This telescope is a good example of one that is well suited to a particular area of astrophotography: due to its long focal length (1500mm), it is best for observing and photographing the Moon and planets. So, if you know you'll be studying the rings of Saturn, imaging the Moon's mountains, craters and mare or chasing Jupiter's Great Red Spot, then the Sky-Watcher Skymax 127 could be the instrument for you. Have you ever wanted to photograph the Moon, planets, stars and other objects you see through your telescope on your smartphone? You can then use the app to control the scope’s functions, such as performing star alignment and locating targets from the built-in lists available.

The solar filter will be handy for one event that Hestia will be particularly useful for viewing, the solar eclipse that will sweep across the U.S. on April 8, 2024. Not only this, but Hestia will allow skywatchers to observe the sun as it enters a period of maximum solar activity next year.Focal length: This means the same in astrophotography as it does in regular photography. The longer the focal length, the narrower the angle of view and the greater the magnification. You should choose the focal length according to the size of the objects you are interested in. Sky-Watcher Skymax 127 SynScan AZ GoTo As Maksutov-Cassegrains go this Sky-Watcher Skymax is a prime example of a very specific type of astrophotography: imaging the lunar surface and the planets of our solar system. Thanks to its impressively long focal length of 1500mm it's possible to get a view of Saturns rings, the Great Red Spot on Jupiter and a closer look at the red planet.

A lot of telescopes on the market provide an inverted view of the object you are observing. That can be very confusing for those who are just starting to observe the night sky. That is why this smart refractor telescope features an erect view of the object you are observing. On the whole, the instrument is easy to set up and use, giving you speedy access to a wide range of targets. The mount features a DSLR shutter release port for camera control, but after our experience with it, the telescope itself is well suited to general observation and photography. A great way to see if collimation is the problem is to point the telescope at a bright star and adjust the focus so that the star is out of focus and showing as a big blob. Look closely and you will see a bright outer ring surrounding a dark central disc. If the dark disc is not in the center of the bright ring then the optics are not aligned and you need to collimate. Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZThe StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ is a fine telescope for beginners wanting astronomical views. We can see the thinking behind it, and the way it uses its StarSense app to align with the night sky is very clever. It's all about the smartphone app used to align it, though it’s a more manual affair than you might expect.★★★★Another renowned brand in the world of telescopes and telescope accessories, Orion has also entered the smartphone telescope adapter market with the Orion SteadyPix EZ.