A basic deep-sky astrophotography equipment setup typically includes an equatorial tracking mount, a camera, and a telescope or lens. Additional accessories may be added to improve tracking (autoguiding) and automate the imaging session throughout the night.
On this website, I provide reviews based on my experiences with the different pieces of equipment and gear I use so you can make informed decisions about what might work best for you.
I have reviewed many astrophotography telescopes over the years, and even a few visual observing instruments as well. One of the most common questions I get is ‘what’s the best beginner telescope?’, and my answer is always an 8″ Dobsonian telescope.
My astrophotography telescope in 2023 on a ZWO AM5 mount.
The ZWO AM5 is the astrophotography mount I didn’t think I needed. Yes, it perfectly matches the color of my existing ZWO cameras (and ASIAIR Plus), but do I really need a tracking telescope mount that doesn’t require a counterweight? I have casually observed a number of harmonic drive telescope mounts appear in the astrophotography…
One of the most common questions I get is “what portable power source do you use for astrophotography”. This is a hot topic in the astrophotography community, and there are many options to consider for powering your gear at night. When deciding on an off-grid power station, you need to think about things like battery…
The Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi is a highly portable star tracker that was designed for astrophotography. It allows you to take long-exposure images of space by tracking the apparent movement of the night sky. Unlike the original Star Adventurer, the GTi model also has the ability to find deep-sky objects in the night sky using…
I have been using the ASIAIR for my astrophotography projects for the last 5 years. This incredible wifi controller can do it all, from controlling my equatorial mount to running a complete imaging sequence. If you are looking to automate your deep-sky astrophotography and remove many of the frustrations involved with running multiple pieces of…
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…
William Optics is a company known for creating high-performance apochromatic refractors and constantly updating and refining their designs. The RedCat 51 Petzval APO is the latest creation from the company that can’t sit still, and it is bound to shake up the industry once more. I am fortunate enough to have been granted early access…