Recent Additions

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  Revealing The Nebulae With Pixinsight

  May 30 2025 11:53 PM by rtivel

  In my previous article, In search of the Stars, I described the imaging system hardware and software I use for astroimaging. The system includes an Optolong L-eNhance Dual Bandpass Light Pollution Reduction Imaging Filter that enables me to capture many nebulae with amazing detail. I will use this article to explain how the images were revealed with PixInsight. The Resources section at the end of the article contains a list of relevant references.

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  Configuring an 8" RC Telescope for Astrophotography

  May 30 2025 01:32 PM by rpmahesh

  I got introduced to astrophotography by a good friend of mine. Astrophotography piqued my natural interest, and I plunged into it two years ago. I started with a Vespera Smart Alt-Azimuth telescope to learn and start exploring deep space. Over time, I wanted a setup to give me greater control and reach to photograph high-resolution deep-space objects. After months of research, I decided on an 8" Ritchey-Chrétien telescope for its focal length, speed, size, and weight. Many members shared valuable insights from their experiences that helped me decide on specific components. I am sharing my experience of building my 8" Ritchey-Chrétien telescope (RCT)

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  First Light with My New Telescope System: A Detailed Review

  May 26 2025 10:18 PM by Skywatcher76

  Overall, this first light session exceeded all expectations. The system performed flawlessly, and while there are areas to tweak—like Dec balancing, guiding refinement, and learning how to autofocus without rage-quitting—the foundation is rock solid. Spending extra time on polar alignment proved to be the best decision of the night, ensuring a productive session with minimal frustration.

Cloudy Nights Announcements

User Reviews

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  First Light with My New Telescope System: A Detailed Review

  May 26 2025 04:18 PM by Skywatcher76

  Overall, this first light session exceeded all expectations. The system performed flawlessly, and while there are areas to tweak—like Dec balancing, guiding refinement, and learning how to autofocus without rage-quitting—the foundation is rock solid. Spending extra time on polar alignment proved to be the best decision of the night, ensuring a productive session with minimal frustration.

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  Review of the New SHG700 spectroheliograph

  Apr 27 2025 09:46 AM by armicheal

  Build wise, the SHG700 is high end all the way with its aluminum body, 7mm quartz slit, and micrometer driven focus points. I had no issues imaging the Sun with it but do have the experience of using a Sol’Ex prior to getting my SHG700 so I sort of knew what to expect. It appears the designer took the best parts of the Sol’Ex and added updates that really make it easy to use and more durable. The full disk images it delivers are exponentially more complex and richer than most dedicated Solar telescopes.

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  Review: Photographic Atlas of the Moon-A Comprehensive Guide for the Amateur Astronomer by Robert...

  Apr 27 2025 09:01 AM by LunarObserver

  If the Moon is the subject of your astronomical observing program, whether as a beginner or seasoned observer, Robert Reeves Photographic Atlas of the Moon seems to me as a must-have resource. Way back when I started my lunar explorations, I wish that this book had been around. Luckily for the lunar observer of the mid 2020s, there are a good number of fine lunar observing books to choose from. This one should be at the top of that list.

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  Review: Taurus T400 16" f/4.5 Ultra Light (without optics)

  Feb 23 2025 04:07 PM by darksky97

  It seems we’re dealing with a truss telescope that could have been made much better, considering its price. However, its advantages allow me to enjoy it immensely, as they meet exactly what I wanted from a telescope of this type: to be very practical, meaning portable and easy to manage, with good mechanics that facilitate maintaining collimation.

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  Celestron AZ 102 refractor telescope review – through the eyes of a beginner

  Mar 09 2025 02:38 PM by Pierre C

  I think the Celestron AZ 102 refractor available at Costco is a starter telescope for a beginner. It is affordable, easy to set up and easy to use. It provides solid views of a range of objects at low and medium power. It can accept upgraded optical components for even better views.

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  Celestron Origin Review

  Jan 26 2025 12:47 PM by StargazerMax94

  The Celestron Origin sure is a fun treat! I won't lie, it is one of the most exciting astronomy products I have looked at in a long time. But it is not for everyone and I will be the first to admit that. The Origin is the perfect telescope for clubs, schools and people who are interested in EAA. It is the perfect balance of portability, capability and overall performance for a decently small profile. It is nowhere near as big as my C9.25 with an EQ mount, cameras, Hyperstar, yada yada yada, but it is still the largest of the smart telescopes out there. The Origin has wonderful optical quality, really good tech and super convenient features for everyone at any skill level.

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  First Impressions: StellaMira 80mm APO doublet review

  Jan 26 2025 12:21 PM by urright4me

  This ota will spend most of its life on my balcony, and while it does not compare to an ES165mm or 127mm triplet, it is fairly equal to past WO110mm mergrez and SW102mm doublet refractors I had (at least to my eyes). But for ease of use, fine focus, and sharpness of the well color corrected field it’s superb. In the SM80, the surrounding silky black sky (well good contrast, it is Dallas after all) make this an ideal scope for my particular needs.

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  DocTelescope LaserMax II 20” F/3.6 review

  Jan 09 2025 07:07 AM by multijon

  As of the time writing this review, while I'm still waiting to enable the motorized capabilities of my scope, it has exceeded all my expectations (except the Zenith viewing one). It is truly a work of art, a beautiful design that is also highly functional, and I am grateful to all of the professionals who made this dream come true. I also appreciate the human connections I formed during this scope's inception and hope that I enjoy it and my new friendships for years to come.

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  An Odyssey of Three Oberwerk Binoculars for Astronomical Viewing

  Dec 29 2024 12:40 PM by morgan a.

  I have zero buyer’s remorse after ruminating on these binos and having used them thus far to the extent reported. I expect their service life to exceed mine. I understood their functions and limitations well before purchasing. They have greatly enhanced my astronomical viewing and filled a niche falling below the magnification thresholds of my telescopes, but with a significantly expanded actual field of view, while still providing significant magnification levels above my 12x50s. While there are other high quality brand binoculars available, most are tailored for “sport” use and affordability/variety peaks around the 15x56 size. I do not know of any other brand that currently offers binos in the 15x – 25 x ranges with apertures up to 100mm with the features, quality, product support, customer service and price that Oberwerk offers.

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  Review of the 20” DocTelescopes Lasermax II F3.53

  Dec 01 2024 11:33 AM by PeterWar

  The DocTelescopes Lasermax II F3.53 offers a remarkable viewing experience with excellent build quality and customization options. Its ease of transport and assembly make it a top choice. This is a complex telescope not recommended for beginners but a delight for advanced amateur astronomers.

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  Musings on a $50 Fathers Day Astronomy Present

  Sep 29 2024 01:53 PM by TonyCaf

  For fathers day recently, the wife asked me what I wanted. I told her I had been looking at a $150 GSKYER long focal length refractor on an online marketplace. That was a while ago. I had recently noticed the owner had dropped the price to 50 dollars and with it being fathers day, what did I have to lose? She said yes and we scooped it up. Tonight was the first night (In a long while) that I would get a chance to see how far 50 dollars could go in astronomy fun.

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  The Rockin’ TD Ranch - a review of sorts

  Sep 29 2024 01:03 PM by johnstra

  Smack in the middle of the Massacre Rim Dark Sky Sanctuary in Northwestern Navada sits an Airbnb called the Rockin’ TD Ranch. The nearest town is Cederville, CA, population 530, which is 20 miles west down a dirt road. Alturas is another 30 miles west so the term middle of nowhere is apropos.