Sky-Watcher EQ8-R Pro (First Impressions)
A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to receive a very large package in the mail, the Sky-Watcher EQ8-R Pro. Some people get excited about the arrival of flowers or perhaps a new book from Amazon at their door. Me? I prefer over 100 pounds of deep-sky astrophotography equipment. The brand new EQ8-R Pro is an observatory-class equatorial telescope mount capable of handing advanced astrophotography equipment, and one of the heaviest objects I have ever attempted to lift on my own. I'd like to think that deadlifting the heaviest of astronomy equipment is something I'll always be able to do,…
Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro Review
The Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro is an extremely popular portable star tracker designed for astrophotography. After using iOptron star trackers for deep-sky astrophotography exclusively, it was time to see what all the fuss was about. In this post, I'll share my unbiased opinion about the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro, and actual images I was able to capture using it. The setup I used was the Pro Pack version, that comes with the counterweight kit, latitude EQ base, and fine-tuning mounting assembly. Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro Review If you would like to get a good look at t…
Choosing a Star Tracker for Astrophotography
Star trackers are now more accessible to amateur photographers than ever, with many options to choose from. Deciding which one to spend your hard-earned money on can be a daunting task. I am a full-time astrophotographer that has used many different star trackers from several brands for many years. I have created this resource for those looking to finally dive into astrophotography the right way, with a star tracker. The Best Star Trackers for Astrophotography When it comes to astrophotography, quite simply, a star tracker allows you to take better images. Your exposure length…
Upgrade Your SkyGuider Pro with iPolar
In my latest video, I captured a wide-field deep sky object using an impressive little star tracker, the iOptron SkyGuider Pro. Since 2017, I've captured several deep sky images with the SkyGuider Pro, with a DSLR camera attached to a camera or small telescope. In my latest adventures in the backyard, I've set up the iOptron SkyGuider Pro once more, but this time I've added a rather simple device that makes a critical step of the astrophotography acquisition stage process easier, and more precise. The iPolar Electronic Polarscope The iPolar electronic polarscope uses a small camera to u…
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Review
The Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro is a computerized equatorial telescope mount with GoTo capabilities. This equatorial (EQ) mount is capable of providing precise, accurate tracking of the night sky, and is suitable for long-exposure astrophotography. The core specifications of this equatorial mount include having a built-in ST-4 autoguider port, a payload capacity of 44 pounds, and a SynScan computer hand controller with an extensive database of objects. I have been using the Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro telescope mount since October 2018, and have used it to capture several deep sky images…
QHY PoleMaster Review
The QHY PoleMaster electronic polar scope was designed to make your polar alignment routine easier, and more precise. No matter which camera tracker or equatorial telescope mount you’re using, when it comes to astrophotography, accurate polar alignment is critical. If you have ever struggled to polar align your telescope mount with the north or south celestial pole, the QHY PoleMaster may just be your new best friend. With a slew of recent technical headaches and an unforgiving winter, my appreciation for devices that make my life easier has grown. The QHY PoleMaster delivered exceptio…
Astrophotography in Costa Rica (Carina Nebula)
I’ve just returned from a vacation to Costa Rica with the goal of capturing some astrophotography images from the resort. Being so close to the equator, the night sky featured many new southern hemisphere deep-sky targets I had never seen before. Aside from astrophotography (including an impromptu Facebook Live stream from our balcony) my wife and I also enjoyed a private birding tour and some much-needed relaxation. The average temperature from home in Canada was around -10 degrees Celsius, in Costa Rica, 33. Despite the pleasant temperatures and an impressive number of clear nights d…
Astrophotography Gear Update
Despite the excitement of a moving into a new house under Bortle Class 6 skies, I've had a rough start to the new year in terms of astrophotography. The weather has not been friendly, from -30 C nights to consecutive weeks of precipitation and clouds. However, this has given me some time to get my astrophotography gear organized in the garage for my next imaging session. My weather app shows that Saturday has a chance of clear skies for about 2 hours, and I'll be ready. In this post, I'll provide an update as to the astrophotography gear I'll be using next. My goal is that you find some…
