ZWO ASI676MC USB3.0 Color Astro Camera - Sensor D=10.05 mm, 2.00 µm pixels

ZWO ASI676MC USB3.0 Color Astro Camera with passive air cooling - sensor D=10.05 mm

Introducing the ASI676MC, the all-sky camera featuring a unique square 1/1.6-inch image sensor and a super high resolution of 12MP!

It is perfectly suited for meteor recording and full sky surveillance. The square format facilitates easier composition, making mosaic stitch simpler and more efficient, and the high resolution brings you clear details of the Sun and our Moon. With this camera, you may start your marvelous journey to explore the boundless night sky.

Why Square Format?
One of the biggest benefits of ASI676MC´s square format is it makes the whole mosaic construction process much easier by eliminating the need to consider the difference between the long and wide sides of the format during mosaic stitching.

Not only that, the square format also makes the ASI676MC more compatible with various types of lenses
such as fisheye lenses and wide-angle lenses. Thus, ASI676MC is more suitable for tasks such as meteor
recording and full sky surveillance.

Fields of application:
This camera is equipped with a modern 1/1.6" sensor with 3552*3552 pixels. In addition to the modern Starvis 2 technology (with back illumination), the IMX676 offers an extremely smooth image without amplifier glow (amp glow), but above all impresses with its very high resolution (2.0 µm pixels) and relatively high frame rate. We recommend the camera, among others, for:

Meteor photography

General all-sky photography

Detailed planetary photography

Lunar surface details

Sun details (with suitable filter)

Use as an autoguiding camera (autoguiding port is available)

EAA (electronically assisted astronomy) for planets, moon and sun

Lunar and planetary photography:
Thanks to the fine 2.0 µm pixels, you can achieve a very high resolution from f/8, which makes the use of Barlow and converter systems superfluous.

EAA (electronically assisted astronomy):
The high resolution, combined with a sufficient frame rate of 31 fps at full resolution, allows real-time observation of planets as well as details on the moon and sun. Simply observe together in a group - without having to wait until everyone has had their turn!

Use as autoguider:
The ASI676MC is a lightweight with only 126 grams. It hardly loads the focuser. Of course, the camera offers the ST-4 autoguiding interface. A 2 metres long autoguiding cable is also included.

UV/IR block filter protects the sensor from dust:
This filter not only prevents dust from entering the sensor, it also blocks UV and infrared light, making it easier to use with refractors (lunar and solar photography).

Air cooling - reduces sensor temperature:
The sensor heats up during the exposures. The PCS dissipates heat from the sensor via a heat conducting pad. The sensor temperature is thus reduced by up to 15 degrees Celsius compared to cameras without PCS.

High sensitivity for short exposure times:
One advantage of the back-illuminated CMOS sensor is the reduced readout noise and improved sensitivity. In particular, Sony uses STARVIS-2 technology for the IMX676 sensor, which provides excellent low-light visibility. You can achieve a very high light output in astro imaging and realize high image quality. In addition, the low readout noise ensures a wider dynamic range.

The ASI676MC is not only ideal for use as a meteor and general all-sky camera, but also allows planetary and detailed images of the sun and moon, even in a live stream. Monitoring of weather conditions is also possible.

The low noise and the anti-ampglow circuitry make this not! Peltier-cooled camera interesting for capturing deep-sky objects such as faint nebulae, star clusters and galaxies.

The HCG mode:
The camera has a built-in HCG mode that can effectively reduce readout noise at high gain while maintaining the same wide dynamic range you would expect at low gain. When the gain is 180, the HCG mode turns on automatically. This results in the readout noise being below 1.0 e-, while the dynamic range can again reach almost 11 f-stops.

Downloads, drivers:
ZWO provides software and drivers online for free download:

Software and drivers for all ZWO cameras

Frequently asked questions about ZWO cameras:
The FAQ area is constantly updated by ZWO, here you will find answers to many questions.

FAQ about ZWO cameras
ZWO Users Forum

Manuals for ZWO products:
The manuals page is constantly updated by ZWO, here you can find user guides for ZWO products.

Link to the manuals

How to clean my ZWO camera:

The manufacturer provides a manual that deals with the cleaning of an ASI camera and the regeneration of the desiccant tablets: Please click here

Question:
How to mount the camera on a tripod or dovetail bar?

Answer from Teleskop-Service:
In the center of the back of the body, there is a female 1.25" photo thread. This allows you to mount the camera on a tripod or dovetail bar (possibly via an L-bracket for binoculars):