Celestron NexImage 20 Solar System Imager | 20 MP Color Planetary Camera

Celestron NexImage 20 Solar System Color Imager — High-Resolution Lunar & Planetary Imaging Made Easy

If your telescope can bring the Moon or planets into focus, the Celestron NexImage 20 Solar System Color Imager can capture them with remarkable clarity. This compact planetary camera uses a 20-megapixel back-illuminated AR2020 CMOS sensor to reveal fine detail, strong color, and crisp contrast—even under less-than-perfect seeing conditions.

The NexImage 20 drops directly into any telescope with a standard 1.25" eyepiece holder, placing its high-resolution sensor at the focal plane. A built-in Region-of-Interest (ROI) mode lets you crop tightly around small targets like Jupiter or lunar craters, dramatically increasing frame rates—ideal for video stacking and extracting the sharpest moments of steady seeing.

The camera also doubles as an autoguider, allowing a single device to handle both capturing and guiding in an astrophotography setup. Celestron’s included iCap software gives you full control of exposure, gain, frame rate, and camera settings for precise image capture. Save your results as still frames or full-motion video sequences for stacking and sharpening.

From backyard Moon work to high-resolution planetary imaging at a dark-sky site, the NexImage 20 is compact, lightweight, USB-powered, and easy to integrate into nearly any telescope system.

Important Solar Safety Note:
The NexImage 20 can be used for solar imaging only when your telescope is equipped with a proper, instrument specific solar filter designed specifically for safe solar observation. Never point your telescope at the Sun without certified solar filtration—you can permanently damage your eyes, your telescope, or the camera.

Key Features

• 20-Megapixel Back-Illuminated Sensor: AR2020 color CMOS with 5240 × 3840 resolution

• High Sensitivity Performance: Excellent for lunar and planetary detail under varied conditions

• 1.4 µm Pixels: Well-matched to common planetary focal ratios

• ROI Mode: Crop to the target for much higher frame rates

• Dual-Purpose Camera: Imaging and autoguiding capability in one unit

• 1.25" Barrel: Fits any standard telescope focuser or diagonal

• USB Power + Data: Simple one-cable connection

• Video & Still Capture: Ideal for stacking software workflows

• Included Software: iCap for camera control and capture

Observing Tip

For the cleanest planetary images, use ROI mode to reduce the sensor area to only the part containing your target. A smaller region means faster frame rates, more captured moments of steady seeing, and a sharper final stacked image.

Final Thoughts

The NexImage 20 combines high resolution, ease of use, and impressive sensitivity in a compact camera. It’s capable enough for seasoned imagers and approachable enough for beginners looking to record their first detailed views of the Moon and planets. If your telescope shows crisp detail visually, the NexImage 20 can capture it—with enormous potential once you begin exploring stacking and processing tools.

Tech Details:

• 20-Megapixel Back-Illuminated Sensor: AR2020 color CMOS with 5240 × 3840 resolution

• High Sensitivity Performance: Excellent for lunar and planetary detail under varied conditions

• 1.4 µm Pixels: Well-matched to common planetary focal ratios

• ROI Mode: Crop to the target for much higher frame rates

• Dual-Purpose Camera: Imaging and autoguiding capability in one unit

• 1.25" Barrel: Fits any standard telescope focuser or diagonal

• USB Power + Data: Simple one-cable connection

• Video & Still Capture: Ideal for stacking software workflows

• Included Software: iCap for camera control and capture