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Astrophotography & Technology
Equipment, software, and techniques used by BAS members
🌟 Featured: BAS Member Keith Mombourquette — Remote Observatory with NINA
A BAS member’s journey from first image to fully automated roll-off-roof observatory.
BAS member Keith Mombourquette built an 8×10 roll-off-roof observatory in his front yard and automated it completely using NINA. Keith started astrophotography in May 2022 with a Canon R5 on a tripod — just 15 images of the Orion Nebula. Within a few years he had a fully automated backyard observatory. His story is an inspiration to anyone in the hobby.
▶ Watch Keith’s Remote Observatory Video on YouTube⚙️ Astrophotography Setups — By Purpose & Budget
Example setups BAS members use and recommend.
🔰 Beginner Deep Sky Setup — ~$3,000–$5,000 CAD
A cooled colour camera + widefield refractor. Produces stunning results from day one.
- Mount: Sky-Watcher HEQ5 Pro or ZWO AM5 (harmonic drive — highly recommended)
- Imaging Scope: Widefield refractor — Askar 80PHQ, RedCat 51, or William Optics ZS61 (~300–400mm)
- Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI533MC Pro or ASI2600MC Pro (cooled colour — low noise, no crop)
- Guide Scope: ZWO 30mm Mini Guide Scope
- Guide Camera: ZWO ASI120MM Mini
- Controller: ZWO ASIAIR Plus or Pro (controls everything from your phone/tablet via WiFi)
- Focuser: ZWO EAF Electronic Auto-Focuser
- Filters: Light pollution filter (e.g. Optolong L-Pro) + dual narrowband (e.g. Optolong L-eXtreme)
- Software: ZWO ASIAIR app for capture · Siril or PixInsight for processing
- Note: A dedicated cooled camera is strongly recommended over a DSLR for new setups in 2025+
⚙️ Intermediate Deep Sky Setup — ~$6,000–$10,000 CAD
Mono camera + filter wheel for narrowband imaging.
- Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro or iOptron CEM40
- Imaging Scope: Askar 103APO or similar 500–700mm APO refractor
- Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI2600MM Pro (cooled mono) + motorised filter wheel
- Filters: Optolong Ha, OIII, SII narrowband set + LRGB set
- Guide Scope & Camera: ZWO 60mm Guide Scope + ASI174MM Mini
- Controller: Mini-PC running NINA + PHD2 for fully automated imaging sequences
- Software: NINA (capture) · PHD2 (guiding) · PixInsight (processing) · Affinity Photo (finishing)
🌌 Advanced Narrowband / Remote Setup — $15,000+ CAD
Full automation, observatory-grade imaging.
- Mount: 10Micron GM1000 HPS or Astro-Physics 1100GTO
- Imaging Scope: High-end APO refractor or Ritchey-Chrétien (RASA 8, TOA-130)
- Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI6200MM Pro or QHY600M (full-frame cooled mono)
- Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW 7x36mm with full narrowband + LRGB set
- Guide System: Off-axis guider + high-sensitivity guide camera
- Observatory: Roll-off-roof or dome — see Keith’s video above!
- Software: NINA with advanced sequences · PHD2 · PixInsight
🌞 Solar Imaging Setup — ~$3,000–$8,000+ CAD
Always use proper solar filters — never image the Sun without them.
- White Light Solar: Any telescope + Baader solar film filter. Reveals sunspots and granulation.
- Hydrogen-Alpha: Lunt Solar Systems telescopes (LS50, LS60, LS80, LS100)
- Camera: ZWO ASI174MM or ASI290MM — high frame rate for lucky imaging
- Software: ZWO ASI Studio (capture) · AutoStakkert! (stacking) · IMPPG (sharpening)
- Mount: Any tracking mount — even a simple Alt-Az goto mount
🪐 Planetary Imaging Setup — ~$2,000–$5,000 CAD
High frame rate lucky imaging for planets, Moon, and Sun.
- Telescope: Long focal length SCT (8″–14″) or Cassegrain — 2000mm+ focal length preferred
- Camera: ZWO ASI224MC (colour) or ASI290MM (mono) — small sensor, high frame rate
- Barlow: 2x–5x Barlow lens to increase effective focal length
- Software: ZWO ASI Studio or FireCapture (capture) · AutoStakkert! (stacking) · IMPPG or RegiStax (sharpening)
- Tip: Best results on still, humid summer nights
💻 Capture & Imaging Software
Tools used by BAS members for capturing the night sky.
All-in-one WiFi imaging hub controlling your mount, camera, focuser, and guider from your phone or tablet. Ideal for beginners and remote setups.
Free, open-source Windows imaging application. Supports virtually all cameras, mounts, focusers, and filter wheels. The choice of serious astrophotographers.
Free, industry-standard autoguiding software. Works with virtually all guide cameras and mounts.
🖥️ Processing Software
Software used by BAS members to process and enhance their astrophotography images.
The industry-leading astrophotography processing platform. Powerful and purpose-built for astronomical imaging.
Free capture and processing suite from ZWO. Includes ASILive for real-time stacking.
Powerful, affordable alternative to Photoshop with excellent astrophotography workflow support.
The industry standard for image editing, widely used for final astrophotography processing.
Free tool specialising in lunar and planetary image sharpening. Excellent deconvolution tools.
Free and widely used for stacking planetary, lunar, and solar images. Fast and highly accurate.
Free and open-source. Excellent for stacking and basic processing of deep sky images.
Free stacking software for DSLR deep sky images. A great starting point for beginners.
📺 Recommended YouTube Channels — Astrophotography
Channels recommended by BAS members — sorted A to Z.
Milky Way, nightscape, and wide-field astrophotography. Stunning imagery and well-explained techniques.
PixInsight tutorials, processing techniques, and equipment deep-dives. Highly recommended for processing.
One of the best beginner-to-intermediate astrophotography channels. Equipment reviews, processing tutorials, and inspiring results.
Honest equipment reviews, light pollution guides, and practical observing advice.
Deep sky astrophotography, processing, and equipment guides.
Equipment reviews, astrophotography tutorials, and observing content.
Astrophotography from beginner to advanced levels.
NINA, ASIAIR, equipment reviews, and practical automation. Excellent for intermediate and advanced imagers.
Deep sky astrophotography guides and Messier object imaging tutorials.
Equipment reviews and practical astrophotography guides. Features excellent SkySafari Pro overviews.
PixInsight tutorials and advanced processing techniques.
Astrophotography guides, equipment, and processing for all levels.
Excellent astrophotography content for all levels. Clear, well-explained tutorials.
ASIAIR tutorials, equipment reviews, and beginner-friendly astrophotography content.
Official PixInsight tutorial channel. The definitive source for learning the software.
Deep sky astrophotography, NINA tutorials, and excellent processing guides.
Excellent astrophotography and processing content.