Read our full Sky-Watcher SkyMax-127 with AZ-GTi Wi-Fi mount review. Vaonis Vespera Observation Station

Our first target was Mars, which shone brightly in the south east. Slewing to the Red Planet as instructed by the app, we noted the screen "zoom in", which prompted us to use the slow-motion controls (which work smoothly enough) to bring our target into focus. The fourth planet from the Sun is an impressive sight through the StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ, especially when we added a 2x Barlow lens. At a magnification of 150x, Mars appears as a sharp disk with the south polar cap visible. Good smartphone astrophotography gadgets don't have to be the latest hardwear: it could mean a decent app that will help you take control of your phone's camera. Using your quality optical devices including Spotting Scopes, (not recommended for use on riflescopes), Microscopes, Astronomical Telescopes, Monoculars and many Binoculars (a tripod is strongly recommended!), you can now use your smartphone's camera to take quality pictures and videos. Or, if with friends, share the image on your phone's screen. 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. PhoneSkope Smartphone cases are used in conjunction with a C-3 Dedicated Adapter or the U1 Mini or U2 Universal Adapters for a multitude of eyepieces on quality optics, or a 15x eyepiece for 23mm or 30mm Microscope eyepieces.

Deep Space Without a Telescope

With the tube exuding a high-quality finish and manufactured using robust materials (the SkyMax-180 PRO weighs in at 7.8kg),we recommend purchasing a heavy-duty mount such as the Sky-Watcher HEQ5 to support the heft, especially given that accessory and a camera will add to the weight. For afocal photography it’s even more important to use either a Bluetooth remote or voice control to activate your smartphone's camera shutter since it’s all too easy to introduce a wobble that will ruin your photos of the Moon. Top tips for getting better results Celestron NexStar 5SEThe Celestron NexStar 5SE is an all-rounder that's hard to beat as an introduction to observing and imaging. The long focal length and high focal ratio tailor the NexStar 5SE to lunar and planetary imaging in particular, and it will facilitate great images of the our neighbors in the Solar System as well as some of the brighter deep-sky objects such as the Orion Nebula or the Andromeda Galaxy.★★★★ ½ Not compatible with #93648 Off-Axis Guider, not compatible with #93519 2" Mirror Diagonal (discontinued)

Nowadays, most of us do not go anywhere without our smartphone and so using PhoneSkope on your optical equipment you have an alternative lightweight and very convenient method of capturing images and videos without having to carry a camera. Many smartphone astrophotography gadgets let you step outside and start shooting the night sky, but these adapters are great if you own a telescope. This smart refractor telescope features a red dot viewfinder. To use it properly you need to look through the finderscope and find the red dot. Once you see it, adjust the telescope until the dot merges with the object you want to observe and you are good to go. The best feature of the NexYZ is the ability to line the smartphone up with the telescope eyepiece in three axes, X, Y and Z, as this gives you maximum control when it comes to making sure the smartphone's camera is aligned with the optical axis of the telescope.It’s a good idea to have a range of filters at your disposal as the magnification you’re using – and the magnitude of the object itself – will determine how bright or dim the object will appear to the camera. A nearly-full Moon through a low-powered eyepiece will require a dark filter, while a crescent Moon at dusk may not require a filter at all.

Read our full Celestron NexYZ review Tele Vue FoneMate Smart Phone Eyepiece Adapter Tele Vue FoneMate Smart Phone Eyepiece Adapter Another great thing about this smart hybrid telescope is that it comes with a built-in Sony sensor that is extremely sensitive to the low light. Because of that feature, you will be able to enjoy the most beautiful view of the night sky that only a station can reveal. Celestron AstroMaster 130EQPowerful and accurate this motorized reflector is ideal for astrophotographers who are hoping for long exposure shots, but its equatorial mount and requirement for collimating will need some learning. 50 words★★★★ While it's famed for planetary and lunar imaging, the Sky-Watcher SkyMax-180 PRO is also capable of giving fair views of a selection of bright nebulae and galaxies, particularly those that take up a larger section of the sky – the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31) and the Orion Nebula (Messier 42) in particular are worthwhile astrophotography targets through this telescope.The design of the Hestia uses a patented six-lens in three groups optical design that features a 30mm (1.2 inch) objective and prisms to collect and focus light directly into a smartphone’s camera. It has a 1.8-degree field of view, and through the Vaonis app, images can be captured as either JPEGs or TIFFs. The Milky Way is seasonal in the northern hemisphere and can only be photographed between May and October. Use the PhotoPills app to help you find it. If you just want to take photos of the Moon you can get started pretty much by just holding your phone up to the eyepiece of your telescope," says Kerss. That sounds easy, but in reality it’s quite hard to do because you have to position the smartphone very carefully, touch the screen to focus on the Moon (the easiest target in the night sky by far) and fix the exposure. Another great thing about this smart telescope wit a smartphone adapter is that it comes with a powerful 3x Barlow lens. To get the best view of specific details you need to combine the desired eyepiece with the Barlow lens and it will triple the magnifying power of the eyepiece.

This solar eclipse map shows the path of the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse across Mexico, the United States and parts of Canada. (Image credit: Michael Zeiler, GreatAmericanEclipse.com) Many of us are bound to have tried it at some point. There you are, refractor pointed at the Moon, gazing in wonder as the terminator emphasises the glorious structures of lunar craters and mountains. Looking for the best telescope camera mount? Astronomical telescopes may be designed primarily for naked-eye viewing, so while all the telescopes in our list can be used for astrophotography too, you will usually need an adaptor to mount a camera on the telescope.Here are a couple of links to help:

Best 5 Smart Telescopes

The Inspire 100AZ also comes with a red light torch, accessory tray/leg spreader and a dual-purpose dust cap.