Uranus-M USB3.0 Mono Camera

Product Overview

The Uranus-M is a high-speed monochrome astronomy camera from Player One Astronomy, built on Sony's back-illuminated 1/1.2" IMX585 (STARVIS 2) CMOS sensor. Its 8.3-megapixel array (3856×2180, 2.9 µm pixels, 12.85 mm diagonal) reaches a peak quantum efficiency near 91% and reads out at up to 47 fps, combining a large, sensitive sensor with the speed to freeze seeing on the Moon and planets. This is the non-cooled member of the Uranus-M family, using a passive cooling body.

Who It's For

This is a good match if you do monochrome lunar and planetary imaging and want a larger, more sensitive sensor than a typical small planetary chip — wide lunar frames, detailed planetary lucky imaging, and monochrome solar through the appropriate filters. The ST4 port also allows use as a sensitive utility or guide camera.

Key Features & Design

• Sony IMX585 STARVIS 2 mono CMOS: back-illuminated design with peak QE around 91%.
• 8.3 MP resolution: 3856×2180 pixels at 2.9 µm — a large field for lunar mosaics and planetary framing.
• Wide read-noise range: 7.2 e− down to 0.7 e− with a 47k e− full well.
• 47 fps readout: 10-bit at full resolution over USB3.0.
• 256 MB DDR3 buffer: steadies high-speed capture.
• ST4 guide port: usable as a sensitive guide or utility camera.

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, rolling shutter. Full-well capacity is 47k e−, read noise ranges 7.2 e− to 0.7 e−, digitised at 12-bit, with peak QE near 91%. Full-resolution readout reaches 47 fps (10-bit) over USB3.0. Sensor-to-flange backfocus is 12.5 mm behind the AR-coated D32×2 mm window. The 66 mm body ends in a 1.25" / M42×0.75 interface and runs from USB power alone.

Recommended Uses

• Lunar imaging: large-field monochrome mosaics of the lunar surface.
• Planetary imaging: high-frame-rate lucky imaging, often with a Barlow for scale.
• Monochrome solar: Ha or white-light capture through the appropriate solar filtration.

Compatibility and Accessory Notes

The camera presents a 1.25" nosepiece and M42×0.75 rear, with 12.5 mm of backfocus in the train. It runs over USB3.0 (backward compatible with USB2.0), powered from the USB connection, and provides an ST4 port. As a monochrome camera it images through filters for colour, narrowband or solar work; planetary imaging commonly adds a Barlow to reach a suitable focal ratio.

Good to Know Before You Order

• It is a monochrome camera: colour is built from filtered channels; solar use needs proper solar filtration.
• Non-cooled: optimised for high-frame-rate capture; the cooled Uranus-M Pro is the choice for long exposures.
• 1/1.2" format: larger than a typical planetary chip, giving more framing room while still fast to read.
• Published weight is 160 g: very light on the focuser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it difficult to set up?

No. It threads on through its 1.25" / M42 interface and runs on a single USB3.0 cable — no external power needed.

What is it best used for?

Monochrome lunar and planetary imaging on a larger, sensitive sensor, plus mono solar with filters.

Does it need filters?

Yes for colour or narrowband — it is a mono sensor. Planetary colour is built from filtered channels.

How does it differ from the Uranus-M Pro?

This model is non-cooled with a 256 MB buffer, tuned for speed; the Pro adds two-stage TEC cooling and a 512 MB buffer for cooled long exposures on the same IMX585 sensor.

Bottom Line

In short: an 8.3 MP IMX585 STARVIS 2 mono camera with ~91% peak QE and 47 fps readout — a large, sensitive, single-cable camera for lunar and planetary imaging and monochrome solar with the right filter.