[Ultimate] Astrophotography Gift Guide 2020

Check off their wish list this holiday season with these gift ideas for astrophotographers! From telescopes to mounts to carbon-fiber tripods, these gifts will continue to fuel their passion for the night sky, or yours!

In astrophotography, the mantra heard repeatedly is that the most important part of an imaging setup is the telescope mount! The Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount is an astrophotography powerhouse! This telescope mount is designed with a belt drive system and stepper motors that provide accurate and silent slewing to find and track celestial objects. Take it with you to a dark sky site and travel easy with its built-in carry handle.

All these features and more make the Sky-Watcher EQ6-R mount a favorite choice among astrophotographers.

Capture more details in the night sky with these astrophotography telescope tubes. Gifting an astrophotography-dedicated telescope will provide new perspectives of the night sky and help produce stunning images of the universe. Some of the most exciting features of these scopes are their fast focal ratios, portability, and innovation like that of the Radian 61.

The Radian 61 is a portable, widefield 61mm f/4.5 apochromatic triplet refractor packed with features that any astrophotographer would want for turnkey imaging. The goal of the Radian 61 is to provide solutions that are all too common for amateur astrophotographers.

If you're looking for a scope that provides planewave results for a fraction of the price, a great option is a Ritchey-Chretien telescope by TPO.

The 16'' Truss Tube f/8 Ritchey Chretien, like the 12" Truss Tube,provides professional results that can also be used for research purposes.

If you're looking for an even greater value telescope with a similar performance, the TPO 8" Carbon Fiber Reflecting Telescopeis a powerful alternative.

When dealing with so many connections and power supplies, especially in remote areas, it can become a frustrating experience to have so much cables tangled up. The Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox is another favorite among astrophotographers because it makes managing cables and reducing the number of cables a faster way to set up and spend more time focused on the night sky.

To keep all the astronomy equipment working throughout long nights, the Celestron 12V 7AH Power Tank is a dynamic essential accessory. It has 7-Amp Hours of Power, a red filter cap for the flashlight to optimize night viewing, and so much more!

Explore more with the Radian tripod, an astrophotography solution for secure stability and versatile portability almost anywhere!

What we love about the Radian carbon-fiber tripod:

• Quick-release plates for easy modifications
• For travel and premium systems
• Hardened rubber feet for vibration suppression
• Grass feet for stability in a variety of terrains
• Converts into a monopod!
• Carry case with shoulder harness
• Built-in bubble level
• 50 lbs. weight capacity!
• A double-clutch provides fast cable management.
• Attachable hooks for counterweights or your camera bag
• And more!

Find more astrophotography solutions at Radian Telescopes!

One of the most popular astrophotography cameras is made from ZWO for their quality and innovation to meet astrophotographers' needs. The ZWO ASI1600MM Pro Cooled Monochrome CMOS Camera is a high-performing astrophotography camera for deep space astrophotography or lunar, planetary, and solar imaging! Check out some of the images captured by the OPT team below!

Another great option for an astrophotography camera is the ZWO ASI290 MM, a mini camera with powerful features! This camera doubles up as a guiding camera and planetary camera.

Astrophotography gear that is small but makes a big difference! Choose from alignment accessories to software that automatically aligns to target selections for clear image results.

Astrophotographers have to make sure they are perfectly aligned to their imaging target to get clear and bright images. Alignment can take a long time when doing it manually, which is why the QHY Polemasteris a powerful tool. Usually, alignment is a three-star process, but astrophotographers can align with this electronic alignment camera accurately using just one star!

Another essential alignment tool is the Telrad FInder Scope that helps astronomers visually lock on a target for easy alignment. If you're looking for a little more help with alignment and processing images, software like theHyperion Astronomy Prism Advanced Astrophotography Software makes a great accessory!

One all too common problem astrophotographers face on long imaging nights is moisture. As the equipment heats up in the cold of the night, moisture is created on the equipment causing ruined images and hours of progress. Keep astronomy gear protected with a dew heater.

Like dew heaters, dew shields protect the telescope by reducing its visibility to the amount of sky it captures and can keep moisture from forming for an extended period of time.

If you find yourself having a hard time to choose or short on time, an OPT Gift Card is another ultimate gift! Skip the wait on delivery and let them choose what they want as a gift this holiday season.

What's on your astrophotography wish list? Tell us in the comments below!