I am often asked which telescope is best suited for the iOptron SkyGuider Pro camera mount. The SkyGuider is an entry-level astrophotography mount, which means that a lot of beginners start out with this piece of equipment. Although this compact single-axis EQ mount is small and lightweight (3.2 lbs with the base), it is capable…
The Summer Triangle is an asterism that includes three bright stars in the night sky: Vega, Deneb, and Altair. This beacon of warmer weather is observable in the northern hemisphere much of the year but is highest in the sky in July-August. The stars of the Summer Triangle are each part of their own constellation,…
I’ve recently upgraded my Explore Scientific ED102 with a telescope filter wheel that allows me to quickly change filters. The Xagyl 5-position, 2-inch filter wheel was designed to help automate your astrophotography image acquisition process by electronically aligning each filter over the camera sensor. A telescope filter wheel can streamline your astrophotography acquisition process by…
Do you already own a Canon EF 24-105mm F/4L lens and want to use it for astrophotography purposes? If so, you’re in luck. I’ve tested this very lens for some wide-field deep sky images from my backyard. I love testing new camera lenses at different focal lengths and playing with new ways to frame objects…
If you watched my video about Comet 46P Wirtanen, you may have noticed that my imaging gear included a Canon EF 300mm F/4L USM Lens. This may have seemed a little odd to those that are used to seeing me use a telescope for astrophotography, but a camera lens like this can be a great…
The ZWO ASIair is a smart WiFi device that allows you to control ASI astronomy cameras for astrophotography. This Raspberry Pi-based accessory allows you to run an imaging sequence, autoguide, and even plate solve using your smartphone or tablet. As many of you know, when it comes to capturing astrophotography images, I tend to do…
The William Optics Zenithstar 73 is an apochromatic doublet refractor telescope built for astrophotography. With an objective lens using high-quality FPL-53 ED glass, the Z73 APO is a superb deep-sky imaging performer. The example images shared on this page should give you a good idea of what you can expect in terms of astrophotography with…
You may have noticed that amateur astronomers and astrophotographers will often describe their sky quality reading when posting pictures or discussing observations. One of the easiest ways to identify the brightness of your night sky is to use the Bortle scale. A light pollution map will show that a large city radiates white to red…
I’ve recently had a chance to review the Optolong L-Pro filter (2 types) for astrophotography from my light-polluted backyard in the city. Unlike many of the filters I used in the past, the L-Pro is suitable for both stock and astro-modified DSLR cameras (it includes a UV/IR block). I’ve always had trouble collecting images with…
As the season transitions from summer to fall, the nights have become longer and cooler in the backyard. This is beneficial for deep sky astrophotography for many reasons, including more time to capture exposure time on incredible targets like the Elephant’s Trunk Nebula. For those who have been following my YouTube Channel you’ll know that I’ve been…
The ZWO ASI294 MC Pro is a remarkably capable one-shot-color CMOS camera for deep sky astrophotography. Whether you use it for broadband true-color images on a moonless night or ultra-long-exposure images using your favorite narrowband filter – this camera can produce insanely beautiful images. This is easily one of the best color cameras I have ever…
In this post, I’ll break down everything you need for deep-sky astrophotography with a telescope. I’ll cover each piece of gear I use, and explain how it can be used to capture beautiful deep-sky images of space from your backyard. Updated Version (2023): Deep-Sky Astrophotography How-To (Start to Finish) Deep-sky astrophotography is a rewarding and…