TS-Optics Sky Quality Meter (SKU: SQM)

TS-Optics Sky Quality Meter SQM without lens (TS-Optics, SKU: SQM). The TS-Optics Sky Quality Meter SQM is a portable meter for measuring night-sky brightness in the visible range. It allows observing sites to be compared and changes in light pollution to be monitored without estimating limiting stellar magnitude by eye. This is the basic version without a lens, measuring a wide area of the sky.

Key features

• readings in mag/arcsec², meaning magnitudes per square arcsecond; a higher value indicates a darker sky
• wide angular response: half of maximum sensitivity at approximately 42° from the axis
• readout on an LED display with push-button operation
• measurement time depends on sky brightness; very dark skies require longer measurements
• powered by a replaceable 9 V battery

Included items

• photometer: TS-Optics Sky Quality Meter SQM
• battery: 9 V

Technical specifications

• version: SQM without lens
• sensor measurement range: visible light
• reading unit: mag/arcsec²
• half width at half maximum of angular response (HWHM): approximately 42°
• maximum measurement time: 80 s
• power supply: 9 V battery
• weight: 105 g
• warranty: 24 months

The SQM makes it easier to compare sky brightness between observing sites and dates.