William Optics Zenithstar 61 APO Review
The William Optics Zenithstar 61 is a doublet apochromatic refractor telescope that excels in deep-sky DSLR astrophotography. The Z61 is the most portable telescope ever made by William Optics, a company with a reputation for high-performance refractors. In this review, I'll tell you why I think the William Optics Zenithstar 61 is a top contender when it comes to affordable astrophotography telescopes. I'll cover the features and specs of the scope, and share some examples of deep sky images taken using this refractor. [caption id="attachment_7179" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Th…
Photographing the Andromeda Galaxy
With summer coming to a close, I had one last chance for some deep sky astrophotography under dark skies. Choosing an astrophotography target at a dark sky site requires some serious thought. The key is to focus on an object that will benefit from broadband color data without the need for harsh light pollution filters. After much deliberation, I decided to spend this rare occasion with my sights set on the Andromeda Galaxy. Cataloged as Messier 31, Andromeda is a massive spiral galaxy that demands attention. This month, it's well placed in the night sky for your next astrophotography proj…
Narrowband Images with a Color Camera
My latest encounters capturing narrowband images with a color camera have once again opened my eyes to a new level of astrophotography possibilities. In this post, I'll share my results using a color CMOS sensor camera. In the past, I found that by collecting narrowband data such as H-Alpha with a DSLR, you can complement your broadband (true color RGB) astrophotography. This is great news for DSLR astrophotographers that want to amplify their deep sky imaging. Narrowband Astrophotography Filters The ongoing learning curve involved with astrophotography continues to provide me with…
