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25 dew shield astronomy news items found

Seestar accessories you need now

When I first unboxed the Seestar I was honestly surprised at how simple it felt. I popped it out of the case, set it on the tripod, hit the power button, and even with the battery only factory charged - not fully topped off - it just worked. All that was left to do was wait for the sky to darken. It felt almost brainless, and I mean that in the best way. Still, after a ...

Stellarvue SVX152T Apo triplet refractor

The Stellarvue SVX152T is a 6-inch apochromatic triplet refractor telescope designed for both visual observing and astrophotography. Built around a precision 152 mm objective lens, the SVX152T is the result of years of refinement at Stellarvue. It's hand-figured and tested using interferometry to achieve a Strehl ratio of .97 to .98 in red light, making it one of th...

Askar 80ED refractor tested with the ASI2600MC and ASI585MC

The Askar 80ED is a compact, lightweight refractor that comes in around $400, making it an attractive option for beginner astrophotographers or anyone looking for a grab-and-go setup. It’s an 80mm doublet with a straightforward design, one ED glass element paired with a standard crown lens. With a focal length of 560mm and an f/7 ratio, it's built for simplici...

Sky Rover 86MA overview

The Sky Rover 86MA is a multi-purpose apochromatic refractor built for astrophotographers seeking high-quality imaging performance without paying a premium brand tax. Emerging from a manufacturer more commonly known for binoculars and spotting scopes, this telescope marks a significant step for Sky Rover into deep-sky imaging territory. Despite its relatively recent app...

Sky-Watcher HAC125DX Mini astrograph

There’s something about a small telescope that reminds me of a pocketknife in some ways. It may not look like much at first, but if it’s well built and purpose driven, it can surprise you with just how capable it really is. The Sky Watcher HAC125DX Mini astrograph falls into that category. It’s compact enough to carry under one arm and subtle enough no...

$400 telescope shootoff

Let’s be honest - astrophotography isn’t exactly known as a “cheap” hobby. But for a lot of folks, especially those just getting started, there's a hard limit on what they can spend. Maybe it’s $400. That’s it. That’s the telescope budget. And in a world where eyepieces can cost that much alone, you’ve got to make it c...

Telescopes and ice cream - whats your flavor of stargazing

What do ice cream and telescopes have in common? Surprisingly, quite a lot. Astronomy and ice cream both offer a wide range of “flavors,” and just like a favorite scoop, a stargazing style often reflects personal taste. Some observers prefer the simplicity of a quiet night under the Moon, while others dive deep into complex imaging setups. Many enjoy switchi...

Tele Vue-85: 20 years later and still a giant in the galaxy game

The Tele Vue-85 has been a steadfast companion to astronomers for over 20 years. First introduced in the late 1990s, it quickly earned a reputation for optical excellence and rugged reliability. Many enthusiasts still treasure early 2000s models that continue to deliver crisp, pinpoint stars night after night. Remarkably, the core design has remained true to its origina...

StellaMira 86mm astrophotography refractor

Priced at $1,525, the StellaMira 86mm ED Quadruplet f/7 Flatfield Refractor Telescope presents an outstanding value proposition for astrophotographers seeking a premium flat-field refractor without venturing into high-end professional pricing tiers. It belongs to a class of telescopes designed specifically for imaging rather than casual visual observation, with a carefu...

Astrophysics 110GTX APO Telescope

Designed to strike a balance between portability, optical precision, and adaptability, the 110GTX showcases some of the most advanced design decisions Astro-Physics has ever implemented in a small refractor. A key aim was to create a telescope that could easily fit into an airline overhead compartment while still delivering the kind of flat, color-corrected fields neede...

Ultra-Cat 76 coming soon

With the upcoming release of the Ultra-Cat 76 scheduled for July or August 2025, anticipation is building among dedicated astrophotographers and optical equipment enthusiasts. This compact but highly advanced refractor telescope is designed with a single purpose, delivering uncompromising optical performance in a portable, adaptable form factor. Built around a 76mm apoc...

GSO F4 Newtonian - sharp but flawed

The GSO 6" F/4 Newtonian telescope has quietly established itself as a popular option in the astrophotography community, largely due to its appealing mix of price, aperture, and speed. It’s not a new telescope by any means, and those who’ve been around amateur astronomy for a while are likely familiar with its design lineage and rebrands, most notably a...

GIOTTO flat field generator

The GIOTTO flat field generator is designed to produce calibration frames for astrophotography by delivering consistent and even illumination across the telescope's aperture. It works with a variety of telescope types and sizes, as long as the selected model provides a panel diameter larger than the external tube diameter of the telescope. This ensures that the enti...

Flat Frames in Astrophotography

Flat frames play an essential yet often misunderstood role in astrophotography. Their purpose extends beyond technical calibration, they are the gateway to producing consistently clean, artifact-free images that reflect only the celestial objects you intend to capture. While many astrophotographers focus heavily on capturing long exposures and stacking techniques, it is...

Askar SQA106 review by AstroBackyard

The Askar SQA106 is a 106mm aperture refractor telescope with a focal length of 509mm and a focal ratio of f/4.8. It uses a fixed quintuplet Petzval design that includes two SD (super low dispersion) glass elements. This configuration is designed to minimize field curvature and maintain sharp focus across the image circle without requiring a separate field flattener. Th...

Sky-Watcher HAC125DX Minigraph

Sky-Watcher has just dropped something really exciting for us backyard astrophotographers—the new HAC125DX Minigraph. This thing is a 5-inch, f/2 Honders astrograph, and it’s built for speed. I mean serious speed. It’s compact, lightweight, and super portable—exactly what you want when you're setting up in your backyard, hea...

Celestron RASA 6 inch telescope arrives

Celestron has introduced a new , seriously exciting telescope: the RASA 6, or Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph 6. Now this little beast is a fast imaging system — we’re talking f/2.2 — which means you can pull in a ton of light really quickly. That translates to super short exposures and wide-field shots that are perfect for capturing those ...

This 102mm telescope is $230 right now!

Folks, if you’re looking for a solid, budget-friendly refractor, the SVBONY SV48P is a 102mm f/6.5 achromat that punches well above its price tag. This thing has a fully multi-coated doublet lens, giving you crisp views with minimal chromatic aberration—especially for the price. Now, the 2.5-inch dual-speed rack-and-pinion fo...

NOVAStar telescope brand emerges

NOVAStar has entered the market as a new player in the realm of budget-friendly yet high-end APO ED refractors and other accessories. While little is known about the manufacturing company itself, 365Astronomy is launching these exclusively as a new "house brand", and they’ve already made an impression with their latest offerings. As of this writing, 365A...

Askar SQA85 review

We recently explored the Askar SQA85 telescope. This instrument has an 85mm aperture and a 408mm focal length, resulting in an f/4.8 focal ratio. Its design includes five lens elements, two of which are made from super low dispersion glass. This configuration aims to reduce chromatic aberration, providing clear views of celestial objects.  The Petzval design pro...

Starfield Gear60 review

The Starfield Gear60 Quad is a 60mm f/5 quadruplet Petzval APO telescope for widefield astrophotography. With FPL53 optics and a built-in corrector, it eliminates the need for fine-tuning back focus. Users can attach their camera and start imaging immediately. The 2.5" rack and pinion focuser operates with ball-bearing support and maintains stability with heavy cam...

Askar 185 APO review

The Askar 185 APO optical tube assembly (OTA) features a 185mm aperture and a focal length of 1295mm, yielding a native focal ratio of f/7. The design incorporates a triplet air-spaced apochromatic (APO) lens, including one element made from ED (extra-low dispersion) glass, to correct chromatic aberration and enhance image quality. Askar 185 APO review The OTA has...

Askar 203 APO review

The Askar 203 APO from Jiaxing Rui Xing Optical Instrument Co., maker of Askar telescopes, is a powerhouse refractor built for astrophotography and stargazing. With a 203mm aperture and 1421mm focal length, it offers a versatile f/7 focal ratio. Its design aims to pull in plenty of light, giving you bright, sharp, and detailed views - perfect for capturing stunning cele...

Seestar S30 accessory kit

Neo3DShop has introduced a comprehensive line of accessories for the ZWO Seestar S30 telescope. These 3D-printed accessories are designed to enhance functionality and improve the user experience for amateur astronomers. The accessory line includes a Dew Shield, Dust Cap, Bahtinov Focusing Mask, Diffraction Masks, and glow-in-the-dark feet for the tripod. ZWO Seestar ...

TEC 140 F9.6 Fluorite Doublet announced

At the beginning of October, Telescope Engineering Company (TEC) introduced its new 140mm F9.6 Fluorite Doublet. Originally designed with a 140mm F10.5 glass combination, the initial materials did not meet long-term reliability standards. Upon advice from the glass manufacturer that the original choice would be discontinued, TEC opted for a more stable, albeit more cost...