Player One Ceres 462M Mono Guiding Camera
The Player One Ceres 462M is a professional-grade monochrome astronomy and guiding camera designed for precision tracking and high-quality planetary imaging. It uses the advanced Aptina IMX462 1/2.8” sensor with 2.9µm pixels, delivering 1944 x 1096 resolution (2.1MP) and a 6.5mm diagonal. This compact, lightweight camera provides excellent sensitivity, deep well depth, and ultra-low read noise — ideal for guiding or capturing fine lunar and planetary detail.
Key Features of the Ceres 462M
- High-Speed USB 3.0 Interface: Delivers up to 500Mb/s transfer speed — more than 10x faster than USB 2.0 — for smooth, high-frame-rate imaging and precise guiding.
- 1.25-Inch Compact Design: Fits directly into standard 1.25" guiding scopes, creating a shorter, more stable setup with less flexure.
- Dual-Purpose Versatility: Compatible with 5–100mm CS lenses, allowing use as both a guider and a finder camera.
- ST4 Port Compatibility: Connect easily to your equatorial mount for accurate auto-guiding through the ST4 guide cable.
Advanced Design and Build Quality
- Dwarf Planet Series: The Ceres 462M belongs to Player One’s innovative Dwarf Planet series, named after compact celestial bodies — symbolizing its small size but powerful performance.
- Precision Machined Housing: Features a unique hexagonal aluminum body for enhanced ergonomics and visual appeal.
- Dead Pixel Suppression (DPS) Technology: Automatically corrects inactive pixels to ensure cleaner, more uniform image data.
- Electrical Protection: Built-in overvoltage and overcurrent safeguards protect both the camera and connected devices during operation.
- High Frame Rate: Capture up to 136 FPS in RAW8 mode via USB 3.0 at full resolution — ideal for fast planetary imaging.
Performance and Testing
In laboratory and real-sky testing, the Ceres 462M demonstrates exceptionally low readout noise — just 1.1e at gain 80 — verified using SharpCap 4’s Sensor Analysis tool. This ensures excellent guiding precision and smooth image gradients even in long-exposure astrophotography.
USB 3.0 & ST4 Connectivity
The rear panel includes a USB 3.0 port and a ST4 guide port for connection to your mount. Using a high-quality SSD for recording is recommended to achieve maximum performance and frame rate.
Example Setup
Compact and lightweight, the Ceres 462M fits neatly into a guidescope or can be used with a CS lens for finder applications — perfect for portable astrophotography rigs.
Technological Innovation: DPS Image Correction
Dead Pixel Suppression (DPS) automatically analyzes dark frames to identify and map fixed pixel anomalies, replacing them with interpolated values from neighboring pixels. This process significantly improves the quality of raw image data.
Mechanical Drawing & Package Contents
Why Choose the Ceres 462M?
Combining exceptional performance, compact design, and Player One’s reputation for reliability, the Ceres 462M guiding camera is a superb choice for both beginners and experienced astrophotographers seeking accurate guiding and clean, detailed planetary images. Designed for durability, efficiency, and precision — it’s a small camera that delivers big results under the night sky.
Available now from Dark Clear Skies UK — your trusted astronomy retailer and official UK Player One dealer.