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Starlight Web Updates
This is where we'll announce the most recent additions to our web site. If you've visited us before and want to know what's changed, please take a look here first.
Latest news:
Exciting new Sony chip based cameras to be shown and released at AstroFest UK! (February 10th/11th) Four new Exview SXVR cameras will be on show at AstroFest this year. The H674 and H674C are 2.83 megapixel versions of the H9 and H9C and the H694/H694C are 6.1 megapixel versions with larger 15.9mm diagonal CCDs. Both mono cameras have an excellent QE of approx. 77% peak and are very sensitive at H-alpha (QE = 66% at 656nm). As usual, the legendary low dark signal of Sony chips eliminates the need for dark frames in most circumstances.
Now released - the 'SuperStar' - a 1.4 megapixel guider, also well suited to high res. Lunar and Planetary imaging.
Version 1012 of the filter wheel ASCOM driver and control software (now updated for Ascom6 and 64 bit Windows)
An ASCOM compliant SX camera driver for most of our range (including the CoStar). Many thanks to Bret McKee!
A new full release version of the 64 bit camera driver with dual camera support and other improvements
New product release - The 'One shot colour' Lodestar. An ideal low cost colour imager for beginners and mobile users.
Already released new products:
Now available - The 'CoStar' CMOS based, low cost guide camera
The latest CCDSoft plug-ins for our filter wheel and cameras
The Cooling Enhancer a tiny fan assembly to boost camera cooling
The SXV-AO-LF a large format version of the SXV-AO active optics unit. A new AO firmware update is also ready for download.
An ASCOM driver for the SX filter wheel
Our super-slim off-axis guide head for use with the SX filter wheel
50mm and 36mm holderless filter plates for the SX filter wheel
Adaptors to connect the OAG directly to an SXV camera
The SXVR-M26C - 10.2 megapixel APS one-shot colour
A 10.2 megapixel APS format colour camera, using a low noise Sony CCD with 6.05uM square pixels.
The SXVR-H18 is now in production.
Our first full-frame camera with internal high speed mechanical shutter! The SXVR-H18 is an 8.3 megapixel CCD camera, based on the Kodak KAF8300 chip. High red sensitivity, fast readout (4.5 seconds) and low read noise (<8 electrons) come as standard.
New products for 2012
We have several new products to release this year! Here is a brief review of what will be coming during the next few months:
1) The 'SX Video camera' - A highly sensitive cooled video speed CCD camera with 659 x 494 pixels. Up to 40 frames per second with 14 bits wide data output. This camera will be ideal for planetary imaging, but is also capable of being used for deep sky work by virtue of the built-in cooling.
2) The SXVR-H674, H674C, H694 and H694C cameras. Very high performance from new Sony Exview chips!
3) The 'Sky Scanner' clear sky detector - This is a compact, battery powered sky microradiometer with a UHF radio link to a receiver module. It detects the state of the sky by sensing the effective temperature of its field of view and relays the result to your indoor receiver. Four status LEDs indicate the sky transparency, from dense cloud to completely clear, and an audio alarm can be enabled if the sky clears unexpectedly, or if dense cloud covers a previously clear sky. With the 'Sky Scanner' in operation, you can relax in bed and be awakened only when those pesky clouds suddenly disappear!