News
Astrel Pro
MOSSCA project
SEP 2022 - FEB 2024
Astrel Instruments completed the first two prototypes of AST-MOSSCA (MOdular Scientific Smart CAmera) a fully configurable CMOS smart camera conceived by INAF Roma.
An AST-MOSSCA camera is based on the following modules:
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Detector Block equipped with the selected CMOS sensor and the cooling system (when required the camera can be air or liquid cooled).
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Control Block with the sensor interface/control FPGA and (when required) the DDR4 module for image temporary storing.
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High Computing Block (when required) with the processing module and the optional SSD module and the AI accelerator module
LPC-SA (Laser Pointing Camera - Stand Alone) for ESA ALASCA PROJECT
DEC 2022
ESA (European Space Agency) selected LPC-SA as Laser Pointing Camera for its ALASCA project.
ALASCA project translates the advantage of adaptive optics to LASER communication between Earth and space.
The LPC-SA is an industrialized version of AST492 CMOS commercial camera with deep customization following the requirements of ESA.
LPC-TLS (Laser Pointing Camera - Telescope) on the most advanced world observatories
MAR 2021 - MAR 2022
Astrel Instruments goes on with delivering new versions of LPC-TLS (Laser Pointing Cameras - Telescope) to the most advanced world observatories after first installation at ESO VLT Paranal.
In March 2021 an updated version of LPC-TLS has been purchased and installed by Gemini North Observatory in Hawaii. This LPC is based on the AST34230B that is a CMOS camera equipped with a Panasonic MN34230 detector with 4656×3520 pixel of 3.8 μm side.
In March 2022 Astrel delivered a customized version of LPC-TLS to IAC (Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias) to be installed in Teide Observatory at Tenerife, SPAIN. This last LPC-TLS is equipped with the industrialized version of the new AST492 with a Sony IMX492 detector with 8192×5556 pixel of 2.315 um side.
AAS cameras for ESO LGS-LPC project
JAN 2020 - JUN 2023
In January 2020 Astrel Instruments completed the commissioning of 2 AAS (Aircraft Avoidance System) Smart CMOS cameras commissioned by the ESO (European Southern Observatory) for LGS (Laser Guide Star) LPC (Laser Pointing Camera) project at UT4 VLT (Very Large Telescope) on the Cierro Paranal, Chile.
Theese cameras, working in pair, provide a security system capable of detecting aircrafts on a selected sky area around the laser beams of the LGS. When an aircraft is detected a specific alert is raised and lasers are automatically turned off until the aircraft flies out of the alarm area.
The Astrel AAS smart cameras are based on:
- a sensor unit that includes the E2V DSC-EV76C660 CMOS sensor and the thermo-electrically cooling system
- a processor unit that controls the camera and manage the alarms it is linked to an Ethernet network through Optical Fibre.
In June 2023 Astrel Instruments has been commissioned by ESO for the production of eight 3GEN AAS to equip all the four UT-1, 2, 3 and 4 telescopes of VLT (Very Large Telescope) on the Cierro Paranal, Chile.
Cmos cameras for ESO MOONS project
DEC 2018
Astrel Instruments completed the production of 20 miniature Smart CMOS cameras commissioned by the INAF-OAR (Italian National Astrophysics Institute-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma) for MOONS (Multi-Object Optical and Near-infrared Spectrograph) project of the ESO (European Southern Observatory) VLT (Very Large Telescope) on the Cierro Paranal, Chile.
The cameras, that will be used in the secondary guide system of this MOONS Spectrograph are based on:
- a sensor unit that includes the E2V DSC-EV76C660 CMOS sensor and the thermo-electrically cooling system
- a processor unit that controls the camera and it is linked to an Ethernet network.
First commissioning of Laser Pointing Camera - Telescope
MAY 2015
Astrel, in collaboration with INAF-OAR (Italian National Astrophisics Institute-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma) completed the first commissioning phase of LPC-TLS (Laser Pointing Camera - Telescope) for the 4-LGS (Laser Guide Star) of ESO (European Southern Observatory) VLT (Very Large Telescope) on Cierro Paranal Observatory in Chile.
The LPC is based on a customized version of AST8300 CCD camera.
Astrel provided also the electronics for the panel interface and the sw for astrometry and photometry functions.
In the picture one of the first shot of LPC: the laser beam pointing toward Saturn.
AST8300 selected for LPC ESO Project
MAY 2014
A customized version of AST8300 CCD Camera has been selected by INAF-OAR (Italian National Astrophysics Institute-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma) for ESO (European Southern Observatory) to equip the LPC (Laser Guide Star - Pointing Camera) of VLT Telescope on Cierro Paranal Observatory.
The Astrel camera has been modified with a new heater-sink, electronic interface and specific SW application to match the requirements from the researcher of the European consortium.
Astrel Instruments CMOS Camera for ESO VLT in Chile
MAY 2013
The INAF-OAR (Italian National Astrophysics Institute-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma) contracted out the study and prototypes of miniature CMOS cameras to be used in the secondary guide system of the MOONS ((Multi-Object Optical and Near-infrared Spectrograph) of the ESO (European Southern Observatory) VLT (Very Large Telescope) on the Cierro Paranal in Chile.
These cameras are based on E2V DSC-EV76C660 CMOS sensor, thermo-electrically cooled and linked to an Ethernet network.Astrel Instruments provides design service, prototypes electronics, base SW and specific applications.
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Commercial Cameras
Astrel Instruments announces the launch of the new AST492 on the market
FEB 2022
Astrel Instruments launches the AST492 on the market.
This new high performance CMOS smartcamera is based on Sony IMX492 Monochrome:
- 46MPx 8192 x 5648 px 12 bit bin1
- 11MPx 4096 x 2824 px 14 bit bin 2
- 3MPx 2048 x 1412 px 16 bit bin 4
The processing power is provided by the integrated PC based on Intel ATOM E3940 1.8GHz quad core microprocessor with 4GB DDR3L and 32GB eMMC, plus companion microcontrollers Microchip SAM3S for realtime system management.
Comes with Windows 10 OS or any Linux distribution: any commercial application supporting ASCOM or INDI can be used with the camera and can be preinstalled.
The camera features a rich set of IO ports to connect your equipment: Gigabit Ethernet, USB3, USB2 (x5), digital EXT-IO and Controlled Supply Out 12V (x3).
Finally it is available with or without the integrated 7-filters filter-wheel (1.25" or 31mm filters).
Astrel stand alone deepsky smart cameras awarded as HOT PRODUCT 2019
DEC 2019
"Sky&Telescope", the most influential astrophotography specialized magazine, inserted our stand alone smart camera product line in the HOT PRODUCT 2019 list. In the following the motivation of this prestigious award as from the Sky&Telescope Jan 2019 issue:
"A new line of high-performance astronomical CCD cameras from the
Italian firm Astrel Instruments does away with the need for external computers to capture and process deep-sky images.
The camera’s built-in WiFi link, 1000 MHz processor (for operating the
camera and processing images), and up to 64 Gb of storage are controlled by a remote desktop app on any network-connected device, including smartphones, tablets, and PCs."
