ASI990MM Pro SWIR

Description

The ZWO ASI990MM Pro SWIR is a specialized short-wave infrared (SWIR) camera designed for advanced planetary imaging, solar research, and atmospheric studies. It uses the Sony IMX990 InGaAs (Indium Gallium Arsenide) sensor — a fundamentally different technology from standard silicon CMOS sensors — sensitive to wavelengths from 400 nm to 1700 nm, deep into the infrared spectrum invisible to conventional cameras.

The IMX990 features 5.0 μm pixels in a 1280 x 1024 format (1/2″ sensor). While the resolution is modest compared to visible-light cameras, the SWIR capability opens up entirely new imaging possibilities. Infrared light penetrates atmospheric haze and turbulence more effectively than visible wavelengths, allowing this camera to capture sharper planetary detail on nights when visible-light cameras struggle. Solar granulation, sunspot detail, and planetary atmospheric features all benefit from SWIR imaging.

As a Pro-series camera, the ASI990MM includes regulated TEC cooling to minimize thermal noise — especially important in the infrared where sensor thermal background is more significant. USB 3.0 provides fast readout, and the camera is compatible with standard capture software including FireCapture, SharpCap, and ASIAIR.

This is a niche, professional-grade instrument with a price tag to match. It’s aimed at advanced planetary imagers, solar observers, and researchers who have exhausted what visible-light cameras can achieve and want to push further into the infrared. If you image Jupiter, Saturn, or Mars seriously and want an edge in resolving atmospheric detail through Nordic seeing conditions, SWIR is a powerful tool.