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25 interface astronomy news items found
ASCOM Flat Panel Buddy for Astrophotography 4-16 inch from Astro-Smart
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 by Richard Harris
When the sky gives you a steady, clean night, you do not want to spend it guessing. You do not want to hold a panel up to the scope and wonder if the brightness is right, or stop your sequence just to dial things in again. That kind of interruption breaks the rhythm of the night. That is where an ASCOM controlled flat panel earns its place. Not because it adds someth...
Watusi 150 equatorial fork mount for advanced astronomy
Friday, March 27, 2026 by Richard Harris
If you have carried a bag of counterweights across a dark field, you know their special brand of gravity. They are reliable in only one way. They always feel heavier by the minute. So when a well executed equatorial fork shows up with carbon fiber arms and no counterweights, that deserves attention from anyone who cares about clean tracking, quick setup, and the kind of...
Lens support system from Buckeyestargazer lands
Tuesday, March 24, 2026 by Austin Harris
A telephoto lens and camera can make beautiful deep sky images, but the setup lives or dies by how well it is mounted-as many of you know. If the lens flexes a little when you slew, if the camera tilts a hair when you focus, your stars will tattle. The difference between soft ovals and tight circles often comes down to one simple idea: treat the lens and everything arou...
Delta Pier tripod launches with discount
Thursday, March 19, 2026 by Richard Harris
SouthPolar Obs announces the launch of the DELTA PIER, a pier style tripod engineered for astrophotographers and visual observers who want a compact support platform without sacrificing rigidity. Built in South Korea with a focus on practical design choices, the system brings together a stable pier form factor and the flexibility of a tripod footprint. The result is a f...
ASCOM Platform 7.1 Update 2 Released
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 by Richard Harris
The ASCOM community announces an update to the widely adopted interoperability platform that connects astronomy software with a broad range of observatory devices. ASCOM Platform 7.1 Update 2 expands the platform’s reputation for stability and compatibility, bringing refinements that help imagers, visual observers, and research teams run sessions with greater conf...
Astro Weather Station by Astro-Smart launches
Thursday, February 5, 2026 by Austin Harris
Astro Smart has announced the introduction of a purpose built meteorological monitor designed for backyard observers and small observatories. The product combines environmental sensing with software interfaces that support automation and remote alerting. It is intended to give astronomers continuous reliable readings to help protect instruments and to make scheduling ob...
AstroFiler 1.2 Calibration Automation Update
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 by Austin Harris
AstroFiler has quietly built a reputation as a practical utility for astronomers who find themselves managing more data than their original folder structures ever anticipated. As modern capture software and smart telescopes lower the barrier to collecting deep sky data, the challenge increasingly shifts toward organization, verification, and long term preservation. Vers...
MLAstro SAL-33 harmonic mount setup and safety guide
Saturday, December 13, 2025 by Austin Harris
The MLAstro SAL-33 harmonic drive mount is still new on the scene, arriving in small production batches and just beginning to find its way into the hands of early adopters. Even so, it has already sparked interest among mobile astrophotographers looking for a budget friendly harmonic drive mount that does not feel like a compromise. On paper and in early field use, it c...
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Conquering cable chaos the astrophotography powerbox revolution
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 by Russ Scritchfield
The pursuit of astrophotography is a journey into the sublime, capturing the ethereal beauty of the cosmos. Yet, beneath the serene images of nebulae and galaxies lies a complex array of electronic equipment, each demanding precise power and data connections. For many enthusiasts, this technical foundation often devolves into a frustrating tangle of cables, multiple pow...
ClearSky ST-17 R harmonic mount
Friday, December 5, 2025 by Richard Harris
2025 was definitely a year for harmonic drive mounts. With so many choices appearing in quick succession it is easy for a new piece of gear to slip past unnoticed, especially when the big names like ZWO, Sky-Watcher, and iOptron take up most of the space in the conversation. The ClearSky ST-17 R is not trying to compete with those companies directly. Its real compe...
New astronomy online store from OMI Astro launches
Thursday, December 4, 2025 by Russ Scritchfield
OMI Astro has introduced an online storefront that brings together its mirrors, telescope components, and accessories into a unified, structured retail catalog. According to the public announcement shared with the astronomy community, the store is now the central place where customers can browse product details, review specifications, and make purchases directly through...
Scope Nights updates to 2.6 giving stargazers a faster app
Sunday, November 23, 2025 by Richard Harris
Scope Nights version 2.6 introduces a set of improvements intended to make the stargazing planning experience faster, smoother, and more reliable across iPhones and iPads. The update is available at no cost and brings the app into full compatibility with iOS 26 and current Apple mobile hardware. The developer notes that a considerable portion of the internal logic and i...
EZT Astro harmonic EQ Alt-Az MEQ-17EX is now available
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 by Richard Harris
The South Korean manufacturer EZT Astro has introduced a new dual-mode telescope mount, the MEQ-17EX, a harmonic-drive equatorial and alt-azimuth hybrid designed for serious astrophotographers and observatories seeking compact power and stability. The mount combines harmonic gear technology, dual-axis control, and a minimalist body that weighs just six kilograms, making...
OMI Astro remote telescopes are ready for new astrophotography season
Monday, November 10, 2025 by Russ Scritchfield
OMI Astro remote telescopes offer astronomers and astrophotography enthusiasts the opportunity to conduct imaging sessions using professional-grade telescopes without traveling to observatories. The service provides users with online access to equipment located in optimal viewing locations, allowing for clear and precise celestial observations. Accessing profession...
ASCOM Platform 7.1 released
Monday, November 3, 2025 by Russ Scritchfield
The ASCOM Platform 7.1 update is another big step forward for backyard astronomers and observatory users alike. It offers smoother performance, wider compatibility with different gear, and better communication between your telescope, camera, and dome. As the platform continues its march toward better support and smarter automation, this release makes it even easier for ...
JTW special offer for introducing the Trident GT
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 by Richard Harris
The JTW Astronomy workshop has unveiled a new pricing and customization program for its Trident GT telescope mount, part of the company’s well-known Trident series. Designed for astrophotographers who demand both precision and affordability, the latest offer makes it easier for users to configure a mount that fits their technical needs and budget, while maintainin...
JMI focuser now supports Pegasus FocusCube 3
Monday, October 6, 2025 by Richard Harris
JMI has expanded compatibility for its Crayford-style electronic focuser by adding direct support for the Pegasus FocusCube 3. The integration allows users to attach the FocusCube directly to the JMI focuser using the brackets, screws, and couplers included with the FocusCube 3 package. This approach eliminates the need for extra adapters and simplifies setup for astron...
New harmonic drive mount from MLAstro: The SAL-33
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 by Richard Harris
Astrophotography gear often comes from familiar big-name brands, so a new mount from a small solar-imaging company might raise some eyebrows. MLAstro, a Vietnam-based startup known for its cutting-edge spectroheliograph (narrowband solar imaging device), has taken a bold leap from capturing sunspots to tracking the entire night sky - I have one and it's am...
The end of servocat
Tuesday, September 16, 2025 by Russ Scritchfield
BRC Astro, LLC, which acquired the ServoCAT product line from RXDesign in 2023, has announced the winding down of its support and sales operations. Beginning October 1, 2025, the company will no longer accept support or repair requests for ServoCAT units outside of warranty, directing customers instead to the Groups.IO message board for community-based assistance. One m...
Astrophotography gear power controller: SV241 Pro from SVBONY
Saturday, September 6, 2025 by Richard Harris
Rigging your astrophotography gear often comes with a familiar headache: juggling multiple power packs and untangling a mess of cables. The SV241 Pro Astro Power Controller was built to eliminate that frustration. Compact and efficient, it centralizes both power delivery and data management, transforming cluttered setups into clean, streamlined systems. Designed with as...
FITS image file software AstroFiler updates
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 by Austin Harris
How many of you have external hard drives with countless astro projects on them? It can be dizzing trying to deal with hundreds (and often thousands) of FITS subs from astro cameras. Good news though, the Astrofiler 1.1 update has just been released, and it promises to make managing your FITS image files a whole lot easier. Whether you're a seasoned sky observer or ...
DIY flat panel
Thursday, August 14, 2025 by Russ Scritchfield
Astrophotographers are constantly innovating to improve their imaging workflows, often creating custom tools that rival commercial products at a fraction of the cost. One clever example comes from a maker who modified a standard LED tracing panel to function as an ASCOM Alpaca-compatible flat panel calibrator. The result is a low-cost, smart device that can automate fla...
Telescope Bridge connects scope over wifi and bluetooth
Friday, August 8, 2025 by Richard Harris
The Telescope Bridge is a compact interface device that allows telescope users to connect their mounts over WiFi, Bluetooth, or USB. Designed with simplicity in mind, it supports a wide range of popular telescope brands, including Meade, Celestron, and Skywatcher, and even includes a universal RS232 version for older or more generic telescope systems. Rather than req...
Hopper e-finder push to solution
Thursday, August 7, 2025 by Russ Scritchfield
The Hopper e-finder is a lightweight, high-performance push-to navigation device designed for amateur astronomers looking to maximize efficiency during observing sessions. At just 80 grams, the Hopper attaches directly to your telescope via a standard Synta/Vixen-style finder dovetail and integrates seamlessly with your existing setup. Despite its compact design, Hopper...
Tilt adjustments for astrophotography made easy
Sunday, August 3, 2025 by Richard Harris
Correcting tilt in an astrophotography setup can be one of the most frustrating, error-prone, and time-consuming aspects of imaging with a large sensor. The Wanderer Astro ETA (Electronic Tilt Adjuster) was designed to eliminate this headache entirely. While traditional tilt correction involves a manual cycle of test exposures, screw turns, and disassembly, the ETA prom...