a compact camera for polar alignment routines and framing checks.

Compatibility and Accessory Notes

The camera presents a 1.25" barrel with an M28.5×0.6 thread and needs only 7.5 mm of backfocus, so it reaches focus in typical mini guide scopes and off-axis guiders. It runs over USB3.0 (backward compatible with USB2.0) from the USB connection, and provides an ST4 port for pulse guiding. It works with common guiding software (PHD2 and similar) as a standard camera.

Good to Know Before You Order

• Small 1/2.8" sensor: ideal for guiding and planetary scale rather than wide fields.
• Monochrome: the norm for guiding; for planetary colour a one-shot-color camera captures RGB directly.
• Short 7.5 mm backfocus: reaches focus in most guide scopes and OAGs without extra spacers.
• Published weight is 65 g: negligible load on a guide scope or OAG.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it difficult to set up?

No. It slides into a 1.25" holder or threads via M28.5×0.6, connects over USB, and is recognised by standard guiding software; the ST4 port connects to the mount for pulse guiding.

What is it best used for?

Autoguiding, with the flexibility to do high-frame-rate monochrome planetary capture.

Does it work with PHD2?

Yes — it presents as a standard camera to common guiding software, and the ST4 port supports direct pulse guiding.

Can it image deep-sky?

It is designed for guiding and planetary work; the small, non-cooled sensor is not intended for long-exposure deep-sky imaging.

Bottom Line

In short: a compact 2.1 MP IMX462 mono camera with ~91% peak QE, 0.7 e− minimum read noise, a 7.5 mm backfocus and an ST4 port — a sensitive guide camera that doubles as a fast planetary imager.