Guidance for an Amazing Hobby
Astrophotography product review
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
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
Price: $549.95 The Apertura All Night Imaging Power Supply is a 518Wh astronomy-dedicated power supply that can keep your gear running all night long. It’s a great option for astrophotographers who need to power their equipment for extended periods. Compared to other common portable power supplies, the Apertura has a capacity of more than triple … Read more
Manufacturer: Sharpstar Price: $4195 The SCA260 is a new large aperture astrograph made by Sharpstar. It has a very large 260mm (10.2 inch) aperture and a focal length of 1300mm. This combination results in a relatively fast focal ratio of f/5. This fast focal ratio is very desirable for astrophotography given the long exposures necessary … Read more
Manufacturer: Celestron Price: $3999 Astrophotography is a tech-heavy hobby. Now is a fantastic time to take the plunge, even with little or no experience in the field. This is now possible with the rapid technological advances that make automation a realistic goal. One of the biggest challenges is to pair components that work well together … Read more
Manufacturer: Sky-Watcher Price: $530 As the 2024 North American total solar eclipse approaches, many are planning on attempting to photograph the event, or even deciding whether it is worth the attempt. This is a decision made by many every time a total solar eclipse occurs. As with any astrophotography endeavor, having a tracking mount eliminates … Read more
Price $2949 (for 8 inch) Celestron is one of the largest producers of affordable telescopes for beginners and experts alike. The Celestron Nexstar Evolution HD is an advanced powerful telescope suitable for all astronomy enthusiasts. This scope comes in 3 aperture sizes: 6 inches, 8 inches, and 9.25 inches. The 8-inch version has a focal … Read more
Another in the line of excellent, affordable ZWO astronomical cameras is the ZWO ASI294MC Pro cooled color CMOS astrophotography camera. This camera boasts the Sony IMX294CJK sensor, with a 4144 x 2822 resolution with 4.63-micron pixels. This results in a diagonal measurement of 21.6mm, which is slightly smaller than an APS-C sensor found in many … Read more
Manufacturer: ZWO Introductory Price: $399 Have you been wanting to dip your toes into the fun hobby of astrophotography, but are intimidated by the complex equipment choices, high prices and steep learning curve? Well astronomy and imaging equipment manufacturer ZWO has come up with an innovative, reasonably priced way to produce some quality images that … Read more