Telescopes
Apertura CarbonStar 150 Imaging Newtonian Review: A Fast f4 Astrograph Rebuilt From the Ground Up
A carbon fiber 150mm f4 imaging Newtonian with thoughtful fixes for the classic Newtonian frustrations, from stray light to focuser tilt.
Independent reviews
Product Reviews and Buying Guides – 36 / 944
From everyday tech and home products to lifestyle and specialist gear, each review focuses on practical use, strengths, limitations, and who the product suits.
Telescopes
Apertura CarbonStar 8 Inch Imaging Newtonian: A Bigger Window on Deep Sky Targets
Apertura's 8 inch CarbonStar Imaging Newtonian brings larger aperture, APS-C optimization, and a carbon fiber build to amateur astrophotographers who want hassle-free imaging.
Telescopes
Apertura Classical Cassegrain 6-Inch vs 8-Inch: The Original Cassegrain Design, Modernized
Two Apertura Classical Cassegrain telescopes bring the 1672 Cassegrain optical design back with modern touches: full-aperture secondary, knife-edge baffles, and an imaging-ready focuser.
Astronomy Gear
Apertura Power Supply Review: A 518Wh Power Station Built for Astrophotography and Beyond
After nearly two years of weekly use, from imaging sessions at the observatory to powering a camper overnight, this lightweight power supply has proven itself in the field.
Astronomy Accessories
Apertura Premium Dew Strips Review: The All-Inclusive Dew-Heater Kit
A complete dew-strip solution with built-in controller, USB power, and adapters for nearly any visual or imaging telescope setup.
Telescopes
Aputure 60 EDR Review: A Compact Apochromatic Doublet for Astrophotography
A 60mm apochromatic doublet refractor that balances portability, imaging performance, and visual appeal at a fraction of the price of a high-end triplet.
Astrophotography
Askar 103 APO Review: A Flexible Triplet Refractor for Astrophotography
A 103mm triplet apochromatic refractor with three imaging configurations, from native 700mm down to a fast 430mm wide field.
Telescopes
Askar 107 PHQ Review: A Sweet-Spot Refractor for All-Around Astrophotography
A 107mm quadruplet Petzval apochromatic refractor with integrated field flattener, full-frame corrected optics, and a solid 3.4-inch focuser for serious deep-sky imaging.
Astrophotography Telescopes
Askar 111 F Review: A Flat-Field Quadruplet Refractor Built for Deep-Sky Imaging
A 111 mm flat-field quadruplet APO with a 766 mm focal length, full-frame image circle, and an optional 0.74x reducer. Here is how it fits into an astrophotography setup.
Astrophotography
Askar 130PHQ Review: A Big Refractor for Astrophotographers Ready for a Challenge
A large 130mm flat-field quad astrograph with an optional 0.7x full frame reducer, delivering impressive resolution if you are willing to put in the work.
Astrophotography
Askar 131F Review: A Flat-Field Quadruplet Built for Deep-Sky Imaging
A 131 mm aperture, 983 mm focal length flat-field quadruplet refractor designed to get deep-sky astrophotographers imaging quickly, with no external flattener required.
Astrophotography
Askar 185 APO Review: A Big Refractor for Serious Deep Sky Imaging
A hands-on look at Askar's 185mm APO triplet refractor, covering build quality, imaging performance, handling, and whether it earns its price tag.
Astrophotography
Askar 50P Review: A Tiny, Fast Telescope Built for Wide-Field Astrophotography
The Askar 50P is a compact 50 mm Petzval APO refractor with a fast F3.8 focal ratio, designed to make wide-field deep space imaging simple and portable.
Telescopes
Askar 60F Quadruplet Flat-Field Refractor: A First Look
A 60mm apochromatic quadruplet with a 44mm corrected imaging circle, built for widefield astrophotography and visual use alike.
Astrophotography
Askar 71F Review: A Compact Wide-Field Refractor with Strong Value
A 71mm quadruplet astrograph with a built-in field flattener, full-frame coverage, and a 6.6 lb body built for grab-and-go deep sky imaging.
Astrophotography
Askar AN160 Review: A Fast 160mm Imaging Newtonian for Deep Sky Work
A lightweight carbon fiber Newtonian with 160mm of aperture, a 0.95x coma corrector, and a fast F3.4 optical system built for wide-field deep sky astrophotography.
Astrophotography
Askar Color Magic Ultra E Series Dualband Filter Set Review: SHO Imaging with a One-Shot-Color Camera
A two-filter narrowband set that lets one-shot-color cameras produce genuine Hubble palette images, tested over 34 hours on the Butterfly Nebula.
Astrophotography
Askar FMA 180 Pro Review: A Tiny Wide-Field Astrophotography Telescope
A 40mm astrophotography-grade telescope with a 180mm focal length at f/4.5, built for wide-field deep sky imaging in one compact package.
Astrophotography
Askar FMA135 Review: A Tiny APO Refractor With Big Versatility
The Askar FMA135 is an ultra-wide-field, super-portable apochromatic refractor that works as an astrograph, a guide scope, and even a 135mm manual camera lens.
Astrophotography
Askar FRA 300 Pro vs William Optics RedCat 51: Which Compact Astrograph Should You Buy?
Two of the most popular small refractive astrographs go head to head on optics, weight, focusers, and real-world astrophotography results.
Astrophotography
Askar FRA300 Pro Review: A Compact Wide-Field Astrograph for Deep-Sky Imaging
A quintuplet Petzval refractor with a 44mm corrected imaging circle, tested on the Andromeda Galaxy from Bortle 7 skies.
Astrophotography
Askar FRA500 Review: A No-Fuss Quintuplet Astrograph for Astrophotographers
A 90mm quintuplet refractor with a 55mm corrected imaging circle, tested under the night sky on the Sadr region and the Butterfly Nebula.
Astrophotography
Askar N160 Review: An Ultra-Fast Reflector for Deep-Sky Astrophotography
Two months with the Askar N160 paired with the ZWO ASI 585MC Air: what an F3.4 Newtonian does brilliantly, and the quirks to know before buying.
Astrophotography
Askar V Modular Telescope Review: One Telescope, Six Focal Lengths
The Askar V combines two front objectives with a reducer, flattener, and extender to cover 270mm to 600mm. Here is how it compares against Askar's dedicated astrographs.
Astrophotography
Askar V Review: A Modular Apo Triplet Built for Flexible Astrophotography
A close look at the Askar V modular refractor, its interchangeable objective lenses, reducer, flattener, and extender, and how each configuration performs.
Astrophotography
Three Computers for Controlling an Astrophotography Rig: ZWO ASIAir Plus, Prima Luce Lab Eagle 4S, and a Refurbished ThinkPad
A hands-on comparison of three computers for deep sky astrophotography, covering price, ports, camera and mount support, wireless reliability, and which rig each suits best.
Astronomy
Astronomy Gifts for Dads: Binoculars, Telescopes and Accessories Worth Giving
A practical gift guide covering stargazing binoculars from around $50, beginner telescopes under $500, and accessories under $100.
Astrophotography
5 Game-Changing Astrophotography Upgrades: From Beginner Sky Tracker to Intermediate Rig
Five upgrades that take an entry-level astrophotography setup to the next level, from control software and auto guiding to a cooled one-shot color camera.
Laptops
ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED Space Edition Review: A Travel Laptop for Creators and Space Fans
A space-themed ultraportable with an OLED display, 12th-gen Intel Core i9 power, and a unique external ZenVision screen. Here is how it holds up for photo and video editing on the road.
Books
The Backyard Astronomer's Guide (4th Edition): A Complete Review
The fourth edition of The Backyard Astronomer's Guide promises to take beginners and veterans alike deeper into amateur astronomy and astrophotography. Here's what it delivers.