How to Travel with Astrophotography Gear

Last updated: October 9, 2026.
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We are often asked how we fly with our astrophotography equipment when traveling to dark-sky locations and star parties. While photographing the night sky somewhere new is exciting, getting all your equipment there takes some careful planning.

Over the years, Trevor and I have traveled with everything from simple camera and star tracker setups to more advanced deep-sky imaging rigs. We’ve learned a lot about what equipment is worth bringing, how to make the most of our luggage space, and what to expect when flying with a telescope.

Our preference has always been to keep expensive and fragile equipment with us in the cabin rather than checking it below the plane. This has influenced the telescopes, mounts, and camera bags we choose for our trips.

Thankfully, there are now more portable astrophotography options than ever, including compact strain-wave mounts and integrated astronomy cameras that eliminate the need for several separate accessories.

In this article, I’ll share how we plan and pack our astrophotography equipment for air travel, some of the gear that works well for traveling, and a few lessons we’ve learned along the way.

Quick Tips for Traveling with Astrophotography Gear

If you’re planning to fly with your astrophotography equipment, here are some tips that have worked well for us:

• Plan your targets before choosing your equipment. Knowing what you want to photograph will help determine which telescope or camera lens to bring.
• Choose compact, travel-friendly equipment. Small refractors, star trackers, and strain-wave mounts can make a big difference in how much you need to pack.
• Invest in a good camera backpack. We use backpacks with customizable compartments to protect and organize our equipment.
• Keep fragile equipment in your cabin baggage when possible. This is our personal preference, especially for telescopes, cameras, and mounts.
• Check your airline’s baggage restrictions. Pay attention to the dimensions and weight limits for personal items and carry-on luggage.
• Prepare for airport security and customs. Having photographs of your assembled setup and an inventory of your equipment can be helpful.

Traveling to dark-sky sites for deep-sky astrophotography involves some series planning. 

Planning Your Astrophotography Trip

Before we start packing, we figure out what we want to photograph and which equipment will give us the best chance of capturing it.

Sometimes we’re attending a star party where we’ll have several nights of imaging. Other times, we’re visiting a location where we may only have one or two opportunities to photograph the night sky. Either way, planning ahead helps us avoid bringing more equipment than we need.

The astrophotography rigs that we flew with to the Okie-Tex Star Party

Choosing Your Targets

One of the most exciting parts of traveling for astrophotography is the opportunity to photograph targets that aren’t easily visible from home.

I like to start by making a list of potential targets for our destination and narrowing it down based on their position in the sky, the time of year, and the equipment we’re considering bringing.

Carina Nebual capture from Costa Rica

Targets that rise earlier and set later generally give you a longer imaging window. It’s also helpful to choose objects that reach a reasonable altitude above the horizon, especially when imaging somewhere with mountains, trees, or other obstructions.

Astronomy software like Stellarium is helpful for planning these sessions and determining when specific targets will be visible.

Choosing the Right Equipment

Once we’ve decided what to photograph, we can start planning which telescope or camera lens to bring.

For travel, we generally prefer smaller refractors with shorter focal lengths. They’re easier to pack, and their wider fields of view work well for photographing large nebulae and other deep-sky targets.

Shorter focal lengths are also generally more forgiving when it comes to tracking errors and windy conditions, which can be particularly helpful when imaging somewhere unfamiliar.

 

A few other things we consider include:

• Weather: Wind can make imaging at longer focal lengths more challenging.
• Available space: The telescope, mount, and camera need to fit within our baggage allowances.
• Mount capacity: The telescope and accessories must be within the mount’s recommended payload limits.
• Power: Knowing whether electricity is available will influence what equipment and accessories we bring.

The goal is to bring a capable setup without packing more than we realistically expect to use.

Travel-Friendly Telescopes for Astrophotography

There are plenty of capable telescopes available for astrophotography, but not all of them are practical for air travel.

For us, portability comes down to more than just weight. We want a telescope that’s compact enough to fit in our camera backpacks or carry-on luggage, without needing to check our most fragile equipment.

Small refractors are our preferred option when flying to a dark-sky location. Their relatively short optical tubes make them easier to protect and pack alongside other camera equipment, while their shorter focal lengths are well suited to photographing larger deep-sky targets.

Fitting a dedicated astro camera, mount, guide scope, and camera in my backpack.

We’ve traveled with several William Optics telescopes over the years, including the RedCat series and Pleiades 68. There are also other compact refractors, like the Askar SQA55, that are worth considering.

Here are a few options we’ve used, followed by a comparison of additional small refractors that may work well for travel.

William Optics RedCat 51

The William Optics RedCat 51 is one of the most travel-friendly telescopes we’ve used. Its 250mm focal length is well suited to large nebulae and wide-field deep-sky targets, and its compact design makes it relatively easy to fit into a camera backpack.

On our trip to the Winter Star Party in Florida, I brought the RedCat 51 V3 and paired it with the ZWO AM3 mount. It’s a capable little telescope that doesn’t take up nearly as much room as some of the larger refractors we’ve traveled with.

RedCat 51 in the background at the Winter Star Party

The original RedCat 51 is also a good option for pairing with a lightweight star tracker, although you’ll need to consider the weight of your camera and other accessories.

If you’re looking for a dedicated astrophotography telescope that’s relatively easy to pack, the RedCat 51 is a great option to consider.

Askar SQA55

The Askar SQA55 is another compact refractor worth considering for astrophotography travel. This small 55mm telescope has a 264mm focal length and is designed for wide-field deep-sky imaging.

Trevor tested the SQA55 with the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi mount and ZWO ASI2600MC Air camera to photograph the North America Nebula.

Although we haven’t documented flying with this particular combination, its compact design makes it an interesting option for anyone looking to reduce the size of their equipment.

Paired with one of the newer integrated astronomy cameras, it’s a good example of how a capable deep-sky imaging setup can be assembled with fewer separate components.

William Optics RedCat 61

The William Optics RedCat 61 offers a slightly longer 300mm focal length while maintaining a relatively compact design.

We brought this telescope to New Brunswick to record video of the 2024 total solar eclipse, using a certified solar filter to safely capture the partial phases. We’ve also traveled with it for deep-sky astrophotography, including the Cherry Springs Star Party.

The RedCat 61 is a good middle ground between the smaller RedCat 51 and larger refractors, offering a little more focal length without taking up too much additional space.

While it’s still a travel-friendly option, its size and weight are worth considering if you’re trying to fit your telescope, camera, and mount into the same backpack.

William Optics Pleiades 68

Another telescope we’ve traveled with is the William Optics Pleiades 68. Trevor brought this telescope to the Winter Star Party in Florida two years in a row, where he paired it with the ZWO AM5 mount.

The Pleiades 68 is a fast 260mm astrograph with a relatively compact optical tube, although it’s heavier than the smaller RedCat models. It’s a good example of a telescope that offers wide-field imaging capability while remaining manageable for travel.

Because the telescope is larger and heavier than the RedCat 51, you’ll want to give some thought to how it fits alongside the rest of your equipment. 

Comparing Compact Telescopes for Travel

When choosing a telescope for air travel, it’s important to consider its physical size and weight, not just its focal length. These smaller telescopes offer a range of focal lengths while remaining relatively portable.

Telescope	Focal Length	Tube Length	OTA Weight
William Optics MiniCat 51	178mm	21 cm (8.3 in)	1.67 kg (3.7 lbs)
William Optics RedCat 51 WIFD	250mm	29.8 cm (11.7 in)	1.77 kg (3.9 lbs)
William Optics Pleiades 68	260mm	36.6–41 cm (14.4–16.1 in)	2.98 kg (6.6 lbs)
Askar SQA55	264mm	24.4–31.6 cm (9.6–12.4 in)	1.84 kg (4.1 lbs)
William Optics Ultra-Cat 56	269mm	29.6–34.8 cm (11.7–13.7 in)	2.56 kg (5.6 lbs)
Askar FRA300 Pro	300mm	30.3 cm (11.9 in)	2.26 kg (5.0 lbs)
William Optics RedCat 61 WIFD	300mm	36.5 cm (14.4 in)	2.47 kg (5.4 lbs)
William Optics RedCat 71 WIFD	350mm	42.7 cm (16.8 in)	3.22 kg (7.1 lbs)
Sharpstar 61EDPH III	360mm	27.2 cm (10.7 in)	1.48 kg (3.3 lbs)
Sky-Watcher Evostar 72ED	420mm	42 cm (16.5 in)	2.0 kg (4.4 lbs)

 

There is quite a bit of variation in size, even among smaller refractors. The MiniCat 51, SQA55, and Sharpstar 61EDPH III are particularly compact options, while telescopes like the RedCat 71 require considerably more space.

Before traveling, we recommend measuring your telescope with its protective caps in place, removal of dew shields etc. and consider how much room you’ll need for your camera, mount, and other equipment.

If you want to cut down on weight, a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a telephoto lens is another excellent option. A lens like the Rokinon 135mm F/2 can capture beautiful wide-field deep-sky images without requiring a dedicated telescope.

Rho Ophiuchi captured by Ashley at the Cherry Springs Star Party under Bortle 2 skies

Portable Mounts and Star Trackers for Travel

The mount is another important consideration when choosing equipment for travel. Traditional equatorial mounts can be large and heavy, especially once you account for the counterweights and tripod.

Fortunately, there are several smaller options capable of supporting a portable astrophotography setup, including star trackers and newer strain-wave mounts.

Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer and Star Adventurer 2i

For lightweight camera and lens setups, the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer remains one of our favorite options.

We brought our Star Adventurer and Star Adventurer 2i trackers with us on our trip to Australia, where we photographed the southern night sky around Uluru.

The Milky Way Photography gear we brought to Australia in our backpacks.

Since we were traveling around Australia for two weeks, we wanted to keep our equipment as portable as possible. We decided to bring DSLR cameras, lenses, and star trackers rather than larger telescopes and mounts.

The small size of these trackers made them easy to travel with, and their ability to run on AA batteries was particularly convenient since we weren’t sure where we’d be setting up each night.

Southern Milky Way shot from Uluru, Australia

For anyone traveling primarily to photograph the Milky Way or wide-field targets, a camera, lens, tripod, and star tracker can be a very practical combination.

Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi

If you’re looking for something with GoTo functionality, the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi is another excellent portable option.

Unlike the original Star Adventurer models, the GTi can automatically locate and track celestial objects. It also supports autoguiding, making it more suitable for a small refractor telescope and dedicated astronomy camera.

We’ve brought this mount to star parties, and its compact size makes it much easier to travel with than a traditional equatorial mount.

However, the GTi still requires a counterweight for typical telescope setups, so you’ll need to account for that when packing.

ZWO AM3 Mount

One of the biggest improvements to our travel setups has been the introduction of compact strain-wave mounts.

The ZWO AM3 offers substantial payload capacity in a relatively small package and can support suitable lightweight astrophotography setups without requiring a counterweight.

That’s a significant advantage when you’re trying to limit the weight and and number of items in your luggage. I brought the AM3 to the Winter Star Party, where I used it with my RedCat 51.

The mount head is compact enough to fit into my camera backpack, which makes traveling with a more advanced GoTo setup much easier.

You’ll still need a suitable tripod and power supply, but being able to leave the counterweights at home makes a noticeable difference.

Sky-Watcher Wave 100i  Mount

The Sky-Watcher Wave 100i is another compact strain-wave mount worth considering for astrophotography travel.

Weighing approximately 9.5 pounds (4.3 kg), it can support up to 22 pounds (10 kg) of equipment without a counterweight. This makes it a good option for smaller refractors, like the RedCat 51 or Askar SQA55.

The Wave 100i offers GoTo functionality, supports both equatorial and alt-azimuth operation, and is compatible with the ZWO ASIAIR. Its compact design makes it easier to transport than many traditional equatorial mounts, although you’ll still need to pack a tripod and power supply.

While we haven’t traveled with the Wave 100i ourselves, but we have used both this version and the large Wave 150i from the backyard. 

ZWO AM5 Mount

The ZWO AM5 offers many of the same portability advantages as the AM3 but with greater payload capacity.

Trevor has traveled with this mount and used it with several different telescopes, including the William Optics Pleiades 68 at the Winter Star Party.

Like the AM3, the AM5 can support appropriate setups without a counterweight, eliminating one of the heavier components normally associated with a traditional equatorial mount. We’re able to fit both the AM3 and AM5 mount heads into our camera backpacks, leaving the tripods to be packed separately.

While these mounts don’t require counterweights for suitable loads, it’s still important to make sure the tripod is stable and the equipment is within the mount’s recommended limits.

AM5 packed in our camera backpack

At the Winter Star Party, we experienced some particularly strong winds that affected our guiding on the final night. I eventually shut down my setup and moved it against our tent, while Trevor was able to improve his guiding by moving his telescope closer to the tent for shelter.

It’s a good reminder that even a compact setup needs to be stable, particularly when you’re imaging somewhere exposed to the wind.

How AIR Cameras Make Traveling Easier

One of the more interesting developments for traveling astrophotographers is the introduction of integrated astronomy cameras, like the ZWO ASI585MC Air and ASI2600MC Air.

These cameras combine a cooled imaging camera, guide camera, and ASIAIR controller into one device. This means you no longer need to pack a separate guide scope, guide camera, or ASIAIR controller, provided the built-in guiding system is compatible with your telescope.

With fewer accessories and cables to organize, these cameras can save valuable space in your backpack and make setting up at your destination much easier.

ZWO ASI585MC Air

The ZWO ASI585MC Air is a cooled one-shot-color astronomy camera with a relatively small 1/1.2-inch sensor.

Trevor tested this camera with the William Optics RedCat 51 and ZWO AM3 mount to photograph the Orion Nebula using only 60-second exposures.

This combination is particularly interesting for travel because the telescope, mount, and camera are all relatively compact. With guiding and camera control built in, it’s a capable option for anyone looking to simplify a portable deep-sky astrophotography setup.

ZWO ASI2600MC Air

The ZWO ASI2600MC Air offers similar integrated features but uses a larger APS-C imaging sensor.

Trevor used this camera with the Askar SQA55 telescope and Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi mount to photograph the North America Nebula.

With the camera handling guiding and control, this setup required fewer external accessories than a conventional deep-sky imaging system.

Paired with a small refractor and portable GoTo mount, it’s a good example of how you can put together a capable imaging setup without packing so many individual components.

What Do You Still Need to Pack?

Although AIR cameras simplify your setup, you’ll still need a compatible telescope, mount, tripod, power supplies, and the necessary connection cables. Depending on your equipment, you may also need filters, adapters, and dew protection.

It’s also important to make sure the built-in guide sensor will work with your telescope and filter combination. Some configurations may limit the light reaching the guide sensor, which can affect guiding performance.

The AIR cameras won’t eliminate everything from your packing list, but they can significantly reduce the number of components you need to bring. 

How We Pack Our Astrophotography Equipment

Once we’ve decided what equipment to bring, the next challenge is figuring out how to pack it. We try to keep most of our expensive and fragile equipment in our camera backpacks, which we bring onto the plane with us.

Having a well-organized bag makes a big difference, especially when traveling with telescopes, cameras, mounts, and accessories that all have different shapes and sizes.

Our Camera Backpacks: Peter McKinnon x Nomatic 25L

We’ve used several camera backpacks over the years, but Trevor and I now both use the Peter McKinnon x Nomatic 25L backpack for our astrophotography trips.

Trevor originally received one from the Nomatic team to test, and after seeing how much equipment he could fit inside, I started looking more closely at it myself.

 

I had been using the Peak Design Everyday Backpack, which worked well but had one feature I wasn’t particularly fond of: the side access. While side access can be convenient when you’re actively photographing something, I prefer having the entire main compartment open in front of me when organizing astronomy equipment.

On the Nomatic, the main compartment opens from the back, allowing you to see and access all your equipment at once. It also has a customizable ladder system that lets you divide the storage area into different sections.

We purchased the optional storage cubes, which help keep smaller accessories organized and provide some additional protection. There are also zippered accessory pockets, a top storage compartment, and exterior pockets that can hold items like a small tripod or reusable water bottle.

His and hers astrophotography backpacks

One of my favorite features is the luggage pass-through on the back. Being able to slide the backpack over the handle of a rolling suitcase makes navigating an airport much easier, especially when it’s loaded with heavy equipment.

At approximately 11 inches wide, 8 inches deep, and 19 inches tall, the bag has fit under the seat on flights we’ve taken. However, personal-item restrictions vary between airlines, so it’s important to check the dimensions and weight limits before traveling.

If you’re shopping for a camera backpack, I’d prioritize protection, customizable compartments, and easy access over any particular brand.

Flying with Astrophotography Gear

One of the most important decisions when flying with astrophotography equipment is determining which items you’ll bring into the cabin and which will go into checked luggage.

Our approach has always been to keep the most fragile and expensive items with us whenever possible.

That usually means bringing our cameras, telescopes, and mounts in our camera backpacks or carry-on suitcases, while packing less fragile equipment separately.

 

Personal Items and Carry-On Luggage

Most of our astronomy equipment is packed into our camera backpacks, which we bring onboard as personal items when permitted by the airline. If we’re traveling with a larger telescope that won’t comfortably fit in the backpack, we may pack it in our carry-on suitcase instead.

We’ve occasionally wrapped telescopes in clothing to provide some extra protection, making sure they’re properly supported and don’t move around inside the suitcase.

One thing to keep in mind is that overhead storage space is not always guaranteed. Even if your carry-on meets the airline’s requirements, you may be asked to check it at the gate if the overhead bins are full. This happened to us on the way home from the Winter Star Party.

Had to check our carry-on suitcase, which meant our telescopes had to come out.

We had packed our telescopes in our carry-on suitcases, but when we were told the bags would need to be checked, we quickly removed the telescopes before handing over our luggage.

We ended up carrying the telescopes onto the plane separately and carefully placing them under the seats in front of us. It wasn’t ideal, but we were glad we could remove them before the suitcases went below the plane. Since then, we’re particularly mindful of how easily we can access fragile equipment if we’re unexpectedly asked to check a bag.

It’s also worth having a backup packing plan that complies with your airline’s cabin baggage limits, since not every item can necessarily be carried separately onto the plane.

Checked Baggage

When we’re traveling internationally or attending a star party, we often bring a larger checked suitcase for items that don’t fit in our carry-on luggage.

This usually includes:

• Tripods
• Extension cords and power bars
• Less fragile accessories
• Extra clothing and jackets
• Towels, reusable mugs, and other personal items

Checked bag full of items that are not breakable

It’s worth clarifying that you can transport telescope and camera equipment in checked baggage, provided it meets the airline’s requirements and any applicable safety restrictions.

Many astrophotographers use hard protective cases, such as Pelican cases, when transporting delicate equipment this way. However, we’ve never checked our telescopes, cameras, or mounts below the plane, so I can’t offer personal advice on the best cases or packing methods for doing so. Our preference has always been to keep that equipment with us in the cabin.

We also try to avoid checking more luggage than necessary, simply because there’s always a chance that a suitcase could be delayed or not arrive at the same time we do.

Airport Security

Traveling with astrophotography equipment can sometimes attract extra attention at airport security. A camera backpack full of unusual metal components, cables, telescope parts, and electronics doesn’t look quite like a typical vacation bag.

We generally expect that our equipment may need to be inspected and try to keep everything organized so it’s easy to remove and explain if necessary.

One suggestion we’ve heard from other astrophotographers is to keep a photograph of your completed setup on your phone. We’ve never needed to use one ourselves, but it could be helpful if a security officer is unfamiliar with a particular piece of equipment.

Some accessories, such as counterweight bars and mount components, may look unusual when they’re separated from the rest of the telescope.

Being able to show how everything fits together could make explaining the equipment easier.

International Travel and Customs

If you’re traveling internationally with expensive astronomy equipment, it’s also a good idea to prepare an inventory of what you’re bringing. This can include the equipment name, approximate value, and serial number of each item.

Keeping this information organized gives you one less thing to worry about when traveling with several pieces of valuable equipment.

Depending on your destination, you may also want to check whether there are any customs documentation requirements for temporarily bringing professional or high-value photography equipment into the country.

Power and Essential Accessories

It’s easy to spend most of your time thinking about how to pack your telescope and mount, but there are plenty of smaller accessories that you’ll need once you’re ready to start imaging.

The last thing you want is to arrive at a dark-sky location and discover that you’ve forgotten an important cable or adapter.

Powering Your Astrophotography Setup

Most deep-sky astrophotography equipment requires some type of external power.

Fortunately, many of the star parties we’ve attended provide access to electricity, so we haven’t needed to travel with a large portable power station. Instead, we usually bring extension cords and small power bars that allow us to reach the available outlets.

We typically bring two compact power bars with AC outlets for our main equipment and USB connections for smaller accessories, such as dew heater bands. We also use a similar setup when staying at an Airbnb with access to outdoor power.

Star Adventurer 2i, Canon 400mm lens, and Canon R camera packed for the solar eclipse. Not external power required

If you’re planning to image somewhere without electricity, you’ll need to consider how you’ll power your equipment before leaving home.

For lighter camera and star tracker setups, battery-powered options can make things much easier. For more advanced equipment, you may need to arrange a suitable portable power source at your destination.

Important: Lithium battery and power-bank restrictions vary depending on the type and capacity of the battery, as well as the airline. Spare lithium batteries and power banks generally must be kept in cabin baggage, with their terminals protected. If your carry-on is gate-checked, remove these items before handing it over. Always confirm your airline’s latest requirements before flying.

You can review the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority’s battery guidelines before traveling.

Small Accessories Worth Packing

In addition to our main equipment, there are several small items we try to bring on every astrophotography trip.

Some of these are essential, while others are things we’ve learned are useful to have after years of setting up in different locations.

Our list usually includes:

• Spare power and camera connection cables
• Red headlamp and batteries
• Dew heater bands
• Extension tubes and a ruler for checking back focus, when needed
• White T-shirt and elastics for taking flat frames
• Velcro for securing accessories to the telescope or mount
• Velcro cable ties for managing cables
• Telescope covers
• Extra screws and mounting hardware
• Electrical tape
• Allen key set

Most of these items are small enough to fit into the accessory compartments of our camera backpacks.

We also try to bring spare cables whenever possible. Having a backup can save an imaging session if a cable stops working or goes missing.

Astrophotography Travel Packing Checklist

Before leaving for a trip, we like to assemble our complete setup at home to make sure we have everything needed for an imaging session.

Here’s a checklist of the equipment and accessories to consider packing:

• Telescope or camera lens: Optical tube or lens, protective covers, and mounting accessories.
• Camera: Imaging camera, necessary adapters, and filters.
• Telescope mount: Mount head, counterweights (if needed), and mounting hardware.
• Tripod: A compatible tripod and any required adapters.
• Guiding equipment: Guide scope and guide camera, unless using an integrated guiding system.
• Camera control: ASIAIR, laptop, or integrated controller.
• Power: Power supplies, batteries, cables, adapters, and extension cords.
• Accessories: Dew heaters, red headlamp, spare cables, screws, and essential tools.
• Travel documents: Equipment inventory, serial numbers, and any necessary customs paperwork.

Before packing, we also check our airline’s baggage allowances and battery restrictions to make sure everything can travel safely. Most importantly, we try to avoid bringing equipment we don’t realistically expect to use.

Final Thoughts

Traveling with astrophotography equipment requires some extra planning, but it’s worth the effort when you arrive somewhere with incredible dark skies.

We’ve learned a lot through our trips over the years, especially when it comes to choosing compact equipment and making the most of the limited space in our luggage.

Smaller refractors, portable strain-wave mounts, and integrated cameras like the ZWO AIR series have made it possible to put together capable deep-sky imaging setups with fewer bulky components.

Our approach may not work for everyone, but keeping our fragile equipment with us, packing carefully, and planning ahead has worked well for the places we’ve traveled via plane, including New Brunswick, Oklahoma, Florida, and Australia.

And once everything is set up under a dark sky, the effort of getting it there is typically forgotten.

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Ashley is an environmental educator, communication professional, and beginner astrophotographer. She has extensive experience writing for diverse audiences to increase public awareness and engagement. Ashley is an active Advocate and Delegate with DarkSky International, helping to protect the nighttime environment from the harmful effects of light pollution through advocacy and outreach. 

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