Reviews, comparisons and overviews of the best gear for astrophotography
In this blog, I’m sharing my first full night with the StellaVita Smart Astrophotography Controller (formerly the AstroStation). Huge thanks to ToupTek for sending this unit over for an independent and unpaid review. My goal: see if this device can truly act as a “universal … Continue readingToupTek StellaVita Smart Astrophotography Controller Review (v2.05)
It’s early March, and a brilliant Full Moon is lighting up the night sky. For many astrophotographers, that much moonlight makes capturing faint deep-sky objects feel like a lost cause. But with a monochrome narrowband setup, you can block out most of that unwanted glare … Continue readingBeating the Full Moon: First Light with the ToupTek ATR585M on the Tadpoles Nebula
After weeks of snow and cold, cloudy weather, we finally have clear skies again here in the Netherlands! So I took out my Edge HD 8″ to test the new SC571CC camera and the SV241 Power Hub, which SVbony kindly sent me for an independent … Continue readingSvbony SC571CC Color Camera + SV241 Power Hub – First Light Review
Do you have trouble deciding which budget smart telescope fits your needs? Then you’ve come to the right blog! In this overview, I’ll compare the most affordable smart telescopes in the $400 to $600 price range. These include ZWO’s Seestar S30, S30 Pro, and S50, … Continue readingBest Budget Smart Telescope in 2026 – Seestar (S30, S30 Pro & S50) vs Dwarf 3 and Mini
In this in-depth review, I share my real-world experience with the new Seestar S30 Pro smart telescope from ZWO, based on two cold winter nights of testing under light-polluted urban skies. I cover everything from unboxing and specifications to solar, lunar, and deep-sky imaging, and … Continue readingSeestar S30 Pro Review & Tutorial
Vaonis recently sent me their brand-new Vespera II-X smart telescope, and over the past weeks I’ve been putting it through a series of real-world imaging sessions. I was curious how this new model performs on a wide range of astronomical objects, from high-contrast daytime imaging … Continue readingVespera II-X Smart Telescope Review + Tutorial
In this review blog, I’m looking at the Dwarf Mini smart telescope from Dwarflab. It weighs less than a kilogram, costs around $399, and promises that you can be set up in under three minutes and ready to take impressive pictures of the night sky. … Continue readingDwarf Mini Smart Telescope – Review & Tutorial
The ZWO ASI2600 series is one of the most popular camera lines in amateur astrophotography. But here’s the problem: it’s not just one camera. There are mono and color versions, Duo models with a guide sensor built in, and even Air models with integrated ASIAIR … Continue readingZWO ASI2600 Pro color vs mono vs DUO vs AIR Compared: Which One Should You Choose?
As the warm nights return, the Milky Way’s bright band stretches from the Northern Cross of Cygnus down through Cepheus, Vulpecula, Serpens, and into the heart of Sagittarius. Each of these constellations hides standout nebulae—giant glowing clouds, delicate filaments, and jewel-bright clusters—that make summer astrophotography … Continue readingBest Summer Deep-Sky Astrophotography to Photograph
How much does your telescope’s aperture really matter? Is bigger always better? These are questions I get all the time. And the short answer is: yes, aperture matters—a lot. But there’s more nuance to it than just “bigger equals better.” In this post, we’ll explore … Continue readingDoes Telescope Aperture Really Matter? YES — Here’s Why!