Sky Quality Meter-SQM
| Article number: | SQM |
| Availability: | More on the Way to us |
| Delivery time: | More on the Way to Us |
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An affordable meter for measuring sky brightness for astronomers! The "Sky Quality Meter" measures the brightness of the night sky in magnitudes per square arcsecond. Unprecedented sensitivity in a handheld meter! Designed by Dr. Doug Welch and Anthony Tekatch |
Uses:
- Find out how good the night or site REALLY is.
- Compare the sky brightness at different sites quantitatively.
- Document the evolution of light pollution in your area.
- Set planetarium dome illumination to mimic the skies people are likely to experience elsewhere in the city.
- Monitor sky brightness through the night, night-to-night, and year-to-year.
- Determine which nights show the greatest promise for finding the 'faintest fuzzies'!
- Calibrate the effect of sky brightness on qualitative measures such as the Bortle Scale.
- Investigate how sky brightness correlates with the solar cycle and month-to-month sunspot activity.
- Help provide local ground truth for future sky brightness prediction with the Clear Sky Clock.
- CCD users can make a correlation between the SQM reading and when the background reaches some ADC level.
Features:
- Audible signal while measurement is in progress.
- Sky brightness displayed in visual magnitudes per square arcsecond.
- Infrared blocking filter restricts measurement to visual bandpass.
- Temperature in both Celsius and Fahrenheit as well as model number and serial number can be displayed with different button press sequence.
- Precision readings at even the darkest sites.
- Power-saving features designed in for maximum battery life.
- Reverse battery protection.
Specifications:
- The Half Width Half Maximum (HWHM) of the angular sensitivity is ~42°. Comparison chart.
- Operates from 9V battery (included).
- Size 3.8 x 2.4 x 1 in.
- Maximum light sampling time: 80 seconds.
- Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Details:
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Reports including the SQM:
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SQM tripod adaptor option |
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 Example |
This adaptor kit was designed specifically for the SQM (non-lens/original) so that the battery compartment is accessible with the adaptor in place. The adaptor screws into the back of the SQM and allows the meter to be mounted on a tripod with a 1/4-20 thread. The kit includes one tripod adaptor, 3D-printed plastic, and two longer screws (to replace two short screws already in the meter). |
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