Starter Kit

 

The 3 main items you need

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1. Telescope with a German Equatorial Mount and a Tripod - cost (new): approx. $140 - $160 - In my beginner's starter video I use the Celestron PowerSeeker 70EQ (see photo above). Brand new, it is more affordable than most, light-weight and gets the job done. If you're going to use another brand, make sure that at the very least it has a 1.25" eyepiece so that you can attach the camera and the German Equatorial Mount compatible with a motordrive (or has a built in motordrive already).

   • Note: There are different types of telescopes. All are some form of either (1) refractor (2) Newtonian Reflector or (3) Schmidt-Cassegrain Reflector or SCT. You may already have a telescope, so you just need to figure out if you have the right mount for the kind of astrophotography that I discuss, which is a German Equatorial Mount.

2. Motor Drive - cost(new): approx. $45 to $46 - In my example, I use the Celestron R/A Single Axis Motor Drive. Compared to a computerized mount, it is a very inexpensive alternative and very easy to use once you get the hang of it.

3. Camera (DSLR - Digital Single Lens Reflex) - cost (used): approx. $100 - $300 (I like to get my used camera gear from mpb.com) - If you're looking for an affordable DSLR camera that can get the job done, try the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D3000 (approx. $100 used) or the 12.3 megapixel Nikon D5000 (approx. $90 used). If you want something with higher resolution, try the Nikon D5200 (approx. $270 used); this 24.1 megapixel workhorse is what I used for many years. In any case, whatever you choose, make sure to get one that includes the battery charger, because they are expensive!

 

The Odds and Ends You Will Need to Make this Hobby Work

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1. Remote control shutter release - cost (new): approx $18 - You will be taking long exposure photos where the shutter stays open collecting light. The slightest vibration will ruin your shot, so you don't want your finger to touch the camera to press the shutter release. That's why you want to release shutter remotely. This remote is compatible with the Nikon D3000, D5000 and the D5200. If you choose another brand or model, make sure to check its compatibility. Some cameras don't have the option to wirelessly connect infrared remotes, such as the Nikon D3100 and the D850. For those you would have to purchase an intervalometer (a.k.a. remote shutter release), which still work very well, but are a bit more complicated.

2. T-Ring for NIKON camera (attaches to T-Adapter) cost (new): approx. $11 - In order to attach the camera to the telescope you need to remove the eyepiece, and on the camera you need to remove the lens and attach a T-Ring, which itself is attached to the T-Adapter (listed next). Then the end of the T-Adapter opposite the camera goes into the telescope where the eyepiece used to be. You can also get these for other camera brands. Make sure you get the correct one for YOUR camera. Also pay attention to the camera lens mount type. This one is for a Nikon F mount.

   • NOTE: The link to the T-Ring provide above is for Nikon DSLR camera bodies. You can also get these for other camera brands. Make sure you get the correct one for YOUR camera. Also pay attention to the camera lens mount type, because some brands my have more than one.

3. T-Adapter for camera - cost (new): approx. $25 - See explanation above under T-Ring

4. Bubble level - cost (new): approx $7 - Since your motor drive will only be turning your right ascension axis, you want to make sure everything else is perfect, including making sure your telescope mount is perfectly level.

5. Constellation app for mobile phone or tablet - cost: free - In order to find the objects in the sky you want to image, you need to know where they are at. I use SkyView, but you can use any you like. Just search for the app on your smartphone's app purchasing app.

6. Spare batteries

   • Camera spare battery - cost (new): approx. $50 - There are few things worse than having your night cut short because your battery is done. Have at least one spare, and make sure it's fully charged all the time. Here is a link to a spare battery for the Nikon D3000, and here is one for the Nikon D5200.

   • Remote control spare batteries - You can buy those online are at your local pharmacy. I recommend also getting a spare remote control if you have the budget. At night it gets really dark, and these things are small and easy to lose.

   • Motor Drive spare batteries - I found that 9-volt batteries work very well for many hours, still, if you use the motor drive that I listed above, these are very common, so do yourself a favor and have at least one spare with you. Just drop by your local convenience store, gas station, grocery store or pharmacy, or buy them online, but make sure you have them.

7. Dew heaters (aka lens heaters) to keep the dew off your telescope lens - During the course of the night, dew will usually collect on your telescope's objective lens and ruin your images. You can either purchase a dew heater that plugs into a usb port, or get some hand warmers from your local Walmart or online, and tape them around the end of your scope. Works very well.

8. Lens cleaning kit - You don't want to touch your lens if you don't have to, so start out by using a blower and if that doesn't work, then a lens brush. For good cleaning instructions, check out this piece from Celestron. These are solid instructions on cleaning your scope, including how to make a cleaning solution that is safe for your telescope optics.

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