When I heard about the MallinCam HD-10 CMOS video camera and its ability to be controlled both via PC and independent of a PC, I was quite intrigued. I was looking for a CMOS video camera that would deliver high quality imagery and permit a streamlined workflow both with and […]
When thinking about the GSO Eight Cassegrain telescope, its worthwhile to look back to Laurent Cassegrain who was a 17th century French Roman Catholic priest and is given credit for inventing the telescope design that carries his name. Cassegrain telescopes use a parabolic primary mirror with a hyperbolic secondary mirror. […]
“Seventeen years ago, I was blessed with a daughter having special needs.” Though the quiet solitude of losing ourselves in the night sky’s depths is undeniably magical, sharing our love of outer space with others has its own unique rewards. We may share with complete strangers, inexperienced friends, or even […]
“Enter the Pegasus Astro Ultimate Powerbox V2 and cable tangle and complexity have been broken like a wild Mustang.” I would not date Medusa. Not because she’s got a bad attitude or anything (been there, done that), but … too many cables. I hate cables. Cables are problems waiting to […]
“When considering the QHY Polemaster I read comments about folks wishing they had purchased the PM long before they did due to its simplicity and effectiveness. I can share that sentiment.” In the absence of an observatory, typical viewing sessions require that I set up/tear down my scope du jour […]
“How to Print Astroimages? If you want prints that get a “Wow, is that real? Did you do that?” reaction, then read on.” You’ve spent hours acquiring and processing the perfect image. It looks great on your big new computer monitor, but you have to pan around to see the […]
By Matt Harmston I sometimes reminisce about my first telescope, an entry-level 115-mm reflector. My family let me pick out (but not touch) the scope and assorted accessories well before Christmas, a holiday that rapidly became an eggnog-induced flurry of unmitigated wrapping paper mayhem. When clear skies eventually put the […]
Niels Haagh hosts the website Astronomical Telescopes and Mounts Explained for Amateurs. He recently posted the second article in a series covering astrophotography using an Alt-Az telescope mount. The article, titled Alt-Az Mounts for Long Exposure Astrophotography – Camera Rotators, offers insight into the most advanced type of Alt-Az astrophotography […]
We’ve all learned that you should only clean a telescope mirror when it is absolutely necessary, for fear of harming those delicate coatings. If you’ve got a reflector and you want a clean a telescope mirror, there’s no lack of recommendations for solutions to use – and the techniques are […]
With the Vixen Polarie, Vixen offers this neat little device that looks kind of like a camera. In fact, it’s actually about the same size and weight as an old Leica M9. It even has a flash shoe! Doesn’t look like much, does it? However, if you own a basic […]
Astronomy Light Pollution Filters from Chroma Technology solve a big problem – Light pollution – every astronomer’s nightmare. Unless you’re lucky enough to live beneath a nice dark sky or have access to a remote observatory, you’ve had to learn to deal with unwanted light intruding on your pastime. I […]
Reasons to use the Hubble Artificial Star for Collimation? You can do it during the day. You can’t do it at high noon, but early morning and twilight hours are fine, twilight is best. You don’t have to worry about keeping a moving star in the field of view. I […]