You searched for "weight"

25 weight astronomy news items found

Watusi 150 equatorial fork mount for advanced astronomy

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...

Automating Astrophotography with PULSAR

PULSAR is a general purpose software system for reduction and processing of astronomical CCD and CMOS imaging data. Each tool performs a single well defined operation on FITS images, and the tools compose into automated pipelines that carry your work from raw frames to calibrated, combined, and enhanced results. No fussing, no clicking through a labyrinth the next morni...

Lens support system from Buckeyestargazer lands

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

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...

Seestar S30 Pro review: Upgrade or not

Anyone else love the classic rock sound of the band Journey? As a musician and singer myself, in my opinion, Steve Perry and his vocals on Don't Stop Believing are just plain incredible, and for a long time they felt untouchable. Then there is Deen Castronovo. Most people know him as Journeys drummer, but fewer have actually heard him sing. The first time you do, it...

Tiny astrophotography rig built by Cuiv

Astronomy gear keeps leaning toward two virtues that often tug in opposite directions. Portability so you will actually carry it out. Power so your images do not leave you wishing you had brought the big rig. Cuiv, The Lazy Geek set himself a simple challenge. Build the smallest kit he could that still produces images with real scientific and aesthetic weight. The core ...

Astro Weather Station by Astro-Smart launches

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...

AM7 mount from ZWO

Oh, the joys of dragging a heavy rig outside… said no astronomer ever. For years, getting into astrophotography came with an unspoken requirement: you didn't just need patience and curiosity - you also needed to be a bit of a bodybuilder. The moment a newcomer realized that their dream hobby involved hauling around 50-pound equatorial heads and s...

Super fast hyperbolic newton astrograph by Telescopi Italiani

There is a certain kind of telescope that tells you exactly what it is trying to do. The TIn series from Telescopi Italiani is built for one job: produce a very wide, very well corrected imaging field at extremely fast focal ratios, and do it in a package that can live in a remote observatory without constant babysitting. This is not a casual weekend setup. It is a purp...

MLAstro SAL-66 beefy observatory class mount announced

2026 is already off to the races with many exciting new astronomy gear announcements, so lets add another one to the pile with a bit of a shocker from MLAstro. The announcement of the new heavy weight observatory class mount is a bit of a surprise since they are only just now shipping the second batch of the smaller SAL 33, but with payloads increasing from higher end g...

OpenAstro AlpacaBridge launches and why it matters

After spending decades in the field setting up mounts in the dark, chasing cables across frozen ground, and trying to make mismatched software talk to hardware it barely understands, I have learned to pay attention when someone tries to solve a real problem instead of adding another layer of noise. AlpacaBridge from OpenAstro is one of those efforts that comes from live...

Seestar S30 Pro is here and we have astrophotos to share

Anyone else love the classic rock sound of the band Journey? As a musician and singer myself, in my opinion, Steve Perry and his vocals on Don't Stop Believing are just plain incredible, and for a long time they felt untouchable. Then there is Deen Castronovo. Most people know him as Journeys drummer, but fewer have actually heard him sing. The first time you do, it...

MLAstro SAL-33 harmonic mount setup and safety guide

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...

Portable astrophotography observatories that elevate night sky imaging

Most astrophotographers know the feeling of setting up in an open yard or at a dark site and immediately negotiating with the environment. A light breeze nudges the telescope just enough to show up in guiding. Dew slowly settles on cables and focusers. A neighbor's porch light flicks on at the exact moment a long exposure begins. None of this is surprising, yet it a...

Star tracker with a strain wave gear in Optron HST MiniTracker

iOptron has introduced a new strain wave gear approach to sky tracking with the HST MiniTracker. Just as jet engines revolutionized aviation by packing far more power into a compact form, strain wave gears have transformed modern astronomy - first in high-end GOTO mounts, and now, finally, in ultra-portable sky trackers as well. The HST MiniTracker is designed with this...

ClearSky ST-17 R harmonic mount

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...

High end refractor telescope sale: APQ fluorite discounts

APQ has adjusted pricing on its line of fluorite polychromat refractors, covering six models with apertures from 100 mm to 200 mm. The series spans compact wide-field instruments to larger refractors built for detailed visual and imaging applications. Each model uses an oil-spaced, multi-lens objective incorporating fluorite and specialized optical glass to support broa...

EZT Astro harmonic EQ Alt-Az MEQ-17EX is now available

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...

Preorder Dwarf Mini a lightweight powerful smart telescope

The new Dwarf Mini smart telescope from DWARFLAB introduces a compact, lightweight, and feature-rich approach to portable astrophotography. Designed for travelers, backyard observers, and astronomy enthusiasts, it combines imaging, tracking, and on-device processing into a single unit weighing under one kilogram. With a preorder price of $399, the Dwarf Mini aims to mak...

APM Telescopes introduces new products in Germany

The German optics manufacturer APM Telescopes has introduced a series of new products for its German market, covering refractors, astrographs and binoculars. The move reflects the company’s ongoing efforts to broaden its portfolio in precision astronomy and astrophotography equipment. Above photo credit: APM Telescopes New refractor models broaden the range ...

UMi 17X harmonic drive telescope mount from Proxisky

Proxisky has introduced the UMi 17X, a compact German equatorial and Alt Az telescope mount designed for astrophotographers who value both precision and portability. It is built for those long nights under the stars when every arcsecond of tracking matters just as much as every pound of gear you carry. The UMi 17X has a servo driven strain wave gear system, the same ...

How to buy the Tele Vue 24 Delos

There is a moment, under a steady sky (rare I know), when your eye and the eyepiece feel like one instrument, and the telescope simply fades away. The Tele Vue 24mm Delos is designed for exactly that moment. It pairs a comfortably long 20 millimeters of eye relief with a wide apparent field of 72 degrees, that lets you take in expansive views without craning your neck o...

StarStructure Telescopes offers new hinged mirror cell frames

StarStructure Telescopes has developed a hingeable mirror cell frame that enhances accessibility for telescope owners and builders. The new system adapts the company’s existing mirror cell design by introducing a hinged insert, allowing users to tilt the mirror frame backward for easier servicing and cleaning. The updated frame integrates a pivot point that ena...

JTW special offer for introducing the Trident GT

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...

Mirrosphere Optics celebrates 20 Years with thin travel telescope

Mirrosphere Optics, a French manufacturer of precision optical instruments, has introduced a lightweight, full-carbon travel telescope to commemorate its 20th anniversary. The company, founded and led by optical engineer François Meyer, has become known for its high-precision mirrors and optical systems used by telescope makers and astronomy enthusiasts throughou...