Hello everyone, I'd like to introduce you to a rather colorful nebula in summer: IC1396, better known as the Elephant Trompe. My father sees it more as a woman with a vaporous face. How about you? In any case, this image was taken in rather poor conditions. It's very low on the [...]
For years, with my old CCD and its small 11×11 mm sensor, I didn't ask myself too many questions. I'd shoot as many exposures as possible, throw it all into integration, and leave PixInsight to clean up afterwards. A few corrections here, a little gradient there - I was good to go. Then I [...]
First light: The Rosette in SHO from my rooftop in the middle of the city That's it, my first image is out! 🎉 Those of you who follow me will know that I was setting up a new setup with a rather crazy brief: to shoot deep sky (and especially extended nebulae) from the roof [...].
Choosing your first telescope is a pivotal moment. It's the moment when dreams meet technical reality. Between dubious marketing promises, incomprehensible data sheets and contradictory forum opinions, it's easy to get lost - and worse, discouraged. After hundreds of hours spent under the stars, some [...]
This guide summarizes and translates the “Find the Perfect Telescope...” pages from Askar/Sharpstar (July 2025). It helps you choose your telescope based on your objective (visual, astrophotography or mixed), your budget and the weight of the optics, with clear tables and practical advice. Why Askar/Sharpstar? Consistent ranges covering [...]
NASA announced in early September 2025 that it had detected what it described as the most promising signs of life to date on Mars. This revelation follows in-depth analysis of a rock sample taken in July 2024 by the Perseverance rover in the Jezero crater - the [...].
Perseids 2025: how to make the most of it + my RTS interview
Every summer, astronomy enthusiasts and the curious alike marvel at a celestial spectacle: the Perseid shower of shooting stars. In 2025, conditions promise a particularly impressive show, with a peak expected on a near-perfect night. Whether you're a casual observer or an enthusiast with your own camera, here's everything you need to know [...]
Introduction: the harmonic mount revolution Strain wave mounts have recently revolutionized the world of astrophotography. Their promise? An exceptional load/weight ratio and the ability to dispense with counterweights, all with unrivalled compactness... Clearly, the itinerant astrophotographer can now take [...]
The Askar FRA600 astrograph is an apochromatic refractor with 108 mm aperture and 600 mm focal length (f/5.6). This Petzval quintuplet integrates a front triplet and a rear doublet (including 2 ED lenses), ensuring a flat field of 66 mm in diameter without additional correctors. The FRA600 is distinguished by its sturdy 4.2" Crayford rack-and-pinion eyepiece holder with [...].
Introduction The Moon has fascinated mankind since the dawn of time. Visible to the naked eye as the brightest star in the night sky, it has long been the stuff of legend and curiosity. However, it wasn't until 1609 that Galileo first observed the Moon's contours using an astronomical telescope. Since then, the Moon has never ceased to be [...]
