Starlight Xpress Camera Trius SX-56 Mono (56658)

The Starlight Xpress Camera Trius SX-56 Mono is a high-performance, large-format CCD camera designed for advanced astrophotography, particularly for capturing nebulae and galaxies. It features a 16.7 megapixel ON Semiconductor KAF-16803 sensor with a square 36.8 x 36.8 mm imaging area and 9 μm square pixels, offering high sensitivity and excellent image quality. The camera is equipped with a mechanical roller blind shutter driven by a stepper motor, ensuring uniform sensor illumination even at very short exposure times. The multi-coated synthetic sapphire input window provides exceptional thermal conductivity, preventing dew formation without the need for a window heater.

The camera's CCD chamber is compact, filled with dry argon, and O-ring sealed, eliminating the need for desiccant and making maintenance easy. A built-in LED flood illuminator helps eliminate residual bulk image (RBI) effects. The Trius SX-56 Mono offers fast image downloads, with a full 16.7-megapixel frame transferring in about 6.5 seconds via USB 2.0. Its three-stage Peltier cooler provides cooling of more than 45°C below ambient, while keeping power consumption below 2 amps at 12V DC. The camera also includes a built-in 3-port USB 2.0 hub for connecting accessories.

Key Features:

• 16.7 megapixel ON Semiconductor KAF-16803 CCD sensor

• Large, square format (36.8 x 36.8 mm), 9 μm pixel size

• Peak quantum efficiency of approximately 58% at 530 nm

• Mechanical stepper-driven roller blind shutter for uniform exposures

• Multi-coated synthetic sapphire input window for efficient heat transfer and dew prevention

• Dry argon-filled, O-ring sealed CCD chamber-no desiccant required

• Built-in LED flood illuminator for RBI elimination

• Fast image download (approx. 6.5 seconds for a full frame)

• Three-stage Peltier cooling, better than -45°C below ambient

• Integrated 3-port USB 2.0 hub

• Compact and lightweight (136 x 136 x 70 mm, 1.7 kg)

• Power consumption less than 2 amps at 12V DC

Technical Specifications:

• Sensor type: CCD-chip (KAF-16803)

• Sensor size: 36.8 x 36.8 mm

• Megapixels: 16.7

• Pixel size: 9.0 μm

• Image resolution: 4096 x 4096 pixels

• Active cooling: Yes, three-stage Peltier

• Max cooling below ambient: >45°C

• Minimum exposure time: 0.1 seconds

• Read noise: 9 electrons

• Full well capacity: 100,000 electrons

• Power supply: 12V DC

• Shutter: Mechanical

• Interfaces: USB 2.0, 3-port USB hub

• Weight: 1,700 g

• Dimensions: 136 x 136 x 70 mm

• Filter wheel: Not included

• Color camera: No (monochrome)

• Suitable for: Deep sky imaging (nebulae, galaxies); not intended for planetary, lunar, or meteor imaging