The ToupTek SkyEye24AC Plus is a cooled color astronomical camera designed for deep-sky photography. It combines a 24-megapixel full-frame Sony IMX410C sensor with electronics designed for long exposures. It allows you to capture nebulae, galaxies, and star fields using an optical setup tailored to the sensor’s format.
CHF 1'889.00
Part Number TOUP-SKYEYE24AC-PLUS
The ToupTek SkyEye24AC Plus is a cooled color astronomical camera designed for deep-sky photography. It combines a 24-megapixel full-frame Sony IMX410C sensor with electronics designed for long exposures. It allows you to capture nebulae, galaxies, and star fields using an optical setup tailored to the sensor’s format.
The 6,064 × 4,040-pixel sensor uses 5.94 µm photosites. The manufacturer reports a quantum efficiency greater than 80 %, a minimum readout noise of 0.3 e⁻, and a well capacity of up to 104 ke⁻. These values correspond to the conditions and operating modes documented by ToupTek; they do not necessarily describe a single setting that combines all maximum performance values.
Two-stage thermoelectric cooling can achieve a temperature difference of 40 °C below ambient temperature. Cooling is used to minimize thermal noise during extended acquisitions. The result depends on environmental conditions and camera operation. Heating of the optical window accounts for ambient temperature and humidity to minimize condensation during sessions.
The 512 MB DDR3 buffer supports image transfer via USB 3.0. The built-in hub features four USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0 port for connecting accessories such as a filter wheel, a guide camera, or a focus motor. This integration allows connections to be grouped near the optical path rather than creating multiple separate connections to the computer.
This color version offers two window options: AR glass or an IR-cut filter. The choice must match the filtering specified for your optical train. Single-camera color acquisition eliminates the need to use a filter wheel to systematically reconstruct the red, green, and blue channels. However, a filter wheel or filter tray may still be part of a setup that uses supplementary filters.
ToupTek describes this camera's circuitry as free of amp-glow. This characteristic refers to stray light generated by the electronics and does not eliminate the need to perform a calibration appropriate for the acquisition conditions.
| Sensor | Sony IMX410C |
|---|---|
| Acquisition | color |
| Format | full format |
| Definition | 6064 × 4040 |
| Pixel size | 5.94 µm |
| Buffer memory | 512 MB DDR3 |
| USB Hub | 4 USB 2.0 ports and 1 USB 3.0 port |
| Converter | 14 bits |
Here are a few accessories we've selected for this model, depending on your needs.
H-alpha/OIII filter for nebulae with a color camera; choose the 2-inch mounted version and check the focal ratio and mount. For full-frame photography, check for vignetting based on the instrument’s aperture and the distance between the filter and the sensor.
2-inch SII/OIII filter for use with H-alpha/OIII images. Check the focal ratio and mount of your instrument. For full-frame imaging, check for vignetting based on the instrument’s aperture and the distance between the filter and the sensor.
ToupTek splitter for use with a guide camera (sold separately). Select the instrument-side connector based on the corrector; check the adapters, the focus, the prism position, and vignetting at full frame.
ToupTek 12 V / 5 A power supply for SkyEye Plus—optional if you do not already have a suitable power source. Check the AC outlet and your system's power requirements.
