The gear that makes backyard deep sky imaging possible.
My primary deep sky and planetary imaging rigs.
My primary optical tube assembly for deep sky and planetary imaging. The flat-field aplanatic design delivers sharp stars edge to edge.
The backbone of the setup. This mount handles the weight of the EdgeHD with accessories and delivers reliable sub-arcsecond guiding.
Cooled one-shot color camera with an APS-C sized sensor. Zero amp glow and extremely low read noise make it ideal for long exposures.
High-speed planetary camera with excellent sensitivity in near-infrared. Used with a 2x Barlow for high-resolution planetary imaging.
The supporting gear that makes everything work together.
ZWO 30mm f/4 mini guide scope with ASI120MM Mini camera. Provides reliable autoguiding for long-exposure deep sky imaging.
Narrowband and broadband filters for cutting through light pollution and isolating emission wavelengths.
A secondary imaging setup for widefield Milky Way and constellation-scale shots mounted on a star tracker.
The small but critical pieces that keep everything running smoothly through the night.
Where the magic happens — challenges and all.
My imaging is done from a concrete pad in my backyard in the suburbs. The eastern horizon is partially blocked by trees, and a streetlight illuminates the southern sky. Despite this, careful filter selection and long integration times yield impressive results.
Bortle 6 skies with a measured SQM of ~19.2 mag/arcsec². The Milky Way is barely visible naked eye, but narrowband filters effectively isolate emission nebulae from the washed-out background.
N.I.N.A. for acquisition sequencing, PHD2 for autoguiding, PixInsight for calibration and processing, and Photoshop for final adjustments. All controlled from a mini PC mounted on the pier.
Setup takes about 20 minutes: polar align, connect equipment, run autofocus, frame the target, and start the sequence. Then I go to sleep and let N.I.N.A. handle the rest through the night.