Player One Astronomy Neptune-C USB3.0 Color Planetary Camera (IMX178)

The Player One Astronomy Neptune-C USB3.0 Color Planetary Camera (IMX178) is a color planetary camera developed by Player One Astronomy, featuring the Sony IMX178 1/1.8” sensor. The pixel size is 2.4 µm, allowing for a 15k e- full well with a total of 6.4 MPx (resolution is 3096*2078), and the diagonal is 9 mm. With a 1/1.8-inch sensor, the Neptune series is highly suitable for sun and moon photography compositions. Sensor Tilt Plate: It is possible to adjust the front plate on Player One Astronomy planetary cameras. 256M DDR3 Memory: Player One Astronomy cameras are the first to use DDR3 memory! This helps stabilize and secure data transmission, effectively avoids frame loss, and significantly reduces read noise. With DDR3 memory, the camera no longer has high processing demands and will still perform excellently even when connected to a USB 2.0 port. DPS Technology: Player One Astronomy cameras feature DPS (Dead Pixel Suppression) technology. DPS analyzes many dark frames to find anomalous pixels. All dead pixels in the image (including both hot and cold pixels) are swept away. The DPS function is active during the entire imaging session. Overvoltage and Overcurrent Protection Mechanism: Player One cameras ensure the safety of their units and equipment through an overvoltage and overcurrent protection mechanism. Data Port: When the camera is connected to the USB3.0 port and full-resolution preview is used, it can reach 93 FPS in 10-bit mode (RAW8). During image recording, since the actual write speed will be affected by the write speed of the hard drive itself, recording might not reach the theoretical speed if the hard drive write speed is slow. It is recommended to use a high-quality solid-state drive to record data to take full advantage of the camera's performance. Use the ST4 guide cable to connect the camera and the AUTO GUIDE port of the equatorial mount for autoguiding. QE Curve Performance Sensor SONY IMX178 1/1.8" CMOS (color) Diagonal 9 mm Total Pixels 6.4 Mega Pixels Max Resolution 3096×2078 Pixel Size 2.4 µm Chip Size 7.4×5.0 mm Frame Rate 60 FPS(10bit) Shutter Rolling shutter Exposure Range 32µs-2000s Readout Noise 2.2-~1.3 e- QE Peak ≥80% Full Well 15 k e- ADC 14 bit Data Port USB3.0/USB2.0 Adapter 1.25" / M42X0.75 Back Focal Length 12.5 mm Protective Window UV IR-cut Diameter 66 mm Weight 180 g Resolution and FPS Under USB3.0 mode Resolution 10bit ADC 3096×2078 60 FPS More resolution options could be setup in capture softewares!

Key Features

Player One quality for a reliable and satisfying observation experience.

• Type: USB 3.0 (and higher)
• Connection / thread: T2 (M42×0.75)
• Sensor size: 3096 × 2080 px
• Pixel size: 2.1 – 3.9 µm
• Resolution: 5 – 9.99 MP

Main Technical Specifications