ALL SKY CAMERA
- Color or monochrome detector
- Embeds auto-iris or lens can be set to a fixed aperture
- USB 2.0 or GigaEthernet 1000 data image interface
- Full anodized aluminium casing or plastic casing, totaly water tight.
- Automatic optical dome defrost (dome above the lens)
- IR-Cut filter or not (applicable to monochrome detectors) .
Many versions of this camera are proposed, in order to fulfill your requirements :
Warning : in all cases, the camera needs a PC and dedicated software (provided) to transfert data into it, a small PC like ZOTAC is sufficient to operate the camera : documentation can be downloaded here
Specifications :
Parameter |
Value |
Field of view |
185 ° x 140 ° fow, f=1.8mm fisheye lens, lens to CCD optical tilt tuned in factory |
Camera resolution |
1280 x 960 pixels, anti-blooming and shutter less camera |
Pixel size |
4.65 x 4.65 µm |
Dynamic range |
USB version : 8 bits , 10 for GigE version |
Video stream |
Directshow video stream (up to 15 frames/sec) |
Exposure time |
From 100µs to one hour exposure (all sky mode, typically 60s) |
Gain |
User set from 2.2 e-/ADU to 50 e-/ADU |
Image download time |
< 30 ms |
Auto-iris |
Optional (from f2 to f11 automatic switch during dawns / dusks) |
Control software |
Supplied |
Operating system |
Windows (XP,Vista, seven 32&64bits), Linux only for USB versions |
To PC interface |
USB 2.0 or GigE 1000 (1000 Mbits Ethernet) (1) |
Top dome heater |
ALU version only, RS232 link for supervision, settings for automatic enabling and manual enabling. |
Power supply |
12V (not requested if USB version with no auto-iris and no dome heater) |
Other informations |
Tight to bad weather condtions (rain/snow), acrylic dome, water tight connectors for ALU version |
Weight |
ALU version : 4 kg other : 2 kg |
Dimensions |
Diam 130 x 270 mm |
Operating temperature range |
-30°C to +45°C |
(1) : GIGE version required a 100% 1000Mbits network, if a 100Mbits switch is located between caméra and PC, camera link can be achieved but image download is not possible.
ALU housing camera version (all outer camera parts are made of anodized aluminium)
Polyvinyl (plastic) housing camera version
Alcor-system (2011)
Power consumption (camera only) :
Camera interface |
Frames per sec |
Consumption |
Consumption (W) |
USB |
15 |
5V / 480mA |
2.4 |
USB |
3.75 |
5V / 380 mA |
1.9 |
GigE |
15 |
12V / 340 mA |
4.1 |
GigE |
3.75 |
12V / 310 mA |
3.8 |
Auto-iris uses 480mW for some seconds at dawn / dusk when changing from f2 to f11, and 30mW in idle mode. Dome heating drawns 10W while enabled, otherwise 12mW as idle.
Video stream mode detection performances are the following (UFOcapture software), f1.4 set lens, 2.2e-/ADU (G=1023) gain :
Exposure time |
Limiting magnitude |
1s |
3.7 |
0.1s (10 im/sec) |
0 |
Camera selection criteria
• USB2.0 / GigE : GigE version allows to put the camera at a larger distance compared to USB nevertheless :
- very good and reliable USB extenders can be found (we recommend some), that allows to put camera at more than 10 meter from the PC.
- USB camera is warming up less (because of less power consumption) compared to GigE camera, and we do not recommend to select a color GigE camera, because far more hot pixels develops and are degrading image quality, except camera is intended to be installed into a high elevation site, or place showing low temperatures during the whole year.
- GigE camera is requesting a 100% Gigabit Ethernet network.
- detector is less sensitive and image might be noisier, please check out this page to compare monochrome and color camera performances.
• Monochrome / color : color version produces more realistic images of the sky, but :
• All parts are made of anodized aluminium, water tight by o'rings seals, automatic dome heater located at dome's base allow to warm up the acrylic dome in order to remove frost and icing, to preserve good image quality.
• Water tight connectors, also allowing a quick camera removal with no wires attached to it.
• This a version that allows a lower price compared to the previous version, camera case is made of polyvinyl and cable are going thru. This version cannot integrate the dome automated heater. This version works well for dry observing sites.
• Set of camera for sky watching and meteor fall path computation.
• Auto-iris option :
- auto-iris allows camera to record dayligh images (otherwise image is saturated and no image can be achieved because of large lens aperture, even using 100µs exposure time and lowest gain)
- l'auto-iris is mandatory for color camera, otherwise CCD color bayer pattern filter will be definitively damaged by Sun course in the sky
• Acrylic dome heater :
- solely proposed with ALU version, allows to get rid of dew or ice developping over the sphere surface.
