Guidance for an Amazing Hobby
Patrick 
How do we find objects in the sky? Right Ascension (RA) and Declination (Dec) are two important celestial coordinates used to do this. What is Right Ascension? Right Ascension (RA) is similar to longitude on the Earth’s surface, except that it is measured in hours, minutes, and seconds rather than degrees of angle. RA is … Read more
Product: Takahashi FSQ106ED4X Manufacturer: Takahashi Price: $7330 as of the time of this review The Takahashi FSQ106EDX4EDX4 is a high-quality, apochromatic refractor telescope that is designed for astrophotography and visual observing. It is a redesign of the venerable FSQ-106 telescope. It has a compact size and a relatively large aperture of 106mm, making it an … Read more
Choosing astrophotography equipment can be confusing due to the many choices available. When matching a telescope with a camera for astrophotography, there are several things to consider to make sure you have the best match. It is much more than just thinking about budget and what looks nice. Image circle Many beginner astrophotographers fail to … Read more
If you are looking for high quality equatorial telescope mount, look no further. Manufacturer: Sky-Watcher Mount type: Equatorial computerized go-to mount Price: $1699 The Sky-Watcher EQ6-R telescope mount is a quality telescope mount that provides reliable performance for both astrophotography and visual observation. It is a very popular choice for astrophotographers who are looking for … Read more
Celestron – NexStar 6SE Computerized Telescope Manufacturer: Celestron Optics: Schmidt-Cassegrain Mount: Altazimuth Price: $1099 without accessories (as of the time of this review) The Company Celestron, based in Torrance, California, has a long history of making quality, affordable telescopes for beginners as well as intermediate and advanced users. The company is known for its innovative … Read more
If you are purchasing a telescope, you may ask yourself “what is the best type of telescope?”. There is no single answer to this question. Let’s start out by giving the characteristics of each type. There are three main types of telescopes The three primary types of telescopes are refractor telescopes (also called refracting telescopes), … Read more
Spring is a great time for astrophotography as there are many interesting targets visible in the night sky. Spring is also known as “galaxy season” to astrophotographers, since so many of the best objects during this time of year are galaxies. Here are a few suggestions for what’s happening in the sky tonight in the … Read more
What is a Messier Object? Let’s start with what Messier objects are. The Messier Catalog, also known as the “Catalog of Nebulae and Star Clusters”, is a list of 110 astronomical objects that was first compiled by the French astronomer Charles Messier in the 18th century. What is the Messier Catalog? The catalog contains a … Read more
What is N.I.N.A? NINA (Nighttime Imaging ‘N’ Astronomy) is free, open-source astrophotography software designed to help amateur astronomers and astrophotographers capture and analyze astronomical images. Most every aspect of capturing astronomical images can be controlled and even automated by N.I.N.A. Astronomy software has transformed backyard stargazing into an immersive dive into the cosmos. Among the … Read more
iOptron CEM70 Advanced Computerized GoTo Telescope Mount Price: Starting at $3228 The iOptron CEM70 is an equatorial mount that is very good for both imaging and visual use. Casual observers do not need this degree of accurate tracking, so I would recommend it mainly for long-exposure imaging. I have been using this mount … Read more