In this article, I will share my latest wide-field astrophotography processing tutorial using star removal and advanced stretching techniques. Wide-field astrophotography opens up stunning views of the night sky, capturing vast regions of stars, nebulae, and constellations. In this guide, I’ll walk you through a game-changing technique to enhance your wide-field images using tools like…
This article was last updated on December 4th, 2024. In this post, I’ll break down how to photograph the Orion Nebula, one of the most spectacular deep-sky objects in the night sky. While it may just look like a smudge to the naked eye, Orion is the nearest, large star-forming region to Earth at just…
If you’re looking to buy your first telescope—or your first good telescope—this guide is for you. I’ll cover the most important aspects of a telescope, how much you should expect to spend, and provide four excellent examples to consider. The following choices are obviously not the only ones to choose from, but they offer a…
The Dwarf 3 smart telescope is a compact, ultra-portable device that was designed to make astrophotography easy and fun. While this device is in its third iteration, it is the first DwarfLab product I’ve ever used. It combines a small telescope, an astronomy camera, and a computerized mount to track and photograph objects in space….
If you shoot your astrophotography images with a color camera in the city, there is a good chance that light pollution filters can make your life a little easier. No matter which astrophotography camera you use, filters can make the difference between a decent image and a great one. They ignore specific wavelengths of light…
This article was updated on October 25, 2024, to include the latest features. The SeeStar S50 is an all-in-one smart telescope that makes astrophotography easy. While its main goal is to deliver electronically assisted views of objects in space, the pictures it takes are pretty darn good. If you thought smart telescopes were just “expensive…
If you have ever tried to hold your phone up to the night sky to take pictures of stars, the Milky Way, or even a full moon, you’ll know that astrophotography with a smartphone has its challenges. While modern smartphones are capable of impressive photos of the stars (the Google Pixel even has an ‘astrophotography…
This article was last updated on December 2nd, 2024. I am often asked for my opinion on the best route to take when it comes to building a deep-sky astrophotography kit for the first time. There are 3 main items you need: a camera, a telescope, and a mount. A popular option for many night…
Remote observatories are facilities that house astrophotography equipment in dark-sky locations. Users can control the telescope remotely via the Internet. This means users can capture images without needing to be on-site. Whether you’re operating your own gear that’s been shipped to the facility or booking time on high-end equipment provided by the observatory, remote…
The Celestron NexStar 8SE computerized telescope is one of the best-selling telescope packages of all time. It features a large aperture optical telescope and a computerized GoTo mount. The NexStar series of SCTs has been around for over a decade, and I was finally able to experience this beginner-friendly telescope for myself. I was impressed…
Key Takeaways The Askar SQA55 uses high-quality optics to produce astrophotography images that are sharp, flat, and well-corrected. It features an innovative design with a variable aperture, similar to a camera lens with a manual focus ring. The small aperture (55mm) and short focal length (264mm) mean it is unsuitable for planetary imaging or photographing…
Key Takeaways The ASI2600MC Air is a 3-in-1′ smart camera’ that combines a dedicated astronomy camera with a guide camera and a WiFi controller that runs on the ASIAIR mobile app. The design dramatically reduces the amount of cables and accessories needed to run a complete deep-sky astrophotography imaging session. Critiques dislike that this ‘niche…