A sweeping tour of the galaxies, from our Milky Way to infinity.

Galaxies are glittering islands in the Universe, interwoven in the web of Dark Matter. From Earth's mountaintops enormous telescopes peer deep beyond the Milky Way, while space telescopes locate majestic images, and through seemingly miraculous technology, capture them for us to look at and learn with amazement.

Featuring the most recent, best, and even startling images with detailed captions highlighting accessible text, Galaxies shows the restless universe beyond our atmosphere. Photographs are from more than 30 of the world's largest ground-based telescopes, including the largest to date, the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile. Images are also featured from the Hubble Space Telescope, which has continued to operate long past its expected life and to astound and astonish stargazers worldwide.

Here is the glory of the galaxies:

• The Milky Way, our Galaxy -- Stellar Nurseries, Stars and Planets, When Stars Die; In the Heart of the Milky Way; Mapping the Milky Way
• Our Galactic Neighbourhood -- The Magellanic Clouds; the Andromeda Galaxy; The Triangulum Galaxy; Satellite Galaxies
• How far away are the stars?
• The Gallery of Galaxies -- Spiral Galaxies; Barred Spiral Galaxies; Elliptical, Lenticular and Dwarf Galaxies; Dark Matter; The Expanding Universe
• Monsters and Black Holes -- Twisting Galaxies; Colliding Galaxies; Active Galactic Nuclei and Quasars; Supermassive Black Holes; Giant Eyes for the Sky
• Clusters of Galaxies -- Cosmic Clusters; Gravitational Lensing; Dark Forces; The Large-scale Structure of the Universe; Looking Back in Time
• Birth and Evolution -- At the Edge of Space and Time; The First Galaxies; The Beginning of the Universe; Dark Energy; Cosmology

AUTHOR:
Govert Schilling is an internationally acclaimed astronomy writer. He is a contributing editor of Sky and Telescope and his articles have appeared in Science, New Scientist and BBC Sky at Night magazines. He is the author of more than 50 books on a wide variety of astronomical topics.

The Astrozap AZ-113 Flexi-Shield® is a felt-lined flexible dew shield built specifically for the Meade 12" Schmidt-Cassegrain. It stops dew forming on the corrector plate and blocks stray light, letting you observe and image for longer with better contrast.

How it improves your observing

The corrector plate on a 12" SCT is a large, exposed optical surface that radiates heat to the night sky and attracts dew fast. The Flexi-Shield extends the optical tube forward, trapping warmer air near the glass and shielding the optics from ambient light pollution and moonlight.

Features

• Passive dew protection with no power required
• Felt lining absorbs moisture and kills internal reflections
• Premium ABS polymer construction
• Padded VELCRO® Brand closure for a snug, finish-safe fit
• Rolls up for transport to star parties and remote sites

Compatible telescopes

• Meade 12" LX200 / LX600 / LX850 SCT and ACF models

Proudly made in the USA.

The Pentax's 8x40 S-Series SP Binocular boasts a wide 65.6° field of view and porro prisms that produce a rich depth of view. The 40mm objectives are fully multicoated to reduce reflection and maximize light transmission through the entire optical path without making them overly cumbersome for a long day on the trail. The coatings ensure bright and clear high-contrast images even in low-light, and its utilitarian 8x magnification brings subjects close while maintaining wide 143m field of view at 1000m to capture the broader picture. The binocular sports a 13mm eye relief and the fold-down eyecups seal against the ocular cavity to block stray peripheral light which can dim images.

Fully-multi-coated optics assure maximum light transmission resulting in high quality viewing. Every surface of every element is fully coated minimizing internal glare and flare and giving a bright clear view. Aluminium-diecast body adds strength and durability. View your subjects even in dim light with high-quality BaK4 prisms that transmit more light at the edges to enhance illumination.

Specifications:

Handy standard sized microscope slides

• Clear glass
• Ground edges
• 25.4 mm x 72mm (1" x 3")
• 1-1.2mm thick

The 12v ports are 2.5mm. We offer 2 x 2.5mm - 2.1 mm converters with this unit. Please contact the store if you need them.

With this advanced power station, you can keep your devices powered and charged when you don’t have access to mains power. This makes it ideal to take camping, to your picnic, on a boat, or to use at home in the event of a power blackout. A built-in 300W pure sine wave inverter enables you to power 240V devices like laptops, small power tools, and other mains powered devices. The cigarette lighter socket and two DC sockets provide 12VDC to power a 12V fridge/freezer, fan, CB radio, air compressor, 12V lights, etc. Charge your smartphone, tablet and other USB devices simultaneously via the four USB ports, which include 2 x USB-A, USB-A with Quick Charge™ 3.0, and Type-C with 55W Power Delivery for a faster charge. A wireless Qi charger built into the top of the power station provides up to 10W fast charge to compatible devices. An ultra bright 1W LED light means you won’t be left in the dark, large colour LCD screen shows you the power status at a glance, and a fold-out carry handle makes it easy to carry. A mains charger is included to charge the high-capacity Li-ion batteries. Al-ternatively, a DC input with an integrated high-performance MPPT charge controller enables you to charge the power station with a solar panel (not included).

High Capacity Li-ion Battery
2x 12V, 2x USB- A, 1x QC3.0, 1x 10W Wireless Charger and 1x USB-C Outputs
Charge multiple devices at once
Convenient wireless charger on top for mobile devices
Bright LED Light
Bright LCD Screen

Specifications

Battery Type

MB3774: 14.8V/20.4Ah 300Wh Li-ion Batteries

Charging

18V-21V Solar panel (not included)
12v Cigarette socket (not included)
19V 4A Adapter

Outputs

2 x DC12V (7A Max) (2.5mm)
2 x USB-A (2A Max)
1 x QC3.0 (2A Max)
1 x USB-C (55W)
1 x Wireless Qi charger (10W)
1 x Pure Sinewave Inverter (500W continuous, 1000W peak)
Charger Controller: MPPT 4A
LED: 1W
Dimensions: 225(W) x 170(H) x 150(W)mm
Weight: MB3774: 4kg

Includes Edison Screw 5w 4000K LED light & 2.9m cable w/switch, 1.5m Cigarette-socket charging cord, and 19v 4A mains power charger w/1.2m IEC C7 cable.

The Astrozap AZ-150 Flexi-Shield® is a flexible dew shield purpose-built for the Celestron 9.25" Schmidt-Cassegrain, featuring both upper and lower dovetail notches for maximum compatibility across the current Celestron 9.25" range.

Fight dew, boost contrast

A dew shield is the simplest, most reliable way to keep the corrector plate clear during long imaging runs or cold observing sessions. The Flexi-Shield also blocks stray light from neighbouring street lamps and the Moon for noticeably sharper views.

Features

• Upper and lower dovetail notches fit both top and bottom rails
• Felt-lined interior for moisture control and contrast
• ABS polymer construction for long field life
• Padded VELCRO® Brand closure protects your tube finish
• Rolls flat for transport and storage

Compatible Celestron 9.25" telescopes

• CGX-L 925 SCT and CGX-L 925 EdgeHD
• CGX 925 SCT and CGX 925 EdgeHD
• CGEM II 925 SCT and CGEM II 925 EdgeHD
• Advanced VX 9.25" SCT and Advanced VX 9.25" EdgeHD
• NexStar Evolution 9.25

Proudly made in the USA.

Compact, lightweight, high-performance monocular, providing single-hand focusing operation.

PENTAX Monocular VM 6×21 WP, Easy to use with just one hand. Universal design that is ergonomically easy to operate. Bright and clear view with high contrast and excellent optical performance. Waterproof to 1m. Minimum focus distance of 70cm.

There's also some optional accessories available -

Features:

The Astrozap AZ-116 Flexi-Shield® is a flexible dew shield designed to fit Celestron 6" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes, with a notch to accommodate the side-mounted dovetail bar. It's an essential accessory for any SCT owner looking to extend observing sessions and protect image contrast.

Why you need a dew shield

Dew forms quickly on exposed corrector plates during cool Australian nights, cutting a session short. A dew shield slows dew formation by shielding the corrector from the cold night sky, while also blocking stray light from streetlamps and the Moon for noticeably sharper, higher-contrast views.

Key features

• Passive dew prevention that works without power or heaters
• Felt-lined interior absorbs moisture and suppresses internal reflections
• High-grade ABS polymer construction for durability in the field
• VELCRO® Brand fasteners with padded backing for a secure, non-marring fit
• Rolls up flat for easy transport to dark-sky sites and star parties
• Dovetail notch clears the Celestron finder shoe / side mounting rail

Compatible telescopes

• Celestron NexStar 6 SE
• Celestron 6" SCT OTAs

Proudly made in the USA.

Quick Glance

• Up to 12V / 20Amps of provided electric current (240W).
• 6 x 12V smart and individual switcable outputs. Each output can be configured as constant 12V or pulse width modulated driven).
• Wi-Fi or USB Controllable Operation.
• 2 x 12V / Always ON Outputs.
• 3 x Dew Heaters Outputs.
• (Automatic Adjustable with AutoDew feature)
• 1 x Adjustable Power Output 3-12V -Regulated Output of 3Amps
• 1 x Adjustable Power Output 12-24V – Regulated Output of 4 Amps
• 1 x Power Relay switch 250V/10A
• 6 x USB3.1 (backwards compatible with USB2) and 2 x USB2 available ports (8 USB ports in total). Individual switchable via software.
• Stepper Motor Controller (Silend and low vibrating stepper controller. Can drive nearly any stepper motor in the astro -market up to 2Amps per coil).
• Physical push-button to control one function (e.g turn ON / OFF outputs). Functionality is configurable in software.
• Built-in ambient temperature and humidity sensor.
• Power readings (Input Voltage, Current, Current per port).
• Vesa compatible size enclosure.

In total 8 USB ports powered – USB 3.1 SuperSpeed Hub

• 6 x USB 3.1 Super-Speed ports
• 2 x USB 2 High-Speed ports

6 x 12V DC Power outlets for your equipment

Built-in Power Sensors

Individual Current Meter per 12V smart outputs.

Additional Power Outputs and Sensors

• 2 x Always ON 12V outputs increase the total 12V outputs to 10. In combination with the 2 x adjustable outputs (if configured to 12V) the total 12V outputs can be summed to 10 Outlets.
• 1 x Adjustable Voltage Step Down output can be regulated from 3V ro 12V of and provide up to 3 Amps.
• 1 x Adjustable Voltage Step Up output can be regulated from 12V to 24V and provide up to 4 Amps.
• 1 x Switch Relay can pass 250V / 10A and used to switch ON/OFF any 3rd party equipment.
• A built-in ambient temperature and relative humidity sensor provides frequently readouts of the environmental conditions and automatically adjusts the heat intensity of your Dew strips.

Embedded Stepper Motor Controller

Supported Stepper Motors

Vesa compatible enclosure

Lack of a trusty USB3.1 Hub in astrophotography market, triggered us to develop the Pegasus Astro USB Control Hub which will be also able to switch ON/OFF each USB port.

We proudly present the Pegasus Astro USB Control Hub (in short UCH):

A SuperSpeed (SS), low power, switchable USB3.1 Gen1 hub and fully compliant with USB-IF’s USB 3.1 Gen1 specification . The Hub supports Hi-Speed (HS), Full Speed (FS) and Low Speed (LS). The new SuperSpeed hubs operate in parallel with the USB 2.0 controller, so 5 Gbps SuperSpeed data transfers are not affected by slower USB 2.0 traffic.

6 x USB3.1 Active Ports

USB Control Hub uch_3-2
The device has 6 x USB 3.1 Ports. All ports are backward compatible with USB 1.0 and USB 2.0 devices.

Each port can deliver up to 2.5Amps of current. There is a smart current limit sensor in every port which automatically limits or cuts power in case of a short-wire or power consumption that is above 2.5Amps.

Each port is monitored by the USB Controller and in case of a current limit, it triggers a warning pop up in the operating system.

Industrial grade temperature support

Most USB Hubs in the market (well…nearly all of them) operate under room temperatures as they were design to work inside your cosy warm room. This is one of the reasons why you experience USB disconnects and instability during a cold night.

Our product is certified to work flawlessly from −40°C to +85°C. All USB Hub electronics has been selected to support Industrial grade temperature ranges.

Aluminium Enclosure

A high quality robust, blue anodised aluminium enclosure houses the electronics of the USB Hub. The metal enclosure designed and tested to survive ±5kV ESD strikes

Switchable USB Ports

Each USB port can be controlled and switched ON/OFF by our standalone software. (power + data). You are going to love this feature. No more pull out and re-plug USB cables of your equipment.

12V DC Operation

The 12V DC operation was our first design requirement. As most of your astro-equipment requires 12V DC why to use something different? Hub accepts 12-14V of operation. This means that you can plug unregulated 12V power from a battery.

Expansion Port (EXT)

A RJ12 external ports allows future device expansion

Features

• 4 x 12V DC Power outlets for your equipment (A single channel to switch all four outputs ON/OFF via software)
• 12 Amps of total distributed current
• Adjustable Output (3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12Volt) / 3Amps (Can be switched ON/OFF) Power your DSLR / Mirrorless camera
• Embedded Powered USB3 Hub – 2 x USB2 Ports & 2 x USB3 Ports Available (USB3 ports are backwards compatible with USB2 devices)
• 1 x Power USB Port (up to 3Amps) – Suitable for Raspberry PI 3/4 power
• EXT Port (RJ12) for external accessories (E.g External Focus Controller)
• 2 Channels PWM Dew Heaters – RCA Outputs (Adjust power levels via software)
• Humidity and Temperature Sensor (included)
• Auto Tune Dew Heater Channels
• Reverse Polarity Protection
• USB / PC Controlled or Standalone Operation out of the box
• Lightweight and extremely compact aluminium enclosure

Built in Amp-meter

An Amp-meter which is installed right after the DC input, reports the total electric current.

Moreover, there are three additional amp-meters: One for the 12V quad outputs and two for the Dew Heater Channels. This allows you to easily monitor the detailed and overall power consumption of your equipment.

Other Key Features

Standalone Operation
“out of the box”

Pocket Powerbox Micro can work “out of the box” as a standalone device. Just plug the cables, setup the “autodew” functionality and every time you boot the device, it will retrieve your settings. So, If you don’t like to connect to a PC every time, you don’t have to. Simple as that!

Two channel duty cycle
PWM outputs

Two Pulse width modulation (PWM) outlets are capable to provide power to your “thirsty” Dew Heaters. No more moisture fuzzing your equipment and destroying your clear nights. These outlets can be remote-controlled from your laptop using the supplied software.

Auto Adjustment of
PWM (Dew Outputs)

The controller can auto adjust the heater power levels by consulting the environmental sensor Dew Point reading. Just click “Auto” and leave to Pocket Powerbox Micro to decide if it is time to turn on and precise tune the level of your dew heaters.

More than 10A of
total power

The powerbox has been designed to support up to 10 Amps of total current.

Led Indications for power and failure states

Led can blink in patterns to warn you about important power issues (e.g over or under voltage). Also, light can be turned off by using the software. Our LED is very dim but in case you don’t like it on you can switch it off

Reverse Polarity Protection

Pocket Powerbox Micro has been design with a reverse voltage polarity protection. It will definitely save your night if you accidentally connect the main power supply in reverse polarity!

A hardware
watchdog

A hardware watchdog resets the device if for any reason there is no response from the controller for two seconds. A neat feature in the unlikely event of a controller freeze – when you have a remote observatory and you need to be certain that everything works as expected.

Upgradable
Firmware

Device is firmware upgradable to support future features and bug fixes.

Our sealed and certified switching power supply unit is the perfect match for our Pegasus Astro Products. It can provide 12V and up to 10Amps. (120W of total power). Low ripple and noise ensures that you will provide the required and correct “electric juice” to your precious equipment. Comes together with a power cord (1.5m) for your country type.

Feature List

• 4 x 12V DC Power outlets for your equipment (A single channel to switch all four outputs ON/OFF via software)
• 12 Amps of total distributed current
• Adjustable Output (3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12Volt) / 3Amps (Can be switched ON/OFF) Power your DSLR / Mirrorless camera
• Embedded Powered USB3 Hub – 2 x USB2 Ports & 2 x USB3 Ports Available (USB3 ports are backwards compatible with USB2 devices)
• 1 x Power USB Port (up to 3Amps) – Suitable for Raspberry PI 3/4 power
• EXT Port (RJ12) for external accessories (E.g External Focus Controller)
• 2 Channels PWM Dew Heaters – RCA Outputs (Adjust power levels via software)
• Humidity and Temperature Sensor (included)
• Auto Tune Dew Heater Channels
• Reverse Polarity Protection
• USB / PC Controlled or Standalone Operation out of the box
• Lightweight and extremely compact aluminium enclosure

Built in Amp-Meter

An Amp-meter placed after the DC input reports the total electric current.

There are also three additional amp-meters: One for the 12V outputs and two for the Dew Heater Channels. This allows you to easily monitor the detailed and overall power consumption of your equipment.

More than 12A of total electric current

The powerbox has been designed to output up to 12 Amps of electric current. Please note that a usual backyard astrophotographic setup requires 5-7 Amps

Embedded USB3 Hub

A powered USB3 Hub at the back of the device provides:

• 2 x USB3 SuperSpeed Ports
• 2 x USB2 High-Speed Ports.

The new SuperSpeed hubs operate in parallel with the USB 2.0 controller, so 5 Gbps SuperSpeed data transfers are not affected by slower USB 2.0 traffic.|

USB Port Configuration under PPBADV Gen2

• USB Port1 supports USB2 devices
• USB Port2 supports USB2 devices
• USB Port3 supports USB2 & USB3 devices
• USB Port4 supports USB2 & USB3 devices

* Older product revision (Gen1) had only 3 out of 4 USB Ports that were compatible to USB2 devices. For detailed information please check the product manual.

USB High Power Output

USB Port 1 provides up to 3Amps of current. You can connect any device that requires 5V. E.g a Raspberry PI 3/4 or Intel Compute Stick M3/M5 can receive power from this specific port.

Expansion Port (EXT)

EXT (expansion) port is available for device expansion. This RJ12 socket allows the connectivity of current and future Pegasus Astro products. Plugged devices can be controlled from Pocket Powerbox Advance standalone software or dedicated ASCOM driver.

Binoculars for the great Australia Outdoors!

Pentax's 10x50 S-Series SP Binocular features large oversized fully multicoated 50mm objectives to reduce reflection and maximize light transmission through the entire optical path. Utilizing the traditional porro prism configuration gives scenes a rich depth of view for an immersive observation experience and provides a comfortable feel in the hand with a lot of surface area to maintain a sure grip. The large objectives and coatings maximize the amount of light getting to the user's eyes for exceptional low-light capabilities, and its high 10x magnification provides an immersive observation experience whether users are bird watching or comet hunting.

Fully-multi-coated optics assure maximum light transmission resulting in high quality viewing. Every surface of every element is fully coated minimizing internal glare and flare and giving a bright clear view. Aluminum-diecast body adds strength and durability. View your subjects even in dim light with high-quality BaK4 prisms that transmit more light at the edges to enhance illumination.

Antlia ALP-T Dual Band 5nm Highspeed Filters are optimized to work with high-speed imaging systems by shifting slightly the passband and center wavelength. Using these highspeed filters between optics f/2.2 and f/3.6 shows much stronger and more contrasted in nebulae imaging compared to the standard version, if you seek the best possible performance with any optics faster than f/2.2, the highspeed version is the best choice.

But keep in mind, the blue shift data by the computer simulation indicates narrowband filter shifts its bandwidth to shorter wavelengths with faster optics than f/2, transmission at the emission wavelength may decrease perhaps 15%-20%. Although the Antlia ALP-T highspeed filter has similar transmission rates reduction in the H-a and OIII when the filter is used on fast optics, based on current standard version users’ data, it is evident that the filter still has the high performance of increase in emission nebula contrast and minimized halo.

The highspeed version price is the same as the standard filters and double benefits for the high-speed optics users. Worth mentioning is that Antlia inspected and measured products piece by piece with one of Agilent Cary’s professional spectrophotometer, resolution/slit width is up to 0.2nm, which make us provide highly reliable and consistent products to you.

The Antlia ALP-T dual band 5nm series filter is a dual line-pass filter that was designed to be used primarily with one-shot color (OSC) cameras such as DSLR's and astronomical OSC cameras. It can also be used as a narrowband filter for monochrome cameras to save imaging time. The advanced multi-coatings on our ALP-T ultra dual band filter effectively isolate the red Ha and the blue-green OIII lines light from emission nebulae, with almost total suppression of optical density (OD)4.5 on unwanted wavelengths from light pollution, moonlight, and airglow. The result is that our ALP-T dual band 5nm filter creates a superior signal-to-noise ratio and better contrast in your images.

The filter enables the capture of the two main emission nebulae bands at the same time, whilst suppressing unwanted light pollution. It enables you to capture cleaner data and reduces the post-processing efforts to isolate faint details from the background light pollution.

Application and Performance:

Designed especially for fast astronomy optics, in particular f-ratios f/2.2 to f/3.6

Engineered specifically for use with DSLR, CMOS, and CCD color cameras

Suppression of optical density (OD)4.5 on unwanted wavelengths adds signal-to-noise

Extremely steep bandpass edges minimize internal reflections

Ideal flat-top and moderate bandpass reducing spectrum down shifts

Ion Gun Assisted Deposition coating technology on the double-sided polished substrate making it the most consistent and accurate light pollution suppression filter

Designed to suppress artificial lighting from Bortle scale 1 to Bortle scale 8

Near IR (NIR) is blocked up to 1050nm

Technical Specifications:

Filter Ring:

2'' (M48*0.75)

Ultra-thin filter cell to minimize vignetting by maximize possible clear aperture

Black Anodized Finish

Laser Engraving No Fading

Spectrum Curve:

Not Recommended:

Solar imaging

Night visual observation

Not Permitted:

DO NOT LOOK AT THE SUN WITH THIS FILTER

Serious eye damage will result if you fail to observe the warning

ZWO has released a new 3-inch 0.7× full frame reducer that is compatible with the FF107APO and FF130APO telescopes. It has a three-element optical design, including one element made of ED glass. Its reduction factor is 0.7, which gives the FF107APO a shortened focal ratio of f/4.9 and a shorter focal length of 524mm. This allows for less total integration time and a wider field of view, bringing more convenience and possibilities for your wide-field deep sky imaging.

The reducer has a standard 55mm back focus and comes with M68, M54, and M48 threaded adapters for easy attachment.

Connection steps:

1. Prepare the FF107APO/FF130APO telescope tube and the focal reducer.
2. Unscrew the M86 to 2-inch adapter at the end of the FF107APO telescope tube.
3. Unscrew the end cap of the 0.7X reducer.
4. Insert the reducer into the focuser inner tube and tighten it.

ZWO has released a new 3-inch FF80APO 0.76X full frame reducer with a three-element optical design, including one element made of ED glass. Its reduction factor is 0.76x, which gives the FF80APO f/7.5 astrograph a shortened focal ratio of f/5.7 and a shorter focal length of 312mm. This allows for less total integration time and a wider field of view, bringing more convenience and possibilities for your wide-field deep sky imaging.

The reducer has a rear interface that attaches to the FF80APO telescope tubes included four-segment camera extension tube. The back focus is the standard 55mm, and it has a built-in M48X0.75 2-inch filter thread for easy attachment.

Connection steps:

1. Prepare the FF80APO telescope tube and the focal reducer.
2. Unscrew the four-segment connector at the end of the FF80APO telescope tube.
3. Unscrew the end cap of the 0.76X reducer and attach it to the M68 thread of the four-segment connector.
4. Unscrew the front cap of the reducer, insert it into the focuser inner tube, and tighten it.

ZWO has released a brand-new FF65APO 0.75× full frame reducer with a four-element optical design. It has a reduction factor of 0.75x, which gives the FF65APO f/6.4 astrograph a shortened focal ratio of f/4.8 and a shorter focal length of 312mm. This allows for less total integration time and a wider field of view, bringing more convenience and possibilities for your wide-field deep sky imaging. The back focus distance is the standard 55mm. It also comes with two thread adapters of M54 and M48, and a built-in M48x0.75 2” filter thread, which makes the connection work simple and convenient.

Connection steps:

1. Prepare the FF65APO telescope tube and the focal reducer.
2. Unscrew the eyepiece holder at the end of the FF65APO telescope tube.
3. Unscrew the end cap of the 0.75X reducer.
4. Insert the reducer into the focuser and tighten.

The QHY5III462 camera uses the Sixth Generation Sony 2.1 megapixel IMX462 STARVIS CMOS sensor. The pixel size is 2.9um making it the same size and resolution as the sensor used in the QHY5III290 camera that has been so successfully used for planetary imaging by some of the best planetary imagers in the world. Like other cameras in the 5III series, the QHY5III462 is USB 3.0 powered and controlled. No additional power is required.

The IMX462 sensor is back-illuminated and incorporates new technology that gives it some significant advantage over other planetary cameras: First, the IMX462 sensor has sHCG (Super High Conversion Gain) for very low read noise at high gain. This is ideal for stacking hundreds or thousands of short planetary images. Second, it is exceptionally sensitive in the NIR.

In this latest generation of sensors, the photodiode portion of the pixel well is physically deeper than in previous Sony BSI sensors, allowing photons of longer wavelength to penetrate deeper into the substrate. This dramatically increases the sensor’s sensitivity to red and near infrared (NIR) light. The RGB filters over the pixels become transparent at NIR wavelengths, so the sensor displays almost equal peak sensitivity to NIR light as it does to light in the visible spectrum.

The peak QE in the NIR around 800nm is as high as the peak QE in the visible wavelengths. For planetary imagers using a methane filter that passes light around 880nm this is welcome news.

BSI

One benefit of the back-illuminated CMOS structure is improved sensitivity. In a typical front-illuminated sensor, photons from the target entering the photosensitive layer of the sensor must first pass through the metal wiring that is embedded just above the photosensitive layer. The wiring structure reflects some of the photons and reduces the efficiency of the sensor.

In the back- illuminated sensor the light is allowed to enter the photosensitive surface from the reverse side. In this case the sensor’s embedded wiring structure is below the photosensitive layer. As a result, more incoming photons strike the photosensitive layer and more electrons are generated and captured in the pixel well. This ratio of photon to electron production is called quantum efficiency. The higher the quantum efficiency the more efficient the sensor is at converting photons to electrons and hence the more sensitive the sensor is to capturing an image of something dim.

Extended Near Infrared Sensitivity

Logically, one would think, each generation of Exmor sensor would be built upon and incorporate all of the improvements of the generation immediately preceding. However, this was not the case with the fifth generation Exmor R sensors.

The first back-illuminated sensors used shallower pixel wells (like the third-generation front- illuminated designs) than the physically deeper pixels of the fourth generation. So, while the back- illuminated structure increased the sensitivity in the visible range by 2X, the shallower pixels did not improve the NIR. The answer to this is seen in the latest, sixth generation, Sony Exmor R sensors, like the IMX462. Using physically deeper pixels in conjunction with the back-illuminated structure has dramatically improved the sensor’s sensitivity to both the visible and near infrared wavelengths.

sHCG Mode

Another advantage of the QHY5III462 is the camera’s “Super High Conversion Gain” capability. By using a lower capacitance, a small amount of charge can be converted to a high voltage resulting in higher sensitivity in low-light conditions. The readout noise of the QHY5III462 in high gain mode is as low as 0.5 electrons!

The test exposures below demonstrate the low light improvement over the IMX290 sensor. The QHY5III462C image is on the left and the corresponding QHY5III290C image is on the right. The low light conditions and exposures are identical for each top and bottom pair of images and a UV/IR filter was in place for each camera. So this test demonstrates the QHY5III462C’s increase in sensitivity and SNR over the QHY5III290C under the same conditions in the visual light spectrum alone.

Color and Mono Imaging

The filter matrix in the IMX462 uses organic dye filters. These filters are very efficient at visible wavelengths but become completely transparent in the NIR. For this reason, good RGB color balance requires an external UV/IR filter that blocks NIR wavelengths.

Many color cameras build this UV/IR filter into the camera or optical window for normal color imaging. However, in order to fully exploit the capabilities of the 462C sensor, in the QHY5III462C camera the optical window is AR coated only with no UV or IR blocking. Instead, the QHY5III462C camera includes two 1.25″ screw-in filters, a UV/IR cut filter to isolate the visible wavelengths for normal RGB imaging and an IR850 filter that will cut the visible wavelengths but pass wavelengths above 850nm.

Specifications

Camera Curves

A series designed to help young children discover and learn about various subjects in an original and entertaining way.

Each book contains 8 pop-up scenarios created on a variety of levels, offering a surprising three-dimensional effect.

The horizontal format makes the scenarios even more spectacular and these books easy to handle.

The many colourful illustrations will project young readers into amazing worlds, guiding them in learning more about the various subjects thanks to the text that accompanies each scenario and provides important messages and fun facts, making these books both stimulating reading and fun to play with.

AGES: 3 plus

AUTHOR:
David Hawcock studied art in York, UK, majoring in graphic design. He opened a design studio in Bath specialising in children's books. He has designed and produced many successful pop-ups, which have sold hundreds of thousands of copies, including The Amazing Fold-Out Pop-Up Body in a Book and the Journal of Inventions: Leonardo Da Vinci.

How many planets orbit the Sun? What are the rings of Saturn made of? Did you know that Sun is more than a million times bigger than Earth? These and other questions will be answered in this book, dedicated to the secrets of the solar system, which contains 10 fabulous pop-ups. Planets, Sun, Earth, the hot planets and the cold ones, the solar system told through numerous colourful illustrations, enriched with spectacular pop-ups. In addition, to deepen the different subjects, there are many curious and interesting short stories, which make this volume a stimulating read and a precious opportunity for fun.

AGES: 3 plus

AUTHOR:
David Hawcock studied art in York, UK, majoring in graphic design. He opened a design studio in Bath specialising in children's books. He has designed and produced many successful pop-ups, which have sold hundreds of thousands of copies, including The Amazing Fold-Out Pop-Up Body in a Book and the Journal of Inventions: Leonardo Da Vinci.

A Star Explodes is about the supernova of 1054 was one of the brightest supernova events recorded in history. And its remnant, the Crab Nebula, is still studied today.
Beginning at the moment of a supernova explosion thousands of years ago, this story travels forward in time to 1054, the year people around the world saw the
unparalleled light of an exploding star appear in Earth’s sky. The story then travels deep into space to see the remnant of this supernova—the Crab Nebula—followed by a continuing trip forward in time.

Taking a unique approach integrating astronomy, cultural history, and advances in technology, the book encourages readers to think about the world around them and their place in the universe.

Told in minimal, poetic text with stunning watercolor and ink illustrations, the book closes with an invitation for readers to imagine a time when they, too, might see the rare event of a supernova shining in the sky

QHY5III678c is a new planetary and guiding camera of the 2nd generation of QHY5III series, the upgraded version of QHY5III178M/C, with excellent near-infrared high sensitivity.

USB-c connectivity

The new QHY5III678c series cameras all use the USB3.2 Gen1 Type-C interface. Compared to the USB3.0 Type-B interface used in the previous generation, the Type-C interface has a longer life and is more flexible.

Tips: It is recommended to use the official standard Type-C data cable of QHYCCD. As the market is flooded with a large number of poor-quality Type-C cables, casual use may lead to the camera malfunctioning. If you use your own spare cable, please make sure it is a high-quality cable.

Universal Guiding Interface

The custom interfaces of the previous generation of planetary cameras and guiders has been replaced in the QHY5III (Ver.2) cameras with a more universal ST-4 compatible guiding interface. Now, even if the guiding cable is lost or damaged, you will be able to easily get a replacement on the market at a low cost.

Indicator LED

The new QHY5III (Ver.2) series of cameras is equipped with a status indicator at the back of the camera. If the camera experiences an abnormal status, the multi-colored indicator light will help to determine the situation with different colors signifying different conditions. During normal operation this indicator light is off, so there is no worry about light contaminating the image.

Specifications

Camera Curves

Shoestring Guide Port Cable 7ft

Replacement Guide Cable

ST4 Compliant

Runs with most guide cameras (not SBIG)

SKU: GPFC-7

QHY5III678 is a new planetary and guiding camera of the 2nd generation of QHY5III series, the upgraded version of QHY5III178M/C, with excellent near-infrared high sensitivity.

USB-c connectivity

The new QHY5III678 series cameras all use the USB3.2 Gen1 Type-C interface. Compared to the USB3.0 Type-B interface used in the previous generation, the Type-C interface has a longer life and is more flexible.

Tips: It is recommended to use the official standard Type-C data cable of QHYCCD. As the market is flooded with a large number of poor-quality Type-C cables, casual use may lead to the camera malfunctioning. If you use your own spare cable, please make sure it is a high-quality cable.

Universal Guiding Interface

The custom interfaces of the previous generation of planetary cameras and guiders has been replaced in the QHY5III (Ver.2) cameras with a more universal ST-4 compatible guiding interface. Now, even if the guiding cable is lost or damaged, you will be able to easily get a replacement on the market at a low cost.

Indicator LED

The new QHY5III (Ver.2) series of cameras is equipped with a status indicator at the back of the camera. If the camera experiences an abnormal status, the multi-colored indicator light will help to determine the situation with different colors signifying different conditions. During normal operation this indicator light is off, so there is no worry about light contaminating the image.

Specifications

Camera Curves

Native 16 bit A/D: The new Sony sensor has native 16-bit A/D on-chip. The output is real 16-bits with 65536 levels. Compared to 12-bit and 14-bit A/D, a 16-bit A/D yields higher sample resolution and the system gain will be less than 1e-/ADU with no sample error noise and very low read noise.

BSI: One benefit of the back-illuminated CMOS structure is improved full well capacity. This is particularly helpful for sensors with small pixels. In a typical front-illuminated sensor, photons from the target entering the photosensitive layer of the sensor must first pass through the metal wiring that is embedded just above the photosensitive layer. The wiring structure reflects some of the photons and reduces the efficiency of the sensor. In the back- illuminated sensor the light is allowed to enter the photosensitive surface from the reverse side. In this case the sensor’s embedded wiring structure is below the photosensitive layer. As a result, more incoming photons strike the photosensitive layer and more electrons are generated and captured in the pixel well. This ratio of photon to electron production is called quantum efficiency. The higher the quantum efficiency the more efficient the sensor is at converting photons to electrons and hence the more sensitive the sensor is to capturing an image of something dim.

Zero Amplify Glow: This is also a zero amplifer glow camera.

TRUE RAW Data: In the DSLR implementation there is a RAW image output, but typically it is not completely RAW. Some evidence of noise reduction and hot pixel removal is still visible on close inspection. This can have a negative effect on the image for astronomy such as the “star eater” effect. However, QHY Cameras offer TRUE RAW IMAGE OUTPUT and produces an image comprised of the original signal only, thereby maintaining the maximum flexibility for post-acquisition astronomical image processing programs and other scientific imaging applications.

Anti-Dew Technology: Based on almost 20-year cooled camera design experience, The QHY cooled camera has implemented the fully dew control solutions. The optic window has built-in dew heater and the chamber is protected from internal humidity condensation. An electric heating board for the chamber window can prevent the formation of dew and the sensor itself is kept dry with our silicon gel tube socket design for control of humidity within the sensor chamber.

Cooling: In addition to dual stage TE cooling, QHYCCD implements proprietary technology in hardware to control the dark current noise.

Multiple Readout Modes

Multiple Readout Modes are special for QHY 16-bit Cameras (QHY600/268/461/411). Different readout modes have different driver timing, etc., and result in different performance. See details at “Multiple Readout Modes and Curves” Part.

Random change thermal noise suppression function

You may find some types of thermal noise can change with time in some back-illuminated CMOS cameras. This thermal noises has the characteristic of the fixed position of typical thermal noise, but the value is not related to the exposure time. Instead, each frame appears to have its own characteristics. The QHY600/268/461/411 use an innovative suppression technology that can significantly reduce the apparent level of such noise.

UVLO Protection

UVLO（Under Voltage Locking) is to protect the electronic device from damage caused by abnormally low voltages.

Our daily life experience tells us that the actual operational voltage of an electrical device must not significantly exceed the rated voltage, otherwise it will be damaged. For such precision equipment as cameras, long-term work at too low input voltage can also be detrimental to the working life of the camera, and may even make some devices, such as power manager, burn up due to long-term overload. In the all-in-one driver and SDK after 2021.10.23 stable version, the camera will give a warning when the input voltage of the camera is below 11V.

Optimizing USB Traffic to Minimize Horizontal Banding

It is common behavior for a CMOS sensor to contain some horizontal banding. Normally, random horizontal banding can be removed with multiple frame stacking so it does not affect the final image. However, periodic horizontal banding is not removed with stacking so it may appear in the final image. By adjust the USB traffic in Single Frame mode or Live Frame mode, you can adjust the frequency of the CMOS sensor driver and it can optimize the horizontal banding appeared on the image. This optimized is very effective to remove the periodic banding in some conditions.

A typical Periodic Horizontal Noise under certain USB_TRAFFIC values.

After Adjusting the USB Traffic to avoid the periodic horizontal noise.

Reboot the camera by power off and on

The camera is designed to use the +12V to reboot the camera without disconnecting and reconnecting the USB interface. This means that you can reboot the camera simply by shutting down the +12V and then powering it back on. This feature is very handy for remote controlling the camera in an observatory. You can use a remotely controlled power supply to reboot the camera. There is no need to consider how to reconnect the USB in the case of remote control.

Specifications

Camera Curves

With the advantage of low readout noise and high-speed readout, CMOS technology has revolutionized astronomical imaging. A monochrome, back-illuminated, high-sensitivity, astronomical imaging camera is the ideal choice for astro-imagers. The QHY600M-L uses the latest SONY back-illuminated sensor, the IMX455, a full frame (35mm format) sensor with 3.76um pixels and native 16-bit A/D. This sensor is available in both monochrome and color versions. The QHY600 ends the days of non-16bit CMOS cameras and it ends the days non-full frame (and larger) monochrome CMOS cameras.

The QHY600M-L has extremely low dark current (0.002e/p/s@-20C) using SONY’s Exmor BSI CMOS technology. QHY600M-L is also a zero amplifer glow camera. The QHY600M-L has only one electron of read noise at high gain and full resolution and 4FPS readout speed. One electron of read noise means the camera can achieve a SNR>3 at only 4 to 6 photons. This is perfect performance when conditions are photon limited, i.e., short exposures, narrow band imaging, etc., making this large area sensor ideal for sky surveys, time domain astronomy, fluorescence imaging, DNA sequencing and microscopy.

Models

QHY600 Series have mutiple models which covers both photographic and scientific using. Below list different types of QHY600 PH (photographic) series:

QHY600PH : Standard version for amateur astrographers;

QHY600PH-SBFL (Short back-focal length version) ：specially designed for DSLR lens users or those who has special requirment of short back focal length. This version has a special front part version which has 14mm B.F.L only (The B.F.L consumed equals 12.5mm when connecting QHYCFW. About the defination of “BFL Comsumed” and our adapter system please view: https://www.qhyccd.com/astronomical-camera-adapter-bfl-solution/). QHY600SBFL can easily match Canon/Nikon lens even with filter wheel. On the side of this adapter there is a 4mm hole to connect air pump through plastic pipe in case of the dewing glass when necessary.

QHY600L : a lite, shorter and cheaper version. Compared with QHY600PH, QHY600PH-Lite has the following features compared with previous models: QHY600L only has mono version; The body length becomes shorter, which is about 112mm, and its price is lowered compared with QHY600PH; The Built-in DDR3 Buffer (memory storage) is adjusted to 1GB compared to 2GB of QHY600PH/Pro. Other specifications of QHY600L keep the same with QHY600PH except the body length and weight.

The saxon 9x50 Erecting Finderscope (90 degree) is the solution for those who find conventional finderscopes too confusing or disorienting.

The presence of an erecting prism in the finderscope provides you with correct image orientation so that you can look through the finderscope the same you look at the sky.

90 degree viewing angle allows for a comfortable viewing position when looking overhead, and 9x magnification and 50mm aperture give a clear, crisp image.

Simplify your observation sessions with the saxon 9x50 Erecting Finderscope (90 degree).

Hone in on objects with the cross-hair reticle before you observe with your telescope. The 9x magnification and 50mm aperture on the  saxon 9x50 Erecting Finderscope (90 degree) will give you crisp and clear images as you search for stars and planets, while your neck will thank you for comfortable viewing angle afforde by the 90 degree viewing angle as you browse the night sky.

What many will appreciate from the  saxon 9x50 Erecting Finderscope (90 degree) will be that its image orientation is correct (upright, non-reversed). Look through your finderscope the same way you look at the sky.

Fits all dovetail mounting brackets.

With the advantage of low readout noise and high-speed readout, CMOS technology has revolutionized astronomical imaging. A monochrome, back-illuminated, high-sensitivity, astronomical imaging camera is the ideal choice for astro-imagers.

The QHY268M/C is a new generation of back-illuminated CMOS cameras with true 16-bit A/D and 3.76um pixels. This new Sony sensor is an ideal CMOS sensor exhibiting no amplifer glow. 16-bit A/D gives high resolution sampling of the whole full well range. Digitizing 0-65535 levels yields a smooth image with continuous gradation of greyscale levels. The QHY268M/C is a cooled, back-illuminated, CMOS camera based on the Sony IMX571 sensor with native 16-bit A/D and 3.76um pixels.

1GB DDR3 image buffer

In order to provide smooth uninterrupted data transfer of the entire 26MP sensor at high speed, the QHY268 has 1GB DDR3 image buffer. The pixel count of the latest generation of CMOS sensors is very high resulting in greater memory requirements for temporary and permanent storage. The QHY268 has adopted a large-capacity memory of up to 1GB. Data throughput is doubled. This large image buffer meets the needs of high-speed image acquisition and transmission of the new generation of CMOS, making shooting of multiple frames smoother and less stuttered, further reducing the pressure on the computer CPU.

Internal Humidity Sensor

QHY268M has a unique internal humidity sensor (while QHY268C doesn’t). The Blue curve shown below represents humidity.

Native 16 bit A/D: The new Sony sensor has native 16-bit A/D on-chip. The output is real 16-bits with 65536 levels. Compared to 12-bit and 14-bit A/D, a 16-bit A/D yields higher sample resolution and the system gain will be less than 1e-/ADU with no sample error noise and very low read noise.

BSI: One benefit of the back-illuminated CMOS structure is improved full well capacity. This is particularly helpful for sensors with small pixels. In a typical front-illuminated sensor, photons from the target entering the photosensitive layer of the sensor must first pass through the metal wiring that is embedded just above the photosensitive layer. The wiring structure reflects some of the photons and reduces the efficiency of the sensor. In the back- illuminated sensor the light is allowed to enter the photosensitive surface from the reverse side. In this case the sensor’s embedded wiring structure is below the photosensitive layer. As a result, more incoming photons strike the photosensitive layer and more electrons are generated and captured in the pixel well. This ratio of photon to electron production is called quantum efficiency. The higher the quantum efficiency the more efficient the sensor is at converting photons to electrons and hence the more sensitive the sensor is to capturing an image of something dim.

Zero Amplify Glow: This is also a zero amplifer glow camera.

TRUE RAW Data: In the DSLR implementation there is a RAW image output, but typically it is not completely RAW. Some evidence of noise reduction and hot pixel removal is still visible on close inspection. This can have a negative effect on the image for astronomy such as the “star eater” effect. However, QHY Cameras offer TRUE RAW IMAGE OUTPUT and produces an image comprised of the original signal only, thereby maintaining the maximum flexibility for post-acquisition astronomical image processing programs and other scientific imaging applications.

Anti-Dew Technology: Based on almost 20-year cooled camera design experience, The QHY cooled camera has implemented the fully dew control solutions. The optic window has built-in dew heater and the chamber is protected from internal humidity condensation. An electric heating board for the chamber window can prevent the formation of dew and the sensor itself is kept dry with our silicon gel tube socket design for control of humidity within the sensor chamber.

Cooling: In addition to dual stage TE cooling, QHYCCD implements proprietary technology in hardware to control the dark current noise.

With the advantage of low readout noise and high-speed readout, CMOS technology has revolutionized astronomical imaging. A monochrome, back-illuminated, high-sensitivity, astronomical imaging camera is the ideal choice for astro-imagers. The QHY600M-L uses the latest SONY back-illuminated sensor, the IMX455, a full frame (35mm format) sensor with 3.76um pixels and native 16-bit A/D. This sensor is available in both monochrome and color versions. The QHY600M-PH ends the days of non-16bit CMOS cameras and it ends the days non-full frame (and larger) monochrome CMOS cameras.

The QHY600M-L has extremely low dark current (0.002e/p/s@-20C) using SONY’s Exmor BSI CMOS technology. QHY600M-PH is also a zero amplifer glow camera. The QHY600M-PH has only one electron of read noise at high gain and full resolution and 4FPS readout speed. One electron of read noise means the camera can achieve a SNR>3 at only 4 to 6 photons. This is perfect performance when conditions are photon limited, i.e., short exposures, narrow band imaging, etc., making this large area sensor ideal for sky surveys, time domain astronomy, fluorescence imaging, DNA sequencing and microscopy.

Models

QHY600 Series have mutiple models which covers both photographic and scientific using. Below list different types of QHY600 PH (photographic) series:

QHY600PH : Standard version for amateur astrographers;

QHY600PH-SBFL (Short back-focal length version) ：specially designed for DSLR lens users or those who has special requirment of short back focal length. This version has a special front part version which has 14mm B.F.L only (The B.F.L consumed equals 12.5mm when connecting QHYCFW. About the defination of “BFL Comsumed” and our adapter system please view: https://www.qhyccd.com/astronomical-camera-adapter-bfl-solution/). QHY600SBFL can easily match Canon/Nikon lens even with filter wheel. On the side of this adapter there is a 4mm hole to connect air pump through plastic pipe in case of the dewing glass when necessary.

QHY600L : a lite, shorter and cheaper version. Compared with QHY600PH, QHY600PH-Lite has the following features compared with previous models: QHY600L only has mono version; The body length becomes shorter, which is about 112mm, and its price is lowered compared with QHY600PH; The Built-in DDR3 Buffer (memory storage) is adjusted to 1GB compared to 2GB of QHY600PH/Pro. Other specifications of QHY600L keep the same with QHY600PH except the body length and weight.