Uranus-M Pro USB3.0 Mono Cooled Camera

Product Overview

The Uranus-M Pro is a cooled monochrome astronomy camera from Player One Astronomy, built on Sony's back-illuminated 1/1.2" IMX585 (STARVIS 2) CMOS sensor. It combines an 8.3-megapixel array (3856×2180, 2.9 µm pixels, 12.85 mm diagonal) with two-stage TEC cooling that holds the sensor 35–40 °C below ambient, and reaches a peak quantum efficiency near 91%. The result is a compact, high-sensitivity mono camera that crosses over between high-frame-rate planetary work and cooled, filtered deep-sky imaging.

Who It's For

This is a good match if you run a monochrome, filtered workflow and want a sensitive small-format sensor with active cooling — narrowband deep-sky at longer focal lengths, lunar and planetary detail, and small-target imaging where the 2.9 µm pixels sample fine structure. The carbon-fibre body and anti-dew heater suit humid or long observatory sessions.

Key Features & Design

• Sony IMX585 STARVIS 2 mono CMOS: back-illuminated design with peak QE around 91% for strong low-light sensitivity.
• 8.3 MP resolution: 3856×2180 pixels at 2.9 µm on a 1/1.2" sensor.
• Two-stage TEC cooling: 35–40 °C below ambient, cutting dark current to 0.0004 e−/s/pix at −20 °C.
• Wide read-noise range: 6.5 e− down to 0.7 e− with a 47k e− full well.
• Carbon-fibre housing with anti-dew heater and tilt plates: front 3-point and rear 4-point tilt adjustment.
• 512 MB DDR3 buffer over Type-C USB3.0: stable high-speed capture up to 47 fps.

Optical / Mechanical Design

The IMX585 is a 1/1.2" back-illuminated monochrome CMOS with 2.9 µm pixels across an 11.2 mm×6.3 mm active area. Full-well capacity is 47k e− and read noise ranges 6.5 e− to 0.7 e−, digitised at 12-bit, with peak QE near 91%. At full resolution the camera runs up to 47 fps in RAW8 over USB3.0. Sensor-to-flange backfocus is 17.5 mm. Two-stage thermoelectric cooling holds the sensor 35–40 °C below ambient; an anti-dew heater keeps the window clear. The 78 mm carbon-fibre body ends in a 1.25" / M42×0.75 interface.

Recommended Uses

• Cooled narrowband deep-sky: emission nebulae and small galaxies at longer focal lengths.
• Lunar and planetary: high-frame-rate capture with the sensitive STARVIS 2 sensor.
• Small-target imaging: planetary nebulae and compact objects where fine pixel sampling helps.

Compatibility and Accessory Notes

The camera provides a 1.25" nosepiece and M42×0.75 rear, needing 17.5 mm of backfocus in the train. Data is over Type-C USB3.0. The TEC runs from 12 V DC through a 5.5×2.1 mm barrel jack; a supply rated to at least 5 A is used. As a monochrome camera it images through external filters, so a filter wheel or drawer with narrowband or LRGB filters completes a colour or scientific setup.

Good to Know Before You Order

• It is a monochrome camera: colour and narrowband come from separate filters in a wheel or drawer.
• Cooling needs its own 12 V, 5 A supply: USB carries data only.
• 1/1.2" format: a small, densely sampled sensor best matched to longer focal lengths rather than very wide fields.
• Published weight is 420 g: light for its class and easy on the focuser once filters are added.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it difficult to set up?

No. It threads on through its 1.25" / M42 interface and connects over USB-C; the extra step over a non-cooled camera is a 12 V, 5 A power supply for the cooler.

What is it best used for?

Cooled, filtered mono deep-sky at longer focal lengths, plus sensitive lunar and planetary capture.

Does it need filters?

Yes for colour or narrowband — it is a mono sensor imaging through LRGB or narrowband filters.

How does it differ from the non-cooled Uranus-M?

The Pro adds two-stage TEC cooling and a larger 512 MB buffer on the same IMX585 sensor, extending it into low-noise long-exposure imaging.

Bottom Line

In short: an 8.3 MP IMX585 STARVIS 2 mono camera with two-stage cooling to 35–40 °C below ambient, ~91% peak QE and a 1.25"/M42 interface — a sensitive crossover camera for cooled narrowband deep-sky and high-frame-rate planetary work.