Discovery Astrophotography with ZWO ASTRO

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ASI Planetary Camera Selection Guide

ASI Planet Camera Guide

We have all seen incredible images of the planets online and in books and wanted to see them for ourselves. With ZWO, you can see the rings of Saturn and the great red spot on Jupiter. 

ZWO is committed to providing high-quality astronomical cameras at an affordable price to enthusiasts around the world. 

 
1.
Guiding

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The gear you need specifically to start guiding is, 

1. Deep space camera

2. Acquisition software/hardware – ZWO ASIAIR

3. Filter Wheel and Filters (optional)

4. Electronic Focus (optional)

5. Guide scope/Off-Axis Guider

6. Guide Camera

To suit everyone’s desires, we have created multiple planetary cameras. With this guide, you will be able to pick the one best suited to you! 

 

ASI Planetary Camera


ASI120MM-S / ASI120MC-S

Retail Price – 179 USD 

CMOS AR0130CS 

Resolution – 1280×960

Pixel Size – 3.75μm

Imaging the moon is how most get started in astrophotography. If you are a beginner, you cannot go wrong with the ASI120MC-S. This is the best entry-level camera for lunar and planetary imaging. The ASI120 conquered the CCD camera as the go-to for imaging our solar system. Due to its high sensitivity, high frame rate and ease of use, the ASI120 is the perfect choice for planetary photography.

The ASI120-S series has two models the ASI120MM is black and white, more sensitive and requires different filters to make a colour image and the ASI120MC is a colour camera which is easier to use however slightly less sensitive. Both will yield amazing results!

Planetary photography is different from lunar in that the planets are much smaller. This means a longer focal length and or barlow lens is an advantage.



ASI224MC

Retail Price – 249 USD

CMOS IMX224 

Resolution – 1304×976

Pixel Size – 3.75μm

The ASI224MC is a more advanced choice for planetary photography. It is just as easy to use as the ASI120MC however with a more sensitive sensor and less noise, the results are out of this world (pun intended). It is because of this low noise and sensitivity that the ASI224MC is one of the most popular planetary cameras in the world. 


ASI385MC

Retail Price – 369 USD

CMOS IMX385

Resolution – 1936×1096

Pixel Size – 3.75μm

The ASI385MC is an upgrade from the ASI224MC. With an ultra-low readout noise of 0.7e and an increased resolution of 1936×1096 pixels, it is the most powerful colour planetary camera.



ASI290MM / ASI290MC

Retail Price – 369 USD

CMOS IMX290

Resolution – 1936×1096

Pixel Size – 2.9μm

If you want to go further in improving the details of your planetary imaging, you should consider the ASI290MM. This is a black and white camera and with the use of filters, will produce some of the best planetary images you have ever seen!

With an image resolution of 1936×1096 pixels, a low readout noise of 1e and a maximum frame rate of 170FPS at full resolution, the ASI290MM is more than capable of meeting your planetary imaging needs. 

This image of Jupiter was taken by Damian Peach with an ASI290MM from France.


ASI178MM / ASI178MC

Retail Price – 299 USD

CMOS IMX178

Resolution – 3096×2080

Pixel Size – 2.4μm

For higher resolution planetary imaging, the ASI178 is the answer. With a 6.4 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor and a resolution of 3096×2080 and 2.4um small pixels, the ASI178 has amazing sampling accuracy. To improve the quality even further, you can again choose the black and white option. 

The ASI178 has been regarded as one of the best cameras for high-resolution imaging.


ASI174MM

Retail Price – 599 USD

CMOS IMX174

Resolution – 1936×1216

Pixel Size – 5.86μm

The ASI174MM is recognized as the best camera for solar imaging. It features a 1/1.2″ large sensor, a high frame rate of 164fps, and uses the global shutter. It is also a great camera for imaging high-speed moving objects such as ISS. 

Accessories

Electronic Filter Wheel Mini

The electronic filter wheel mini supports up to five filters and will change automatically depending on how you have set up your sequence in your imaging software. 

Manual Filter Wheel

The manual filter wheel will also support up to five filters, but you instead switch filters manually.

ADC

Atmospheric Chromatic Aberration Correction Mirror (ADC)

ADC is very useful for observing and photographing planets at low angels or during bad seeing. It helps you and your camera see through the turbulence of the atmosphere to produce a clearer image of the planet.

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10 Comments

  • Patrick Jones
    Posted 2019年8月11日 at pm11:43

    I have the asi224mc and the asiar. I was hoping to use them with my 8″ sct from meade but have been told i need other accesories to make it work. What else do you rcommend i get. Im thinking of getting the explore scientific ar102 refractor but will need accesories for that as well. Im on a budget so i was hoping to find the cheapest route and thought you might be able guide me in the right direction.

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    • Katherine Tsai
      Posted 2019年8月16日 at pm12:22

      You need a mount which support Goto.

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  • Francesco
    Posted 2020年2月22日 at pm6:27

    I usually work with a Maksutov Rumak 255mm F20 telescope and Asi 224MC for images of the solar system with his 3,75 micron pixels. Now I ask you if could be a good idea use the camera Asi 178 Mono (6,4 MP) for taken images of the Moon and planets through an IR Pass filter. It’s a problem use the Asi 178 Mono with his 2,4 micron pixels about the 5000mm of focal lenght (F20) on my telescope ? it will be a correct system ?
    Thanks.
    Francesco Badalotti

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    • Katherine Tsai
      Posted 2020年2月25日 at am9:41

      You can use ASI178MM but I think ASI224 is more suitable for your telescope focal length.

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  • Talha
    Posted 2020年6月26日 at am10:19

    What planetary camera would you recommend for C11 edge hd telescope having a focal length of 2800mm and f ratio of f/10?

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  • Claudio
    Posted 2020年9月7日 at pm1:27

    hi, i have a mak 127 skywatcher (1500 focal lenght) telescope, which camera do you recommend?. Thanks

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  • Frank Feger
    Posted 2021年4月3日 at am10:00

    Hi!
    Please exchange the shutter types of ASI178 and ASI174 – the former one has the standard rolling shutter and only the latter uses a global shutter.

    Kind regards,
    Frank

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