{"id":28830,"date":"2022-02-05T09:34:43","date_gmt":"2022-02-05T09:34:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/?p=104207"},"modified":"2022-02-05T09:49:22","modified_gmt":"2022-02-05T09:49:22","slug":"21-of-the-best-telescopes-for-astrophotography-2022","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/21-of-the-best-telescopes-for-astrophotography-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"21 of the best telescopes for astrophotography, 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Iain Todd\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Saturday, 05 February 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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When setting out to capture images of the night sky for the first time, most people probably start by thinking what sort of camera they need, when in fact making sure you have the right sort of telescope for astrophotography is just as important, if not more so.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re a beginner or a seasoned astronomer, it pays to do a bit of research as to what type of telescope you\u2019ll need to photograph the night sky.<\/p>\n

\""Take\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Take time to research which sort of telescope is best for your needs. What do you want your astrophotography telescope to do? Credit: Tony Rowell \/ Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

And as is the case with visual observing, the best astrophotography<\/a> telescope for you will depend on what sort of targets you want to photograph.<\/p>\n

You will also need to consider what you\u2019re going to mount your telescope on, as it will need to track your object as it moves across the sky, and this is especially the case for deep-sky astrophotography<\/a> where longer exposures are required.<\/p>\n

For more on this, read our guide to telescope mounts<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Read on for our guide to everything you need to know to photograph the Moon, the planets and deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebulae, and our pick of some of the best telescopes for astrophotography.<\/p>\n

Understanding focal ratio<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""PrimaLuceLab\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The PrimaLuceLab Airy APO 65F\u2019s 420mm focal length makes it a relatively fast (f\/6.5) instrument.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

When choosing a telescope for astrophotography \u2013 or, indeed, for visual observing \u2013 it pays to consider the focal ratio of the instruments available.<\/p>\n

Focal ratio (f-ratio) gives an indication of the \u2018speed\u2019 of an optical system: the time it takes your telescope to deliver a set amount of light.<\/p>\n

As the f-ratio goes up, so the image scale increases: the object appears larger and consequently dimmer.<\/p>\n

So f-ratio is a key value that will help you choose which telescope to use for a specific type of astronomical target.<\/p>\n

The f-ratio is defined by dividing your telescope\u2019s focal length by its aperture, using the same units.<\/p>\n

So if you have a 100mm refractor with a focal length of 900mm, its f-ratio is said to be f\/9.<\/p>\n

Adding a 2x Barlow lens<\/a> increases the effective focal length to 1,800mm and doubles the f-ratio to f\/18, but there is a limit to how much focal length is useful.<\/p>\n

Telescopes for photographing the Moon<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Moon\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
This view of the Moon was captured by John Tipping from Cheshire, UK, 16 May 2019 using a Canon EOS 700D DSLR camera and Sky-Watcher 178mm Maksutov-Cassegrain.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

DSLR cameras are a great choice for photographing the Moon<\/a>, and because they have detachable lenses they can be connected directly to a telescope, turning the scope into the camera lens.<\/p>\n

This requires a T-adaptor and a T-ring. The ring mounts on your DSLR and screws into the adapter, which then attaches to your telescope.<\/p>\n

For high-resolution lunar imaging, you may want to use a high frame rate planetary camera.<\/p>\n

\""Lunar\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Avani Soares captured amazing close detail on the lunar south pole by using a C14 Edge telescope with a ZWO ASI 290 camera.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

You can use any good quality telescope to photograph the Moon, but large aperture Schmidt-Cassegrains and Maksutov-Cassegrains are popular choices with lunar photographers.<\/p>\n

Their longer focal lengths are suited to close-up imaging of the Moon, and compared to a high-quality refractor telescope you get a much larger aperture for your money.<\/p>\n

Whatever type of telescope you use to photograph the Moon, make sure it\u2019s well collimated<\/a> if need be.<\/p>\n

Your mount should be stable and sturdy and the ability to track the Moon with a motor drive or with a Go-To mount is a must when using a high frame rate camera.<\/p>\n

Make sure the drives are tracking at the lunar rate, not the rate at which the stars move across the sky.<\/p>\n

Telescopes for photographing planets<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Mars\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Keith Johnson captured this image of Mars before, during and after opposition from Ferryhill, County Durham, UK between 31 August \u2013 30 October 2020. Keith used a ZWO ASI 290MM mono camera and Celestron 9.25-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain on a Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro mount.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

You need a telescope with quite a bit of magnification to photograph surface details on your chosen planet.<\/p>\n

To see more detail, you need to increase the magnification or image scale (how big an object appears in the image frame).<\/p>\n

This is determined by the focal length of your telescope. As a telescope\u2019s focal length is fixed, you might think that it can only give one magnification, but this isn\u2019t the case.<\/p>\n

Optical amplifiers such as a Barlow lens can effectively increase it, while focal reducers effectively lessen it.<\/p>\n

\""Saturn\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Dmitry Ardashev captured this image of Saturn and its rings from Zaprudnya, Russia on 26 July 2021 using a ZWO ASI462MC camera and a TS-Optics UNC 10-inch Newtonian on a Sky-Watcher EQ6-R mount.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

In terms of your telescope\u2019s focal ratio (see above), large values make the image appear dim and require lower frame rates and longer exposures, and beyond a certain value your telescope won\u2019t be able to deliver any more useful detail.<\/p>\n

Under average seeing<\/a> conditions, figures of f\/15-f\/25 will probably work best.<\/p>\n

If you are lucky enough to experience excellent seeing, values in the f\/25-f\/45 range can be effective.<\/p>\n

\""The\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The Moon occulting Mars, captured by Ricardo J. Vaz Tolentino, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 6 September 2020 using an Orion StarShoot Solar System Color Imaging IV camera, Sky-Watcher Skyliner-400P FlexTube Dobsonian, Celestron Ultima 2x Barlow<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

A<\/span> key skill when photographing the planets<\/a> is knowing how to select the best image scale for the prevailing conditions.<\/p>\n

Apertures of 8 inches or larger are best for high-resolution planetary imaging, and the ideal telescope would be a large aperture, long focal length, colour-corrected (apochromatic) refractor.<\/p>\n

This kind of scope is great for providing the unobstructed high-contrast views necessary to reveal detail on a planet\u2019s disc.<\/p>\n

\""Uranus\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Uranus and moons Umbriel, Titania, Arial and Oberon photographed by Harvey Scoot, Essex, UK using a C14 Edge HD telescope and ZWO120MMS camera.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Reflecting telescopes can also be excellent planetary scopes, but to get high image scales you need a long focal length instrument.<\/p>\n

As aperture increases, such an instrument can become heavy and cumbersome, making it difficult to mount and handle.<\/p>\n

One popular design for planetary astrophotography is the catadioptric scope, which uses both mirrors and lenses.<\/p>\n

The Schmidt-Cassegrain design balances size and performance with affordable cost.<\/p>\n

And since the optics of this kind of scope effectively \u2018fold\u2019 the light path, a large aperture, long focal length Schmidt-Cassegrain is also fairly easy to handle.<\/p>\n

\""Saturn\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Saturn photographed by John Chumack, Dayton, Ohio, USA, 20 August 2021 using a ZWO ASI224MC camera and a Celestron C11 Schmidt-Cassegrain.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

You\u2019ll also need a solid mount for planetary imaging. Ideally an equatorial design, polar aligned with driven right ascension and declination axes.<\/p>\n

If you have a smaller telescope, don\u2019t worry: telescopes under 8 inches in aperture are capable of capturing some detailed shots under the right conditions.<\/p>\n

The key is to keep the image scale realistic for the size of the scope and conditions.<\/p>\n

A family portrait of Jupiter<\/a> with its four Galilean moons<\/a>, for example, can be just as stunning as a close-up.<\/p>\n

\""Jupiter\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Jupiter and three of its Galilean moons captured by Sona Shahani Shukla, New Delhi, India, 15 August 2021 using a ZWO ASI178MC camera and an 8-inch Sky-Watcher 200P Dobsonian.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Telescopes for photographing galaxies<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s a common assumption that you need a large and powerful telescope for deep-sky imaging.<\/p>\n

Since many deep-sky objects are rather large, smaller, short focal length telescopes with wider fields of view can be very effective, especially for regions of nebulosity that are particularly extensive.<\/p>\n

\""The\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The Pinwheel Galaxy, photographed by Rouzbeh Bidishahri, Vancouver, Canada, 10 June 2021 using a QHY268M camera and Planewave CDK12.5 astrograph on an Astro-Physics 1100 GTO mount.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Although the old adage \u2018there\u2019s no substitute for aperture\u2019 is valid for observing deep-sky objects, it\u2019s not quite so important for imaging, as you can compensate for smaller apertures with longer exposures.<\/p>\n

The larger the telescope, the greater the loading on the mount; the heavier the load, the more work the mount will have to do to track properly.<\/p>\n

Longer focal lengths will also put greater demands on a mount\u2019s tracking abilities.<\/p>\n

\""One-armed\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
One-armed spiral galaxy NGC4725 by Chad Leader, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, USA, April 2021. Equipment: ZWO ASI 294MM Pro mono camera, Celestron EdgeHD 8-inch SCT, Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro mount<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Small tracking errors are amplified by long focal lengths, so choose your telescope carefully to get the most from your system and to ensure that your mount and telescope are well matched.<\/p>\n

If your main interest lies in galaxies<\/a> and globular clusters<\/a>, then their relatively small apparent size will mean that a longer focal length telescope is a good choice to photography them in detail, so consider a Schmidt-Cassegrain instrument or Newtonian reflector.<\/p>\n

These objects do look great in a wider field of view, though, which enables you to see them in a wider setting.<\/p>\n

Telescopes for photographing nebulae<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""The\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The North America Nebula by Rachael and Jonathan Wood, Doncaster, 15 June 2021. Equipment: ZWO ASI294MC Pro camera, Sky-Watcher Evostar ED80 refractor, Sky-Watcher HEQ5 Pro mount<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

If your interests are more nebula<\/a>-based, a short focal length refractor would be a good choice for photographing nebulae.\u00a0Many deep-sky imagers find a 3- or 4-inch refractor perfect for this purpose.<\/p>\n

The advantage of using a small refractor is that it will place fewer demands on your mount, both in terms of load-bearing and tracking performance.<\/p>\n

This is why many established imagers recommend these instruments to people starting out on the imaging road.<\/p>\n

Can one telescope do all astrophotography?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Crater\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The Moon\u2019s Crater Copernicus captured with a Nikon CoolPix 4500 camera attached to a 125mm Schmidt-Cassegrain on an equatorial mount. Credit: Ade Ashford<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

If your interests are polarised between planetary or lunar observations and deep-sky imaging, a Schmidt-Cassegrain with a focal reducer-field flattener will cover a lot of the astrophotography ground.<\/p>\n

Armed with this knowledge, it\u2019s time to take the plunge! But which are the best telescopes for astrophotography?<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve reviewed quite a lot of telescopes over the years, and below we\u2019ve picked out some of the best astrophotography telescopes for beginners and experienced imagers alike.<\/p>\n

Best telescopes for astrophotography<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1<\/span>

Celestron 114LCM computerised telescope<\/h3>\n<\/div>

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\""Celestron\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><\/a><\/p>\n
  • <\/li>\n<\/ul>