Last Updated on May 1, 2024 by Gene Timothy As a beginner and as seasoned imagers, we will all experience a Night of Frustration when imaging, it’s not a matter of IF it’s a matter of WHEN. The more we plan for our nights of astroimaging the more likely we are to have an enjoyable and successful outing. We often forgot just how many pieces of equipment need to work together in harmony to get those fantastic images of the night sky. With so many “moving” parts of your setup, there are always bound to be small issues or ‘kinks” that will be sure to ruin your night if not planned and prepared for ..read more

Last Updated on March 13, 2024 by Practical Astrophotography Staff We will once again be attending the North East Astronomy Forum in Suffern NY on April 19-20th. The World’s Largest Astronomy & Space Expo! Bringing you the Universe in two exciting event-packed days, NEAF is renowned worldwide as the ultimate astronomy and space experience. Nowhere else can you find so much in one place or at one time. For more details, visit: NEAFExpo.com With 90,000 of showroom floor, Speakers, Workshops, Solar viewing, Door prizes and many activities this is a must-visit event! The post NEAF 2024 ..read more

Last Updated on February 23, 2024 by Practical Astrophotography Staff Gazing up at the night sky, it’s impossible not to feel a sense of wonder and curiosity. For beginners venturing into the world of astronomy, a telescope can open up a whole new realm of exploration. But to truly unlock the universe’s secrets, one must navigate the night sky with precision. That’s where polar alignment comes into play. Polar alignment is the process of aligning a telescope’s mount with the celestial pole, ensuring optimal performance and accuracy. Whether you’re a seasoned astronomer or just starting out, pe ..read more

Last Updated on May 13, 2022 by Practical Astrophotography Staff The new monochrome version of ZWO’s popular ASI533MC-Pro cooled astronomy camera has been announced. The new camera has a 9-megapixel 1′′-class square sensor, two-stage cooling, low read noise, and virtually no amp glow. It also has a 91 percent quantum efficiency, making it easier to collect photos of deep-sky and solar system objects swiftly. A 512MB storage memory and USB3.0 data transfer are included in the camera. The ASI533MM-Pro is currently available for pre-order in limited quantities, with delivery set for May 2022. Pro ..read more

Last Updated on May 13, 2022 by Practical Astrophotography Staff Since its introduction in 2014, the Star Adventurer has been at the forefront of the lightweight, portable astroimaging revolution. And now, with the Star Adventurer GTi, we take the next step with full GoTo performance in a compact package. The all-new Star Adventurer GTi features a built-in illuminated polar scope for precision alignment in EQ mode, ports for USB, autoguider, V-style dovetail, optional SynScan hand controller, and SNAP shutter control for your DSLR (programmable via Sky-Watcher’s free SynScan Pro app for iOS an ..read more

Last Updated on February 26, 2022 by Practical Astrophotography Staff M31 Before BASIC IMAGE ENHANCEMENT USING CURVES Abobe Photoshop is a powerful and versatile program that is well-suited for astrophotographers. However, precisely because of its many functions, mastering it can be an overwhelming task. Still, there are several basic techniques that one can easily use to enhance what may initially appear to be a very uninteresting image. You can accomplish much with the use of the Curves and Levels tools alone. The Before image is a median combination of four five-minute exposures of M31 take ..read more

Last Updated on March 4, 2022 by Practical Astrophotography Staff Update: WE will NOT be attending this Years NEAF as it has been CANCELLED! See official notice below – Due to ongoing Covid and world economy concerns and impacts on product availability, NEAF has been confronted with significantly lower participation rates for 2022 than anticipated.  RAC has concluded, after considerable effort, that it will not be possible to present NEAF/NEAIC at the high level of quality and excellence that our patrons and exhibitors have come to expect.  Rat ..read more

Last Updated on January 11, 2022 by Practical Astrophotography Staff The Nexstar Series of Telescopes are a great “First Scope” for those who want a computerized “Go-To” scope which can also be used for basic to intermediate Astrophotography. The Nexstar is capable of resolving the rings on Saturn as well as the bands of Jupiter with the proper accessories. It is not uncommon for those who are just starting out with this scope to be a little confused or need some additional clarification for getting the “Go-to” feature setup. SkyAlign Introduced with NexStar hand control version 4 (first inclu ..read more

Last Updated on February 24, 2022 by Practical Astrophotography Staff About a week ago I received a production sample of the new ZWO ASI2600MM pro camera. This camera uses the Sony IMX571 APS-C monochrome sensor and that is a big deal in the amateur astrophotography community. Up until now, there were no options for APS-C mono sensors. The sensor has no amp glow and it has a native 16bit ADC. The camera has the familiar format of other full-size ZWO cameras. The body is identical to the 6200. The main exterior difference is the tilt plate which has an M42 connection as opposed to the m54 of th ..read more

Last Updated on February 21, 2022 by Practical Astrophotography Staff Astrophotography and Deep Sky Photography Tips – Part I   Basic Equipment for Astrophotography and Deep Sky Imaging: Astrophotography or “Deep Sky Imaging” is one of the most technical types of photography and can test the skill and patience of even the most experienced photographers. There are a lot of technical aspects that need to be addressed, but for someone just starting out, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. We will provide a few easy to accomplish steps that can help get you started with a minimal headache. Astro ..read more