{"product_id":"ceres-462m-usb3-0-mono-guide-camera","title":"Ceres 462M USB3.0 Mono Guide Camera","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSony IMX462 mono CMOS:\u003c\/strong\u003e back-illuminated sensitivity with peak QE around 91%.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLow read noise:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2.6 e− down to 0.7 e− (minimum at gain 80), helping detect faint guide stars.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCompact 40 mm body:\u003c\/strong\u003e light and small enough to hang off a mini guide scope or OAG.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eST4 guide port:\u003c\/strong\u003e direct pulse guiding to compatible mounts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e136 fps readout:\u003c\/strong\u003e RAW8 at full resolution over USB3.0 for planetary lucky imaging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSuper AR window:\u003c\/strong\u003e D21×1.1 mm multi-layer anti-reflection glass.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOptical \/ Mechanical Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAutoguiding:\u003c\/strong\u003e a sensitive guide camera for guide scopes and off-axis guiders, guiding via ST4 or the imaging software.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlanetary imaging:\u003c\/strong\u003e high-frame-rate monochrome lucky imaging on a small scope with a Barlow.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUtility imaging:\u003c\/strong\u003e a compact camera for polar alignment routines and framing checks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSmall 1\/2.8\" sensor:\u003c\/strong\u003e ideal for guiding and planetary scale rather than wide fields.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMonochrome:\u003c\/strong\u003e the norm for guiding; for planetary colour a one-shot-color camera captures RGB directly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShort 7.5 mm backfocus:\u003c\/strong\u003e reaches focus in most guide scopes and OAGs without extra spacers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublished weight is 65 g:\u003c\/strong\u003e negligible load on a guide scope or OAG.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is it best used for?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAutoguiding, with the flexibility to do high-frame-rate monochrome planetary capture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it work with PHD2?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes — it presents as a standard camera to common guiding software, and the ST4 port supports direct pulse guiding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan it image deep-sky?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is designed for guiding and planetary work; the small, non-cooled sensor is not intended for long-exposure deep-sky imaging.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Player One Astronomy","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53834295738479,"sku":"Ceres 462M","price":250.6,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/Ceres-462M.png?v=1784240028","url":"https:\/\/ontariotelescope.com\/products\/ceres-462m-usb3-0-mono-guide-camera","provider":"Ontario Telescope and Accessories","version":"1.0","type":"link"}