Guidance for an Amazing Hobby
Patrick 
Price $2960 Intro: This mount is named after the Greek goddess of the night, Nyx. It is a new model utilizing strain wave technology. This mount type allows a larger capacity than similar equatorial mounts without needing a counterweight. Even larger capacities are possible with optional counterweights. Another advantage of strain wave (or harmonic) mounts … Read more
If you’ve ever gazed up at the night sky and yearned for a closer look at its wonders, you’re in for a treat. Astronomy, a time-honored hobby that has captivated humans for millennia, is now embracing modern technology in a way that’s revolutionizing the field. I’m talking about the advent of smart telescopes. This isn’t … Read more
Price: $4399 I’ve got an eye on the skies, and so do many amateurs and seasoned stargazers alike. Among the array of telescopes that promise to bridge the gap between Earth and the cosmos, the Askar 151phq has stirred some genuine excitement. Why the buzz? This model isn’t just another telescope. It’s designed with the … Read more
In a perfect astrophotography world, we would live in the modern world, but with one exception: nighttime lighting would be minimal or nonexistent. Although that scenario is not realistic, we can achieve something similar. There are a variety of optical filters that do a fine job of filtering out the wavelengths of common lighting fixtures … Read more
Manufacturer: UniStellar Price: $5199 Unistellar has released an upgraded version of its popular all-in-one astronomy/astrophotography smart telescopes. Like its little brothers the eQuinox and the eQuinox 2, the eVScope 2 is a self-contained telescope and camera combination that offers a live view of celestial objects that gets enhanced over time using image stacking. The result … Read more
Have you ever looked up at the night sky and been captivated by the moon’s serene beauty? You’re not alone. The moon has been a source of wonder for eons, and capturing its essence with a camera is a fascinating challenge for many photographers. The nice thing is that the moon is up nearly every … Read more
Manufacturer: Vaonis Price: $1599 The Vaonis Vespera II Smart Telescope is another offering in a fast-developing market for all-in-one astrophotography equipment designed to simplify observing and capturing remarkable real-time images of celestial objects. The Vespera II is a more advanced version of the Original Vespera. The 50mm aperture remains the same, but the sensor is … Read more
When I first thought about how to write this article, I wanted to try to come up with price brackets for different budgets. However, I could not come up with any decent combination that was under $1000. In all the years I have been enjoying this hobby, there is one constant principle that I have … Read more
Coronado PST Price: $899.99 Southern California has a reputation for mild sunny days. But for those of us who live in coastal California, those beautiful sunny days are often followed by cloudy nights when the low clouds roll in from off the coast. This is particularly the case during the late spring and early summer. … Read more
Price: $459 (Classic Version) $595 (Recommended Deluxe Version) The competition for an easy-to-use (suitable for beginners) smart telescope-camera combination heats up with the introduction of the DWARF II smart telescope from DwarfLab. The Dwarf II is a portable and ultra-light smart telescope with a built-in AI and can be controlled through a mobile app, making … Read more