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Astrophotography
For beginners
Portfolio
Story
Setup
Videos
Astrophotography vlog and tutorials

Astrophotography
For beginners
Portfolio
Story
Setup
Videos
Astrophotography vlog and tutorials

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My Astrophotography Setup as a beginner

Are you a budding astrophotographer in search of a high-quality yet beginner-friendly setup? Look no further! In this guide, I’ll walk you through my personal wide-field astrophotography setup and share tips on capturing mesmerizing images of nebulas, large galaxies, and more. We’ll explore everything from scope selection and mounts to filters and autoguiding. Let’s get started!

If you want to see the results obtain with this astrophotography setup, click here. You can also subscribe to my Youtube Channel should you be interested to see the astrophotography setup in action.

Why should you choose a Wide-Field Astrophotography setup?

Ideal Focal Length: My primary telescope has a 250mm focal length (f/4.9), which is perfect for capturing wide vistas of the sky—great for nebulas (e.g., North America Nebula) and expansive galaxies (e.g., Andromeda).
Beginner-Friendly: Wider fields of view are more forgiving in tracking accuracy. You can achieve stunning results with simpler gear, making it an excellent path into deep-sky photography.
Darker Skies, Better Images: Seek a location with a low Bortle number (the lower, the darker the sky). The Bortle scale measures sky darkness; Bortle 1 or 2 sites offer incredibly clear views, but even Bortle 4 or 5 can yield decent results with narrowband filters.

Deep-Sky astrophotography Setup Overview

Telescope & Mount – the basis of my astrophotography setup

William Optics Redcat 51 II: Compact Yet Powerful

Apochromatic Refractor: The Redcat 51 II boasts a 51mm aperture and a 250mm focal length (f/4.9), delivering remarkably crisp and wide-field images.
Premium Optics: This Petzval design features four elements, including two made of FPL53 glass to minimize chromatic aberration. Expect pinpoint stars, minimal color fringing, and breathtaking clarity.
Built-In Bahtinov Mask: Integrated into the lens cap, it allows for precise focusing by creating diffraction spikes around bright stars—making your focus routine simpler and more accurate.
Portable & Versatile: Lightweight, compact, and travel-friendly, the Redcat can even be used for terrestrial photography. The robust helical focuser ensures smooth focusing and supports heavier imaging gear without slippage.

Celestron AVX: Entry-Level Equatorial Mount

Equatorial Precision: The Celestron Advanced VX (AVX) is engineered to track celestial objects accurately for long-exposure imaging.
PPEC (Periodic Error Correction): The mount’s permanently programmable error correction tackles common gear inaccuracies, enhancing tracking over extended sessions.
All-Star Polar Alignment: Aligning is simplified, even if the pole star is obscured. A must for beginner astrophotographers who want hassle-free setup.
Affordable & Upgradable: It’s a budget-friendly choice with a 30 lb payload capacity. If you want higher portability later, you can upgrade to a harmonic drive mount for lighter travel and improved performance.

Autoguiding Setup to get sharp astrophotography with my setup

Accurate guiding is crucial for sharp images during multi-minute exposures. Here’s how I optimize my autoguiding:

ZWO ASI 290MM Mini

- High Sensitivity: The Sony IMX290 monochrome sensor captures faint guide stars even in light-polluted skies.
- Low Noise, Fast Frame Rate: Helps reduce tracking errors by quickly correcting any mount drift.
- Compact & Lightweight: Minimizes load on your scope or OAG setup

ZWO OAG (Off-Axis Guider)

- Eliminates Differential Flexure: Both your main camera and guide camera use the same optical path, ensuring you track exactly what you’re imaging.
- Adjustable Prism: Allows you to find a suitable guide star without obstructing your main sensor.
- Challenge: Focusing the guide camera can be trickier compared to a dedicated guide scope, but it enhances guiding precision in the long run.
- William Optics Uniguide (Guide Scope Alternative)
  - Easy to Focus: A separate mini-telescope that’s simpler to set up for guiding.
  - Wide FOV: Makes it easier to locate guide stars.
  - Potential Drawback: Slight risk of differential flexure if your guide scope or mount isn’t rigid enough.

Imaging Camera & Software for qualitative astrophotographies

Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM Cooled

Monochrome Sensor Advantage: Captures more detail and excels with narrowband filters—key for revealing faint nebulas in light-polluted skies.
Cooling System: Reduces thermal noise, vital for long-exposure deep-sky imaging.
High Resolution: 16MP sensor with low noise and high dynamic range to bring out subtle celestial features.

Control & Acquisition: ZWO ASIAIR Mini

All-In-One Control: Wirelessly manage your mount, camera, filter wheel, and focuser from a user-friendly mobile app.
Plate Solving & All-Sky Polar Align: Even if you can’t see Polaris (my terrace faces south), the all-sky routine helps you achieve accurate alignment.
Automation: Sequence your exposures, switch filters, or refocus automatically—perfect for overnight sessions.

Processing: PixInsight

SHO (Hubble Palette) Processing: Combine SII (Sulfur II), Hα (Hydrogen Alpha), and OIII (Oxygen III) channels into a single color masterpiece.
Advanced Calibration: Calibrate your light frames with dark, flat, and bias frames for cleaner, more detailed images.
Post-Processing Tools: Noise reduction, deconvolution, and color calibration to enhance faint nebulas or galaxy structures.

Filters & Focuser – the forgotten accesories for a good astrophotography setup

ZWO EAF (Electronic Automatic Focuser)

Hands-Free Sharpness: Automates focus checks and adjusts for temperature shifts throughout the night.
Seamless Integration: Controlled via ASIAIR or a PC, saving you from manual tweaks in the dark.

ZWO EFW (Electronic Filter Wheel)

8×1.25″ Slots: Quickly switch among LRGB or SHO filters without manually touching the scope.
Precise Motor Positioning: Ensures filters align perfectly, reducing vignetting or misalignment issues.

LRGB Filters: Astronomik

Best for Galaxies & Star Clusters: Capture natural color data—Luminance for detail and RGB for true color representation.
High Transmission: Great optical quality, minimal light pollution interference.

SHO Filters: Optolong

Narrowband Efficiency: Isolate SII, Hα, and OIII emission lines to highlight nebulas with striking detail and contrast.
Light Pollution Fighter: Ideal for urban environments by blocking out unwanted wavelengths.

Storage & Power – to make your astrophotography lasts through the whole night

SanDisk SSD 1TB

Fast Data Transfer: Essential for handling large FITS files or video captures without bottlenecks.
Rugged & Portable: No moving parts, making it a reliable option for field use.

Omegon Pro 96k LiFePO4 (307Wh, 12V) Powerbank

Long-lasting Capacity: Powers the mount, camera, and accessories for an entire night of imaging.
Safe & Stable: Lithium iron phosphate technology offers a longer cycle life and reliable performance in various temperatures.

Dual-Purpose Gear

Samsung S23 Ultra
- Mobile Astrophotography: Great for quick, wide-field night-sky shots or behind-the-scenes clips.
- High-Resolution Sensor: Captures impressive low-light photos and short videos for social media or personal reference.

A Typical Night of Imaging with your astrophotographhy setup

Pre-Session Checklist

Mount Setup & Balance: Attach the Redcat 51 II to the Celestron AVX; ensure proper balance in RA/DEC.
Polar Alignment: Use the all-sky polar alignment feature in ASIAIR. Perfect if you don’t have a direct view of Polaris.
Cables & Power: Connect your mount, ASIAIR Mini, camera, focuser, and powerbank (Omegon Pro). Double-check that everything’s secure.
Focusing: Start with the built-in Bahtinov mask or use the ZWO EAF to nail focus.

Calibration Frames

Dark Frames: Same temperature & exposure as your lights, but with the scope’s front covered (reduces thermal noise).
Flat Frames: Aim a uniformly illuminated surface or the sky at dawn to correct for dust/vignetting.
Bias Frames: Shortest possible exposure with the lens cap on, removing readout noise from your final image.

Simple SHO Workflow in PixInsight

Channel Capture: Gather SII, Hα, and OIII frames.
Stack & Calibrate: Use darks, flats, and bias frames for each filter set.
Combine Channels: Assign SII → Red, Hα → Green, and OIII → Blue (the classic Hubble Palette).
Enhance: Apply background extraction, noise reduction, and color calibration to balance the SHO color scheme.
Final Touches: Curves, star reduction, or selective color tweaks to highlight faint nebulosity.

Practical Considerations

Budget & Value

While not the absolute cheapest, this gear offers excellent quality-to-price ratio: advanced optics, stable mount, and a cohesive set of accessories that yield professional-level results.

Portability & Protection

Geoptik Cases: I own three—one for the telescope, one for accessories, and another for the mount. Protects your investment during travel or storage.

Maintenance & Care

Optics Cleaning: Use a blower brush first; avoid harsh chemicals.
Electronic Storage: Keep everything in a dry place; humidity can corrode internal components.
Self-Taught Enthusiasm: I learned most of this on my own—don’t be afraid of the learning curve. Consistent practice is key!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is the Celestron AVX really good enough for long exposures?
- Yes. Though an entry-level equatorial mount, the AVX tracks well—especially when paired with autoguiding and PPEC.
Should I start with LRGB or narrowband filters first?
- LRGB is great for galaxies and star clusters in natural color.
- SHO narrowband excels at bringing out faint details in emission nebulas and combats light pollution effectively.
How long does the Omegon LiFePO4 powerbank last?
- With a 307Wh capacity, it typically powers a mount, camera, and accessories through an entire night (6–8+ hours), depending on energy draw.
What if my terrace only faces south and I can’t see Polaris?
- The all-sky polar alignment feature (e.g., in ASIAIR) works regardless of direct Polaris visibility.
Why use a monochrome camera like the ASI1600MM over a color camera?
- Mono sensors capture more detail and pair with filters (LRGB or SHO) for maximum flexibility and image depth.
Does the ZWO EAF significantly improve my imaging?
- Absolutely. Automated focusing ensures sharp stars through changing temperatures and eliminates guesswork.

Conclusion & Next Steps

By combining the William Optics Redcat 51 II with the Celestron AVX and a thoughtful mix of accessories—from ZWO’s autoguiding system to narrowband filters—you can achieve stunning, wide-field astrophotography results even as a beginner. I’ve personally tested and refined this setup, and it continues to deliver incredible images of galaxies, star clusters, and nebulas.

See the Proof: Check out my portfolio (where I showcase images captured with this gear) to see exactly what’s possible.
Watch in Action: I also have a video of my setup running under dark skies—great for visual learners.
Final Tip: Always take care of your equipment and plan each session carefully. The night sky holds endless wonders, and with the right preparation, you’re sure to capture its splendor in vivid detail.

Clear skies and happy imaging!

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Astrophotography
For beginners
Portfolio
Story
Setup
Videos
Astrophotography vlog and tutorials

Astrophotography
For beginners
Portfolio
Story
Setup
Videos
Astrophotography vlog and tutorials