Uranus-C USB3.0 Color Camera (IMX585)

The Player One Uranus-C is a USB3.0 colour camera built around the 1/1.2" Sony IMX585 back-illuminated STARVIS 2 CMOS sensor. Its large 8.3-megapixel field, high peak QE and strong near-infrared response make it one of the most versatile planetary and lunar cameras in the range, capable of framing wide solar-system scenes while still resolving fine detail behind a Barlow.

Product Overview

The IMX585 provides a 3856×2180 array of 2.9µm pixels across a 12.85 mm diagonal — a notably larger field than the 1/1.8" planetary chips. A 47k e⁻ full-well gives wide dynamic range, read noise falls to about 0.7 e⁻ in HCG mode, the ADC is 12-bit, and peak QE reaches roughly 91%. The STARVIS 2 sensor also offers strong near-IR sensitivity and low dark current. Over USB3.0 it captures up to 46 FPS in Raw8 and 23 FPS in Raw16 at full resolution.

Who It's For

This is a good match if you image the Moon, planets and Sun and want a large, sensitive colour sensor with room to frame wide lunar landscapes or capture a whole planetary conjunction. Its near-IR reach suits IR-pass planetary work, and it autoguides through its ST4 port.

Key Features & Design

• Sony IMX585 colour sensor: 1/1.2" back-illuminated STARVIS 2 CMOS, 8.3 MP, with strong near-IR response.
• Large 12.85 mm diagonal: a wider field than 1/1.8" planetary cameras.
• Deep 47k e⁻ full-well: wide dynamic range for bright highlights.
• Low read noise: down to about 0.7 e⁻ in HCG mode (gain 210).
• High peak QE (≈ 91%) and low dark current: clean, sensitive capture.
• Protective window: D32×2 mm with AR Plus multi-layer coating; 256MB DDR3 buffer and ST4 port.

Optical / Mechanical Design

The Uranus-C uses a rolling-shutter colour CMOS with an RGGB Bayer matrix and 2.9µm pixels. The large sensor and deep full-well handle bright, high-cadence solar-system targets while giving more field than the smaller planetary chips. The sensor sits at a 12.5 mm back focal distance, and the 66 mm body threads accept 1.25" and M42×0.75 (T-thread) adapters. Exposures run 32µs to 2000 s. The published weight is 160 g.

Recommended Uses

• High-resolution lunar and planetary imaging behind a Barlow or long-focal-length scope.
• Wide lunar landscapes and full-disc framing through shorter focal lengths.
• Near-IR and IR-pass planetary imaging.
• Solar imaging with suitable filtration; autoguiding through the ST4 port.

Compatibility & Accessory Notes

The camera connects through 1.25" nosepiece or M42×0.75 threads and fits any telescope with those interfaces. Note the larger D32×2 mm window and 12.85 mm diagonal — when adding a Barlow or filters, use components that clear the larger sensor without vignetting. Capture is over USB3.0 with common software, and the ST4 port accepts a standard autoguide cable.

Good to Know Before You Order

• Uncooled camera: optimized for bright solar-system targets and short exposures rather than cooled long-exposure deep-sky imaging.
• Larger sensor: the 12.85 mm diagonal benefits from Barlows and filters rated for a wider field to avoid vignetting.
• USB3.0 for full frame rates: USB2.0 works but caps throughput.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it difficult to set up?

No. It threads onto a 1.25" or M42 connection, installs its driver, and appears in your capture software.

What is it best used for?

High-frame-rate lunar and planetary imaging, wide lunar framing, IR-pass planetary work, and autoguiding.

What makes the IMX585 stand out?

A large 1/1.2" field, high peak QE, low dark current and strong near-IR sensitivity, making it versatile across solar-system targets.

Can I use it for deep-sky astrophotography?

As an uncooled camera it is built for bright solar-system targets; long-exposure deep-sky work is better served by a cooled camera.

Does it autoguide?

Yes, through its ST4 port with a suitable guide scope.

Bottom Line

In short: a large 8.3 MP, 1/1.2" colour planetary camera with high QE, low dark current and strong near-IR reach, well suited to detailed and wide-field lunar and planetary imaging on standard 1.25" and M42 threads.