Welcome to Astra Obscura! I have created this website to share my personal experiences with the hobby of Astrophotography, as well as give me the ability to look back and gauge how far I’ve come.
You can read the About Me section, but in a nutshell, I am a beginner at Astrophotography and hope that my trials & tribulations will help others new to the hobby. Some of my methods may be considered wrong or unorthodox, but as I mentioned before, I am a beginner.
Feel free to browse around the site, share your comments and concerns
Latest Posts
February 12, 2025When I first got into astrophotography, I thought it would be easy: point a camera at the sky, snap a photo, and boom—stunning galaxies and colorful nebulae galore! Turns out, the universe had other plans. This hobby has a way of humbling you fast, teaching patience in ways you didn’t even know you needed.
Here’s what spending countless hours under the night sky (or waiting for the clouds to clear) has taught me about patience—and a little bit about life.
1. The Sky Doesn’t Care About Your Plans
The weather forecast says clear skies? Excellent! Except… you’re halfway through setting up, and suddenly, clouds roll in like they were waiting for the perfect moment to crush your soul.
I’ve learned to roll with it. You can’t control the sky, just like you can’t control a lot of things in life. Sometimes, it’s better to pour a cup of coffee, enjoy the quiet night, and hope for a break in the clouds.
Lesson Learned: Always have a backup activity for cloudy nights. Processing old images or reading about new techniques is a great way to stay productive when nature refuses to cooperate.
2. Good Things Take Time—A Lot of Time
Astrophotography is the ultimate test of delayed gratification. Imagine setting your camera up, tracking the sky for hours, capturing dozens (or hundreds) of images, only to spend even more time stacking and editing them later.
When you finally see the image come together—the vibrant colors of a nebula or the faint spiral arms of a distant galaxy—it’s all worth it. But wow, it takes forever.
Lesson Learned: Be okay with slow progress. Sometimes, the best things come to those who wait (and wait… and wait).
3. Mistakes Are Part of the Process
Forgot to charge the battery? Focus slightly off? Didn’t polar align properly? Been there, done that—more times than I care to admit. Astrophotography is an endless cycle of trial and error.
At first, it’s frustrating. But I’ve learned to see mistakes as part of the journey. Every error teaches you something new, and each lesson brings you one step closer to capturing the perfect shot.
Lesson Learned: Patience means forgiving yourself for mistakes and moving forward with what you’ve learned.
4. It’s Not Just About the Destination
Astrophotography is more than capturing that one perfect image. It’s about the whole experience: the quiet solitude of the night, the excitement of finding a new target, the satisfaction of solving equipment problems on the fly.
Some of my favorite nights were the ones where I didn’t get a single usable image, but I still learned something new—or just enjoyed being out under the stars.
Lesson Learned: Sometimes, the process is more rewarding than the result.
5. Patience Makes Success Even Sweeter
When everything finally comes together—the weather cooperates, the equipment behaves, and the final image is even better than you hoped—it feels like magic. But that magic only happens because of the patience and persistence that got you there.
Every challenge makes the final reward that much sweeter.
Lesson Learned: Patience isn’t just about waiting—it’s about making the most of the journey while you wait.
The Bigger Picture
Astrophotography has given me more than just cool images of the night sky. It’s taught me how to slow down, appreciate the process, and embrace the unpredictable. It’s a constant reminder that we’re all tiny parts of something much bigger—and that some things are worth the wait.
So next time I’m standing in the dark, waiting for clouds to pass or staring at my computer while an image stack processes, I’ll remember: patience might not come naturally, but the universe has a way of teaching it to you. One long exposure at a time.
Clear skies (eventually)! […]
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January 23, 2025So, there I was, telescope packed away, a hot cup of cocoa in hand, staring at the dimly-lit cloudy sky like it had personally offended me. No stargazing tonight. But instead of sulking about how the universe was being rude, I decided to bring the cosmos to me—with documentaries. If you’re in the same boat (or cloud), here are ten space documentaries that could make your cloudy night a stellar one.
1. Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (2014)
Why Watch? Neil deGrasse Tyson is like the cool science teacher you wish you had. He’ll blow your mind with facts, take you on cosmic journeys, and occasionally throw in a smirk that says, “Yeah, I’m smarter than you, but it’s fine.”
My Take: Watching this made me realize how small I am in the universe and how big my pile of laundry is in comparison.
Where to Watch: Disney+, Hulu.
2. Apollo 11 (2019)
Why Watch? It’s like being a fly on the wall during the Moon landing—except the fly didn’t have access to this much incredible 1960s footage.
My Take: I cheered so hard during the launch that I scared my dog. Totally worth it.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube Movies.
3. The Farthest: Voyager in Space (2017)
Why Watch? Voyager’s story is like sending your robot child to college and hoping it remembers to call. Spoiler: It doesn’t. But it does send postcards in the form of groundbreaking data from interstellar space.
My Take: I cried when they played the Golden Record sounds. Who knew whale songs and Chuck Berry could get you in your feels?
Where to Watch: PBS, Netflix.
4. The Universe (2007–2015)
Why Watch? This show dives deep into cosmic phenomena, like black holes and dark energy. It’s like a crash course in astrophysics without the stress of finals.
My Take: After bingeing a few episodes, I kept shouting, “Did you know the Sun will eat the Earth someday?” to my family. They stopped inviting me to dinner.
Where to Watch: Hulu, History Channel app.
5. Hubble: The Final Frontier (2010)
Why Watch? Follow the mission to save the Hubble Space Telescope, aka the best pair of glasses the universe ever had.
My Take: Watching astronauts fix something in space while I struggle to fix my Wi-Fi is humbling.
Where to Watch: YouTube, Smithsonian Channel.
6. Contact: The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (2022)
Why Watch? Ever left a text on “read” and wondered how it feels? Welcome to humanity’s relationship with aliens.
My Take: I started scanning the night sky yelling, “Call me back, ET!” Then remembered the clouds.
Where to Watch: PBS or purchase online.
7. The Last Man on the Moon (2014)
Why Watch? Gene Cernan’s story is inspiring and makes you wonder why you haven’t achieved your dream of learning guitar yet.
My Take: It made me feel both awed by human achievement and very aware that I hadn’t left the couch in three hours.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV.
8. Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo (2017)
Why Watch? These are the people who made Apollo missions work while the astronauts got all the glory. Think of them as the backstage crew of space exploration.
My Take: I now yell, “We need a Go/No-Go poll!” before making any decision, even at the grocery store. Fun for the whole family!
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Netflix.
9. Chasing Pluto (2015)
Why Watch? Poor Pluto. First, it gets demoted from planet status, and now we’re chasing it down for pictures like paparazzi.
My Take: Pluto’s photos are stunning, but I’ll admit I mostly watched this out of sympathy. #StillAPlanetInMyHeart
Where to Watch: PBS NOVA.
10. Secrets of the Universe (2020)
Why Watch? Get ready to feel like an intergalactic Sherlock Holmes as this doc explains quantum physics in a way that makes you say, “Wait… I think I get it?”
My Take: By the end, I was confidently explaining particle physics to my dog. He seemed impressed.
Where to Watch: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video.
My Cloudy-Night Epiphany
While waiting for the clouds to clear, I realized something: Space is fascinating, even when you’re stuck inside. These documentaries made me laugh, cry, and occasionally yell, “Why didn’t I become an astronaut?!” – Maybe it has something to do with recycled pee… but that is a topic for a later date. […]
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December 31, 2024Well, well, well… look who finally decided to dust off the ol’ blog! It’s been a solid three years since my last post (January 2022, for those keeping track), and honestly, I feel like I owe the internet an apology letter. Life’s been a whirlwind since then, though. I’ve swapped out the quiet skies of Prescott Valley for the Phoenix area—where the stars are brighter, but unfortunately, so is the light pollution.
Oh, and that teaching degree? Yeah, about that… I traded it in for an engineering gig working with lasers in the semiconductor industry. (Cue the pew pew sound effects.) Somewhere between the move and life happening, my astrophotography gear got downsized to “basically nothing.” But recently, I caught the stargazing bug again and decided it’s time to get back into the hobby.
Now, let’s talk about gear—or rather, the gear that drove me up the wall. My OAT (Open Astro Tracker) and SWSA (Star Adventurer) were like rebellious teenagers: stubborn, unreliable, and always needing “alignment.” Polar aligning them was less of a fun challenge and more of a cosmic horror show. It made me realize I need a go-to mount with auto-plate solving that doesn’t turn every session into a comedy of errors. Enter the Seestar S50, my current telescope crush.
I know, I know. Fellow astrophotographers have warned me: “You won’t like it because you can’t upgrade,” and “That money would be better spent on a proper rig.” And you know what? They’re probably right. But let’s face it—right now, I just want something simple. Something I can set up, forget about, and actually snap some photos with. The Seestar might not teach me the hardcore lessons of astrophotography or let me mod it into the next Hubble, but it will let me actually enjoy the process again.
Yes, it’s locked into ZWO’s ecosystem and isn’t upgrade-friendly, but for now, I’m okay with that. It’s a stepping stone—a gateway scope, if you will. And honestly? I think it’ll be perfect for some easy imaging sessions and maybe even a hike into the Grand Canyon next year for some jaw-dropping shots.
While I wait for the Seestar to come back in stock (seriously, why is everything on backorder these days?), I’ll be revamping this website a bit and sharing more space news. Consider this my official return to the cosmos—one easy-to-use telescope at a time. […]
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January 24, 2022With the pandemic forcing everyone to quarantine at home, people have gotten antsy and bored. This caused most to look into new hobbies they could enjoy from home, including activities like making signs and starting an Etsy shop, learning to play the guitar, and even astronomy – astrophotography to be more specific.
The already jammed-up-at-the-ports supply chain has made astrophotography gear harder and harder to come by. The moment something hits the store, they’re already sold out before you could even take out your credit card. If you were fortunate enough to find that fancy go-to mount in stock, the price of these things is astronomical – no pun intended.
Go-to mounts have always been expensive, there’s no doubt about it. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to 3D print your own go-to mount that has most of the capabilities of larger more expensive mounts? Say no more!
I present to you the OpenAstroTech telescope. With 3D printing more and more available these days, this guider-style telescope can be yours for a fraction of the price of a small go-to mount. All you need is access to a 3D printer, some hardware/software, a simple DSLR and lens, and you’re off to the races. Don’t have access to a printer? No problem, you can simply purchase a full kit to assemble yourself!
With the OpenAstroTech (OAT), this device has a full 180° in every direction, fully-functioning goto features, and even an auto polar alignment feature. There’s even a 50mm guide scope you can 3D print and build yourself that is compatible with this device. Oh, and if you have a larger and heavier telescope – there’s one for you too.
I love to tinker, and so this scratches my proverbial DIY itch. I am about 1/2 way through printing the required parts for this project. I’ve been bouncing back and forth between other projects I need 3D printed parts for, and the OAT. I already have a DSLR and a 135mm lens.
As a result of the full kits being sold out, I have been diligently working on a spreadsheet for every required bit of hardware this kit needs and where to buy them from. Currently, for all the hardware for the tracker and the autoPA, the total price comes to about $300 + shipping. That’s still a small fraction of what it would cost for small goto mount. Printing times range from about 100-120 hours.
More to come as I print more parts and await for hardware! […]
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January 24, 2022I decided to take a hiatus, as I was looking into a new career pathway. After some careful deliberation, I came to the conclusion that I was on the right track all along – and so I will be sticking around for quite some time! Some of you may wonder exactly what it is that I do, and plan to be doing with my life. I am currently a student at Arizona State University pursuing my degree in secondary education (Earth & Space Science). Yes, I will be a high school science teacher, god help us all.
At first, I only wanted to use this site for astrophotography only. I later decided to include some other topics to fill the void between imaging sessions – and bad weather. I am going to start adding some space news topics, some insight into my personal life, and anything else space-related. Feel free to filter the blog posts by category if some of these topics don’t seem to interest you.
Keep an eye out for future posts, as I have some new stuff coming, both news-related and astrophotography-related. […]
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September 11, 2021Since it’s going to be a long while before I save up to build my “big rig” telescope, I decided why not get the most out of my current setup. I’ve noticed that my Samyang 135mm lens is quite front-heavy which can cause the tracker to drift as it struggles to keep the declination balanced due to the heavy lens. I scoured the internet and found a few options, but they were upwards of $100 or more!
Enter my custom-designed Samyang/Rokinon 135mm lens collar clamp thingy! (I’m not entirely sure what to call it). A typical lens collar only has a single ring…
This 3d printed “cradle” will hold the lens more centered. I have designed it to work with an Arca Swiss clamp and will be designing different bottom plates for different mounts in the future.
The top plate has a channel for a standard 1/4″ camera mount screw, so I can mount my finder scope right on the top. I will also be making different top plates to accommodate other mount styles such as vixen dovetails and others.
I have been hard at work making assembly instructions as well, so as soon as I make some test prints and make sure everything fits well, I may decide to sell these or perhaps just upload them for everyone to enjoy for free. I haven’t decided yet. Stay Tuned! […]
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September 1, 2021The Night Sky – September 2021
Day
Time (UTC)
Event
5
14:32
Venus 1.6°N of Spica
7
00:52
New Moon
10
02:09
Venus 4.1°S of Moon
11
10:06
Moon at perigee: 368,461 km (228,951 mi.)
13
20:39
First quarter of the Moon
14
03:59
Mercury 26.8°E of Sun (greatest eastern elongation)
14
08:10
Neptune at opposition
17
02:37
Saturn 3.9°N of Moon
18
06:50
Jupiter 4.1°N of Moon
20
23:55
Full Moon
21
02:03
Mercury 1.4°S of Spica
22
19:21
Autumnal (fall) equinox
26
21:44
Moon at apogee: 404,640 km (251,423 mi.)
29
01:57
Last quarter of the Moon
30
14:00
Mercury 1.7°S of Spica
September 2021
As the summer season comes to a close, we begin to bid farewell to the wealth of objects that drape across the center of our Milky Way. But there’s still some time to soak it all in.
While Scorpius has now dipped below the horizon, Sagittarius is still visible, though low in the southwest. You also still have Jupiter and Saturn, both of which are prominent in the southern sky.
Let’s not forget to enjoy the nearest spiral galaxy to us, the Andromeda Galaxy. This is beautiful when seen either with the naked eye at a dark-sky location or alternatively, through binoculars or a small telescope.
On September 22, we welcome the fall season with the autumnal equinox.
The Moon This Month
The Moon and Venus have a close encounter on the evening of September 9 when the planet will be roughly 5 degrees southeast of the Moon.
Then, on the night of September 16, Saturn will be roughly 5 degrees north of the gibbous Moon. The next night, Jupiter will be about 6 degrees northeast of the Moon.
The new Moon occurs on September 7, with the perigee occurring on September 11. On September 20, we have the full Moon. Finally, we have the Moon at apogee on September 26, with the last quarter following three days later.
Highlights in the Southern Sky
Scorpius (the Scorpion) is now below the horizon, while Sagittarius (the Archer) is beginning to follow it in the southwestern sky.
The constellation Aquarius (the Water Bearer) is clearly visible in the southeast. An Interesting target near Aquarius that can be seen through binoculars in dark-sky locations is the Helix Nebula (NGC 7293), sometimes referred to as the Eye of God. This is a planetary nebula that formed after a star (similar to our Sun) died and shed off its outer shell of gas. What’s left behind is a small white-dwarf star. You can locate it by finding Fomalhaut in the constellation Piscis Austrinus (the Southern Fish), which will be low on the southern horizon, then looking north 10 degrees.
The constellation Capricornus (the Sea Goat) lies in the south. You’ll be able to find it quite easily this month, as Jupiter and Saturn will be situated on either side of it.
Equuleus (the Little Horse), a small constellation, can be found near Delphinus (the Dolphin), north of Capricornus. To the east of Equuleus is Messier 15, another globular cluster that can be made out through binoculars under dark skies.
To the west of Delphinus is Sagitta (the Arrow), another small constellation. Farther west of Sagitta is a wonderful asterism called the Coathanger (Collinder 399, Brocchi’s Cluster), which is best seen through binoculars or a small telescope. The asterism looks like an upside-down coat hanger and is difficult to miss.
The Summer Triangle now lies high in the south, and it is easy to see with the stars Deneb, Vega, and Altair shining brightly. The constellation Hercules has made its way to the southwestern sky, with Ophiucus (the Serpent Bearer) and Serpens (the Serpent) beginning their journey to the westward horizon. Serpens is the only constellation in two distinct parts: Serpens Caput (the Head of the Serpent) to the west of the Serpent Bearer, and Serpens Cauda (the Tail of the Serpent) to the east.
Highlights in the Northern Sky
The constellation Boötes (the Herdsman) is now low on the northwestern horizon, together with Corona Borealis (the Northern Crown).
Hercules has moved to the northwestern sky and continues to provide a fantastic opportunity to observe the globular cluster Messier 13.
Meanwhile, Ursa Major (the Great Bear) is almost due north, with the Big Dipper asterism closer to the horizon. At the beginning of the month, the constellation Auriga (the Charioteer) is below the northeastern horizon, but by the end of the month, it begins its northward journey, with its star Capella shining brightly near the horizon.
Perseus is in the northeast, and the Double Cluster (NGC 869 and NGC 884) sits between this constellation and Cassiopeia. The “house” that is Cepheus now appears upside-down in the north.
Mirfak, the brightest star in Perseus, is beautiful when seen through binoculars, particularly as there is a cluster of many bright stars in view, known as the Alpha Persei Association (Melotte 20).
And of course, it’s always worth observing the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31), whether it’s with the unaided eye in dark-sky conditions or through binoculars or a telescope. […]
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August 5, 2021The Vredefort Crater is the largest impact crater on the planet. It is located in South Africa and originally had a diameter of 300 km (190 mi), but has since eroded away and is now roughly 70 km (43 mi).
The crater was formed from an asteroid colliding with the Earth with a diameter of more than 10 km (6 mi) around 2 billion years ago.
Since then, the crater and its ejecta have been removed by weathering and erosion. The visible evidence that remains today includes A) deformed rock units that were once below the crater’s floor; B) small-scale impact evidence such as transformed mineral structures and shatter cone structures; and, C) a dome of uplifted rock that once formed a central peak within the crater.
The Vredefort Impact Crater is the largest asteroid impact structure that still has visible evidence at Earth’s surface. It is also the second-oldest impact structure with visible evidence at Earth’s surface. Only the Suavjärvi Crater in Russia is older. […]
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July 31, 2021Originally I had planned on upgrading my Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer (SWSA) setup. Upon further research and speaking with many people much more experienced in the field, I’ve come to the conclusion that this setup is a bad idea.
While the SWSA has a max payload capacity of 11lbs, and this setup would be roughly 6-7lbs.. I discovered that it may have some issues with tracking. The general rule of thumb is to keep below the 50% weight capacity threshold. This setup would far exceed that. While the mount can support the weight, it may suffer from pre-mature wear on the gearing inside the unit as well as struggle with tracking for long exposures – which is less than desirable.
The New Plan
So now I have decided to stick with my Samyang 135mm lens, and only add a guidescope and guide camera. This will give me the ability to take longer exposures with more tracking accuracy. I am still going to upgrade the tripod to the Sky-Watcher tripod though, as that is the intended tripod to use with this mount.
This small but not insignificant upgrade should allow me to have more fun with the rig until I save up and start piecing together my future “big rig”. More on that later. […]
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July 31, 2021The Night Sky – August 2021
Day
Time (UTC)
Event
1
14:00
Mercury at superior conjunction
2
05:24
Saturn at opposition
2
07:35
Moon at apogee: 404,410 km (251,89 mi.)
8
13:50
New Moon
11
07:00
Venus 4.4°S of Moon
12-13
Perseid meteor shower peak
15
15:20
First quarter of the Moon
17
09:23
Moon at perigee: 369,124 km (229,363 mi.)
19
03:03
Mars 0.1°N of Mercury
19
23:05
Jupiter at opposition
20
22:19
Saturn 3.8°N of Moon
22
04:52
Jupiter 4.1°N of Moon
22
12:02
Full Moon
30
02:22
Moon at apogee: 404,100 km (251,096 mi.)
30
07:13
Last quarter of the Moon
August 2021
This month we continue to enjoy the summer constellations and the warmer weather, as the nights are getting just a bit longer.
The most significant feature this month is undoubtedly the Perseid meteor shower. Many believe this to be the best shower of the year, as the weather tends to be clear and outdoor temperatures enjoyable. The shower tends to be reasonably consistent with bright fireballs. Though the shower began in July, the peak occurs on the night of August 12 to 13. On most nights, the shower is best at midnight and later, when the constellation Perseus is high in the sky.
Saturn is at opposition on August 2, and Jupiter is at opposition on August 19. They are at their brightest and largest this month – perfect for telescopic observation of satellites, rings, shadow transits, and the Great Red Spot.
On the evenings of August 10 and 11, the crescent Moon will be about 7 degrees away from Venus in the western evening sky, first to the right and then to the left. Another after-sunset treat occurs on August 19, when Mars will be about 1 degree from Mercury very low in the west – a challenging near-horizon observation.
On August 20, Saturn will be about 4 degrees north of the waxing gibbous Moon in the night sky. On the night of August 21, Jupiter will be approximately 5 degrees north of the nearly full Moon.
The Moon is at apogee on August 2, with the new Moon occurring on August 8. The first quarter is on August 15, followed by the full Moon a week later. The Moon will be at perigee on August 17 and then at apogee once again on August 30, which is also the date of the last quarter.
Highlights in the Southern Sky
The constellations Sagittarius (the Archer) and Scorpius (the Scorpion) still dominate the southern sky. Take a look at Sagittarius, and just off the tip of the teapot spout, you’ll find the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way. Below the spout lies Ptolemy’s Cluster (Messier 7), an open cluster of stars.
This is also a great time to enjoy the Sagittarius Star Cloud (Messier 24). This cloud is a great binocular target, and it’s easy to get lost among the stars.
The fantastic part about this time of year is that the Milky Way stretches right across the sky through the constellations Cassiopeia, Cygnus (the Swan), Aquila (the Eagle), and Scutum (the Shield) to Sagittarius. There are so many naked-eye targets, binocular targets, and targets for telescopes of all sizes.
Pegasus (the Winged Horse) is now clear in the east, marked by “the Great Square,” and Delphinus (the Dolphin) can be spotted between Pegasus and Aquila.
The constellation of Scutum can be found just above Sagittarius, and near Scutum’s tip is the Wild Duck Cluster (Messier 11). This open cluster of stars is located roughly 6,200 light-years from Earth and is one of the most densely populated open clusters known, containing approximately 2,900 stars.
The constellation Ophiuchus (the Serpent Bearer) rises above Scorpius, which puts it in a good place to observe the globular cluster Messier 10.
Highlights in the Northern Sky
The constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear) is now low in the northwest, while Camelopardalis (the Giraffe) lies to the northeast.
Perseus, another constellation, is rising in the northeast with its brightest star Mirfak, which also means that the Double Cluster (NGC 869 and NGC 884) is rising along with it.
Cassiopeia shares the northwestern sky with its familiar “W” shape. But one of the best things to observe is the magnificent Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31). The Andromeda Galaxy is found easily by following the star Shedar in Cassiopeia to Mirach in the constellation Andromeda and then looking north. Andromeda is visible in moderate- to dark-sky locations as a faint fuzz. A pair of binoculars or a small telescope will reveal the nearest large galaxy to Earth in more detail, particularly the bright central bulge. Andromeda is 2.4 million light-years from Earth, with a diameter of 200,000 light-years. This spiral galaxy is on a collision course with our Milky Way, though that event will likely take place 4.5 billion years from now.
Andromeda also has roughly 20 satellite galaxies; Messier 32 and Messier 110 are the best known.
The star Arcturus is now in the west, with the constellation Hercules above. […]
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July 28, 2021Note: This plan is no longer in effect. See the update for more information.
My current little setup includes:
Samyang 135mm Lens
Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro
Cheap no-name Amazon Tripod
Canon Rebel T4i DSLR
A Dew Heater
Custom 3d Printed mount for my green laser
While this equipment is alright for a beginner, it still feels very limiting. I have decided that while I save up for a more “professional” rig, I will upgrade the SWSA to squeeze the most out of it before moving up.
The Plan:
Imaging Train
Optics: Apertura 60mm FPL-53 Doublet
Field Flattener: Apertura 2″ Field Flattener (Included with the OTA)
Filter Wheel: QHY CFW3 Small Color Filter Wheel
Filters
Narrowband: ZWO 1.25″ Filter Set – OIII, Ha, SII
Broadband: ZWO 1.25″ LRGB Filters
Auto Guiding
Guidescope: QHY Mini Guide Scope and Mount
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI120mm Monochrome CMOS Camera
Tripod
Tripod: Star Adventurer Tripod
I’m sure somebody is going to tell me to not get something and to get something else, or that these are bad choices.. Well with a limited budget, this is about as good as I am going to get. The Apertura 60mm telescope will outperform my Samyang 136mm camera lens. It is a better bang for my buck than picking up a Redcat too. The major differences will come with upgrading to a sturdier tripod and adding auto-guiding. The EFW will make a big difference too. Eventually, I plan to pick up a dedicated Astrophotography camera such as a ZWO ASI 1600mm Pro and a ZWO ASIAir Pro so I don’t have to lug around a laptop. This would give me the ability to use a tablet.
Why the QHY Guide scope over the ZWO? Even though the QHY guide scope is more expensive, it gives me more focal length. The more focal length on a guide scope = better auto-guiding. The total weight for everything is roughly 6lbs, and the SWSA has a payload of 11lbs. Yes, this is over the 50% rule or whatever, but from what I’ve read, these things can handle it. Finally, I will need some kind of power option – perhaps I’ll pick up a 12v 55Ah Deep Cycle sealed battery and make my own battery box? Not sure just yet.
Have any comments or suggestions? Post them in the comments below! […]
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July 26, 2021It’s been quite some time since my last post. Life and weather have gotten in the way of one of my most coveted hobbies. To be honest,I was getting a little discouraged and felt limited by my equipment. I was feeling that I wasn’t able to capture anything of significance with my entry-level gear, but now I feel more motivated than ever. I realize now that I can use the equipment I have now to learn the basics e.g. navigating the night sky, camera settings, and finally, post-processing.
The weather is pretty poor this time of year, as we have some serious monsoons out here in the desert. As soon as the skies clear up, I plan to go back out there and keep at it! […]
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January 19, 2021Planets
Mercury at magnitude -0.5, becomes visible low in the south-west evening, where it groups up with Jupiter and Saturn.
Venus continues to burn brightly in the sky at magnitude -3.9. Mars too in its prime is found high in the south during fading evening twilight. Mars currently is a magnitude +0.1, only 1/10th as bright as it was in October.
Jupiter and Saturn begin losing elevation at dusk as the month goes on. […]
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January 6, 2021I’ve decided to create a blog/online gallery for my astrophotography. I am a beginner in the hobby and thought it useful to share my experiences with the world. I hope to gain a vast bit of knowledge as well as help any people new to the hobby as well.
As I get around to it, I will include a list and images of my current gear I use for astrophotography, as well as many useful links to tools and other sites I found useful for the hobby. As my post-processing knowledge increases, I will include tutorials. […]
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