High-speed multicolor photometry with CMOS cameras

Abstract

We present the results of testing the commercial digital camera Nikon D90 with a CMOS sensor for high-speed photometry with a small telescope Celestron 11" on Peak Terskol. CMOS sensor allows to perform photometry in 3 filters simultaneously that gives a great advantage compared with monochrome CCD detectors. The Bayer BGR color system of CMOS sensors is close to the Johnson BVR system. The results of testing show that we can measure the stars up to V $\simeq$ 14 with the precision of 0.01 mag. Stars up to magnitude V $\sim$ 10 can shoot at 24 frames per second in the video mode.