My Equipment
The tools I use to capture and process the night sky
Telescope
Celestron EdgeHD 8" SCT
My primary imaging telescope for planetary and deep sky photography.
Specifications:
- 8" (203mm) aperture
- 2032mm focal length (f/10)
- EdgeHD optical design for flat field
- Starbright XLT coatings
- CGX computerized mount
My Take:
"Excellent optical quality with minimal coma at the edges. The EdgeHD design really delivers on its promise of flat fields across the entire image plane."
William Optics RedCat 51
Ultra-portable apochromatic refractor perfect for wide-field astrophotography.
Specifications:
- 51mm aperture
- 250mm focal length (f/4.9)
- Petzval apochromatic design
- FPL-53 ED glass
- Built-in field flattener
My Take:
"An incredible grab-and-go scope that produces pinpoint stars across the entire frame. Perfect for large nebulae and Milky Way photography."
Camera
ZWO ASI294MC Pro
One-shot color astronomy camera with excellent sensitivity and cooling.
Specifications:
- 4/3" CMOS Sony IMX294 sensor
- 11.7MP resolution (4144×2822)
- Dual-stage TEC cooling (-35°C below ambient)
- 14-bit ADC
- USB 3.0 interface
My Take:
"Excellent balance of resolution and sensitivity. The cooling system works flawlessly, and the low read noise makes this perfect for deep sky imaging."
Mount
SkyWatcher Star Adventurer 2i
Portable tracking mount for wide-field astrophotography.
Specifications:
- 5kg (11lbs) payload capacity
- Built-in WiFi for smartphone control
- Multiple tracking modes (sidereal, lunar, solar)
- Polar scope included
- Battery powered (AA batteries)
My Take:
"Incredibly versatile for its size. Perfect for travel and wide-field imaging with DSLR and small telescopes."
Accessories
Pegasus Astro Ultimate Powerbox V2
Central power distribution and control system for all astronomy gear.
Specifications:
- 4 DC power outputs (12V)
- 4 USB 3.0 ports
- Dew heater control
- Weather sensor capability
- ASCOM compatible
Software
PixInsight
Professional-grade astrophotography processing platform.
Specifications:
- Advanced calibration tools
- Powerful noise reduction algorithms
- Comprehensive color calibration
- Extensive plugin system
- Regular updates and community support
Looking for recommendations?
If you're just getting started with astronomy or astrophotography and need advice on equipment, feel free to reach out!
Contact me with your questions