Tech Evolution CCD CMOS NOT STEREO Images created with either CCD or CMOS cameras can be equally attractive. The author recorded both of these pictures of the Veil Nebula supernova remnant through his 6-inch refractor, but he took the left photo using a QHY16200A monochrome CCD camera and color filters, while he shot the right image with a QHY367C-Pro with its color IMX094 CMOS sensor. CCD CMOS RESOLUTION BOOST The smaller pixels inherent in most CMOS detectors can resolve finer detail in your targets - it's almost like getting a larger telescope. However, there are limits to this effect. The photo of globular cluster M13 above left was recorded using the same telescope and CCD camera as the Veil Nebula pictures above. The CMOS image at right was made with a QHY600M with an IMX455 monochrome sensor. frames from your workflow. You'll replace the bias frames with darks that exactly match your flats and lights. Connecting the Dots My astro-imaging friend Warren Keller often says " it's not the plane - it's the pilot, " meaning that a good pilot can learn to fly any aircraft. The old deep-sky camera you currently own and are able to operate with solid acquisition and processing techniques will do a fine job as long as it's in good working order. Just look at some of the fantastic amateur and professional pictures many still produce today 62 MARCH 2023 * SKY & TELESCOPE with older equipment. But when the time comes to upgrade - and that day will come eventually - consider moving to one of the latest cooled CMOS cameras instead of trading up for a new scope or mount. The powerful combination of high sensitivity, low noise, and lightning-fast download speeds of a new CMOS camera may be just the thing you need to kick your imaging up to the next level. ¢ Contributing Editor RON BRECHER often hosts PixInsight image-processing workshops. Visit his website at astrodoc.ca.https://astrodoc.ca/