ZWO ASI120MC-S 1.2 Megapixel USB3.0 Color Astronomy Camera for Astrophotography

Description

The ZWO ASI120MC-S is an affordable and sensitive color astronomy camera for imaging the planets, Moon, Sun (with a safe solar filter), and brighter deep-sky objects through a telescope. The camera incorporates a 1.2 megapixel CMOS sensor with a quantum efficiency (QE) as high as 75% to keep exposure time to a minimum. The pixels of the sensor are 3.75 microns in size, small enough for imaging solar-system objects but large enough to capture low-noise images of brighter nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters. The ASI120MC-S is the faster USB3.0 version of the ASI120MC camera from ZWO. At full resolution of 1280x960, the USB3.0 interface of this camera can transfer up to 60 frames per second. At reduced resolution, download rates up to 254 fps become possible. Such rates make it easier to produce high-quality images of solar system objects, especially quickly-rotating objects like Jupiter and Saturn. Many cameras in this price range have plastic housings, but the ASI120MC-S has a robust and attractive CNC machined red-anodized aluminum body that stands up to heavy field use. All software and drivers for this camera are available from the manufacturer’s website. This camera is compatible with Windows (32-bit and 64-bit) XP or later versions and Mac OS. NOTE: This camera is best used with a refractor or reflector telescope mounted on a solid equatorial mount that can accurately track the motion of the sky. It is not intended for taking images through the eyepiece of a telescope. This camera produces color images without the need for additional color filters, but you may require additional accessories such as an autoguider or focal reducer to get the best results.