Guidance for an amazing hobby
Price: $1999 Manufacturer: ZWO Introduction The ZWO AM5N Strain Wave Equatorial Mount is a modern, high-precision mount designed for both amateur and professional astrophotographers. Known for its innovative strain wave gearing system, it promises superior tracking accuracy and a lightweight design, making it an attractive choice for portable astrophotography setups. Designed for the precision-driven hobbyist,… Read Full Article
An astrograph, also known as an astrophotographic telescope, is a type of telescope specifically designed for astrophotography. Its notable features include fast focal ratios like f/2 or f/3, wide apertures and optics designed to produce high-quality flat fields across the entire field of view. A key feature that sets astrographs apart is their wide field… Read Full Article
Picture a clear night sky, where the stars are begging to be explored. As an astronomy enthusiast, I know that a sturdy and precise mount is the backbone of any stargazing or astrophotography setup. I have to admit that the new strain wave mount design has captured my interest as well as the interest of… Read Full Article
Astrophotography captures the beauty of the cosmos, turning the night sky into a canvas of stars, galaxies, and nebulae. A pursuit that marries art with science, it requires precision tools to translate the faintest glimmer of distant stars into stunning, crisp images. The choice of camera comes down to dedicated astrophotography cameras or DSLR or… Read Full Article
Astrophotography is a fascinating field, marrying the depths of space with the art of photography. Capturing the night sky is not just a matter of pointing and shooting; it requires equipment that can handle the nuanced demands of photographing distant celestial bodies. For those who aim to freeze the night in an image, the camera… Read Full Article
Telescope mounts might not grab headlines like the newest telescope optics do, but their importance to stargazing and astrophotography cannot be overstated. They’re the unsung heroes that support telescopes, allowing astronomers to track celestial bodies with accuracy. Mounts come in various forms, each with its unique mechanisms and uses. I would argue that a quality… Read Full Article
Manufacturer: William Optics Price: $898 I acknowledge your curiosity about the William Optics RedCat 51. It’s not just a telescope; for many, it’s a gateway to the cosmos. William Optics, a respected name in the realm of astronomy equipment, has crafted a piece that’s garnered attention for good reasons: introducing the newly redesigned RedCat 51…. Read Full Article
Price: $2499 A few decades ago, Santa Barbara Instruments Group (SBIG) had a great idea to solve some of the problems of autoguiding, namely having to use an off-axis guider or a separate piggy-backed telescope with its own camera. Each of these methods had their own problems: finding a suitable guide star in the case… Read Full Article
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 Full Article
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 Full Article