Deep-sky images, visibility planner and object database
Articles – Astronomy, Astrophotography & Gear
Posts on astronomy, astrophotography and equipment: tutorials, field reports and hands-on technical deep dives.
Beyond the images themselves, this is where my articles on the practical side of astrophotography live: buying decisions and hands-on reviews of mounts, cameras and filters, tutorials on guiding, flats and PixInsight workflows, plus visits to observatories and astronomical sites. It’s the technical and narrative side behind the images – the learning diary of my equipment and methods. You’ll find the finished images themselves in the astrophoto timeline.
The Berlebach Uni 18 is my tripod of choice for the WarpAstron WD-20P – an overview of the selection criteria, the configuration with three-angle spread, ZWO plate and extension pier, and the reasons why a lightweight carbon tripod is not a sensible choice for harmonic drive mounts.
StellarMate OS keeps showing a notification that a new PHD2 version is available – but what's actually behind it? I dug in, worked through terminal output and apt packages, and finally dissected the package itself. The result is surprising.
Sometimes the best outings happen almost by accident. That is how it was on the day I picked up my son from the Albert Einstein Science Park in Potsdam after the finals of the Geo-Olympiade — and we spontaneously decided to explore the grounds together on foot. What was meant to be a relaxed walk turned into a small journey through 150 years of scientific history.
More contrast under suburban skies — my real-world experience with the Baader UHC-L Booster Filter (50.4 mm). Three projects, challenging conditions, and an honest technical conclusion from my backyard in Koblenz.
I'm increasingly considering capturing RGB data with a one-shot color camera instead of continuing with mono and separate filters. While mono remains efficient, the RGB workflow is time-consuming, and early tests with two cameras have shown that it can significantly reduce routine overhead. As a result, my focus has shifted less toward pure image quality and more toward handling and workflow efficiency.
Before the current nebula season, I once again improved the optical system of my APO. I could have saved myself a lot of trouble if I had chosen this path from the very beginning.
After the alignment of the mono setup, the first light was eagerly anticipated. The path was rockier than expected, and the devil was indeed in the details.
A tilt unit corrects sensor tilt and ensures uniform sharpness. The CTU from Gerd Neumann provides precise adjustment while also optimizing the back focus.
I chose the SkyEye62AM astrophotography camera from ToupTek Astro for my transition to mono astrophotography. My decision was primarily influenced by the Sony CMOS IMX455 sensor featured in this camera.
Here I describe the lengthy decision-making process for switching to a mono camera, including the requirements, considerations, and the specific equipment I ultimately chose.
Some time ago, I designed an adapter for the Pegasus Astro Focus Cube V2 on a Baader Diamond Steeltrack. It has now been in use for a year and can be downloaded here.
For capturing astrophotos, it doesn't always have to be a cooled astro camera. There are reasons to use a standard DSLR or DSLM camera. However, in the case of astrophotography, an astro modification is recommended.
Some starting points for those who are still looking for better guiding (like me) for astrophotography. If you got more good ideas for better guiding, please let me know in the comments.
After some months of thinking, my new high end APO and some bad guiding results forced me to find my luck in hypertuning my Sky-Watcher HEQ5 PRO mount.
