Astrophotography

Deep Sky Dad talks scopes, tech, and the future of astrophotography

Friday, July 25, 2025 1

We sat down with Pavle Gartner - the man behind Deep Sky Dad, the DIY innovator lighting up the night sky. From custom astro gear to bold visions for the future, he’s redefining what’s possible in backyard astrophotography—one motorized marvel at a time.

We recently caught up with Pavle Gartner—aka DeepSkyDad—the tech-savvy astro gear guru who’s turning stargazing into a full-time gig. In this down-to-earth Q&A, Pavle dishes on everything from backyard stargazing with his brothers to building slick, motorized magic for your rig. He shares how his love of the night sky and a knack for coding fused into a booming business, what it’s really like designing gear for fellow astro-nerds, and where he thinks the hobby’s heading next (spoiler: it’s awesome)

Deep Sky Dad Chat - ScopeTrader: What is your background in astronomy?

DeepSkyDad: I've been passionate about astronomy for as long as I can remember. My brother and I would often watch the Perseids on clear summer nights, marveling as they entered the atmosphere and burned up, leaving behind glowing green trails. One of my most awe-inspiring memories is of comet Hale–Bopp, which remained visible to the naked eye for an incredible 18 months.

In 2014, I got my first telescope, a Skywatcher Skyhawk 114/1000 EQ1. Before that, I explored the night sky with 10×50 binoculars. Every time I look up at the stars, I wonder who might be looking back.

Ten years ago, I started astrophotography, allowing me to capture and share the wonders of the universe. It has since become my greatest passion and number-one hobby. Photographing deep-sky objects feels like stepping into a time machine, when ancient photons from the farthest corners of the universe hit the camera sensor, revealing even the faintest details, it's truly an amazing feeling.

ScopeTrader: Why the name "Deep Sky Dad"?

DeepSkyDad: I am a husband and father of two children, who are the most precious part of my life. In astrophotography, I enjoy capturing all kinds of celestial objects, planets, the Moon, sunspots, eclipses, and even space station transits. However, my favorite targets are deep-sky objects, especially distant galaxies and quasars.

With a background in software engineering, I combined my expertise with my love for astronomy and began developing affordable autofocusers. When it came time to choose a brand name, I wanted one that reflected my identity: a father and an astronomer, with a special passion for deep-sky objects. "Deep Sky Dad" captured that perfectly.

ScopeTrader: What telescope gear do you currently use?

DeepSkyDad: I own several telescopes of different types. Some, like my Skywatcher 200P, Nikon 10×50 binoculars, and Canon 50mm lens, predate Deep Sky Dad. However, most of my equipment was acquired during the development of various astrophotography solutions. My collection includes:

TS ONTC 10”
RedCat 51
RedCat 61
RedCat 71
Redcat 91
Askar FMA 180 Pro
Askar FMA 230
DayStar Solar Scount 60 with Quark chromosphere

Recently, we also acquired a 10” truss RC telescope, which is excellent for imaging galaxies thanks to its focal length and more stable collimation compared to Newtonian reflectors.

ScopeTrader: What drives your passion for designing and selling astrophotography accessories?

DeepSkyDad: I've always enjoyed tinkering and solving problems, especially those that require thinking outside the box. Astrophotography offers plenty of opportunities for innovation, and with my background in software engineering, 3D printing, and design, the possibilities are virtually endless.

But I couldn't do this alone. Soon after founding Deep Sky Dad, Jernej Hostar joined the team. His expertise in electronics, software development, and business strategy has been crucial to our success. As we slowly expand our team, we remain driven by our passion for tackling challenging projects and quality customer support.

Above all, it’s incredibly rewarding to help fellow astrophotographers across the globe by providing affordable accessories that allow them to capture photons that have traveled for millions, even billions, of years.

ScopeTrader: What are some of your most popular products?

DeepSkyDad: Our best-selling products include:

Motorized flat panels (by far the most popular)
All-sky camera enclosures
DC power splitters
Autofocusers
Lens autofocusing kits
Aperture masks
Field Rotator

One of our first notable projects was the RedCat helical autofocuser kit. We were the first on the market with an affordable solution, and soon after, other companies followed with nearly identical kits, so I’d say we’re doing something right!

ScopeTrader: Can you tell us about your partnership with Starfront on low-profile flat panels?

DeepSkyDad: A few months ago, we discussed flat panels with Bray Falls, as we had already provided several standard motorized flat panels for their customers. He pointed out that the traditional design increases the overall length of the setup, which can be problematic in remote hosting facilities with limited space.

Bray suggested a solution with sideways motion, so we began brainstorming. After several design iterations, the Observatory Flap Panel 2 (OFP2) was born. I now use it on my 10” RC telescope, and you can find more details on our webshop or YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrkufDC6qnU.

ScopeTrader: Where do you see amateur astronomy in five years?

DeepSkyDad: Amateur astronomy is evolving at an incredible pace, thanks to rapid technological advancements that make equipment more affordable. I believe more people will shift toward remote setups for better sky conditions.

With spaceflight costs dropping, it's conceivable that within five years we might see the first private or amateur telescopes launched into Earth's orbit. While this prospect is exciting, I also have mixed feelings, as the increasing number of orbital objects poses challenges for ground-based astronomy.

ScopeTrader: What’s next for Deep Sky Dad?

DeepSkyDad: Right now, we’re busy producing the Observatory Flap Panels, but we have plenty of new ideas in the pipeline! Some upcoming projects include: