Normally, I skip previews on Wido’s AstroForum as I prefer focusing on real-world testing from my urban rooftop. However, DWARFLAB’s new Draco smart telescope is different, as I believe it might fundamentally change amateur astrophotography in the years to come. So let me make this … Continue readingDraco Smart Telescope Preview: Goodbye nerdy Astro rigs?
The ToupTek HOPE D60 enters the wide-field astrophotography space aiming to deliver fast optical speed in a compact refractor design. Running at a fast f/4.66, it promises quick signal collection. I took it on a first light mission to photograph the expansive North America Nebula … Continue readingFirst Light Review: ToupTek HOPE D60 Astrograph
For astrophotographers who want a fast, dedicated wide-field imaging setup, finding a balance between optical quality, back-focus simplicity, and modular expansion is key. SVBONY’s SV545 45mm f/4.5 Petzval Astrograph aims directly at this sweet spot. Equipped with optional extra’s —such as the SVBONY’s Off-Axis Guider … Continue readingFirst Light Review: SVBONY SV545 Petzval Astrograph & Accessory Ecosystem
Help Us Build Better Homes in Guatemala Many families in local communities in Guatemala live without safe, sturdy shelter. We are doing our volunteer work with Constru Casa, helping to build safer, warmer, and dignified homes for families who need them most. Every contribution goes … Continue readingHelp build better homes in Guatemala
Harmonic drive (strain wave) mounts represent a massive leap forward for portable astrophotography. Instead of relying on heavy traditional gears and bulky counterweights, they utilize compact, high-torque robotic gears that pack incredible lifting power into featherweight bodies under 5 kg (11 lbs). With these next-gen … Continue readingBest Harmonic Drive Mounts for Astrophotography in 2026
By Wido Oerlemans | Last updated: June 2026 If you are hunting for the ideal beginner astrophotography mount, you have likely realized that the 8–15 kg payload range is the ultimate sweet spot for deep-sky imaging. If you’re in the market for a cutting-edge strain … Continue readingBest Beginner Telescope Mounts for Astrophotography (2026 Guide)
What advanced telescope mount is best suited to carry heavy, long focal length telescopes with reliable, sub-arcsecond tracking? If you decide to go with a time-tested classic equatorial mount, the Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro is still one of the best and most affordable options available. The … Continue readingBest Advanced Telescope Mounts for Astrophotography (2026 guide)
By: Wido Oerlemans | June 27, 2026 It sounds like the ultimate too-good-to-be-true internet ad: A lightweight, dual-axis strain wave (harmonic drive) telescope mount with massive payload capacity, zero backlash, and a price tag that shatters mainstream retail. If you have spent any time browsing … Continue readingA Sub-$1,000 Strain Wave Mount?: Comparing the budget Teseek & Juwei 14/17 to the mainstream ZWO AM3N/AM5N
By Wido Oerlemans June 17, 2026 If you were watching the live streams today, you saw history happen. At 13:53 CEST (08:53 local time in Kourou), Arianespace pulled off flight VA269. The heavy-lift Ariane 64 configuration blasted off using its brand-new, upgraded P160C solid rocket … Continue readingWhat the New Amazon LEO Mega-Constellation Means for Amateur and Professional Astronomy
There is a specific moment in every astrophotographer’s journey that changes everything. You’ve spent months, maybe years, shooting wide nebula fields with a crisp triplet refractor. You’ve mastered the Orion Nebula, tracked the Pleiades, and captured the vast tendrils of the Veil. But then, late … Continue readingThe Ultimate Celestron EdgeHD Buying & Astrophotography Guide