The Astrocast: Astronomy & Astrophotography

EPISODE 109 - Collimation Participation!

Welcome baaaack to The Astrocast! Roo's been deep in the world of Schmidt-Cassegrains. This week he walks through exactly how he finally got his Celestron C8 collimated...mostly. Using a combination of SharpCap, a bright star, the "donut method", and a cardboard-and-painter's-tape mask.. plus one mystery that's still left to solve. He also covers his growing non-ZWO C8 build (Player One guiding, a Gemini EAF, SVBony power), how a 30ft active USB 3.0 cable let him run the backyard pier straight from his studio PC, a new TeleGizmos 365 cover, and why iOptron's truss-tube RCs belong on the "retirement scope" list. Plus an Astro Peak update and winter targets on deck...hello, Pleiades!

Become a member of The Astrocast Society today!

🔭 GEAR & LINKS MENTIONED
Collimation & Software
• SharpCap (free): https://www.sharpcap.co.uk
• N.I.N.A.: https://nighttime-imaging.eu
• RustDesk: https://rustdesk.com
• Chrome Remote Desktop: https://remotedesktop.google.com

The C8 and other products mentioned:

• • Celestron EdgeHD 8: https://bit.ly/4jkzGzX
• • Gemini EAF autofocuser (review): https://scopetrader.com/zwo-eaf-knockoff-gemini-eaf/
• • SVBony SV241 power box: https://link.amazon/B0d49bD9u
• • SVBony SV241 Pro (NINA-controllable — runs Roo's Astro Peak rig): https://link.amazon/B06o9NWP3
• • 30ft active USB 3.0 Type-A to Type-B cable (w/ 12V barrel jack): https://link.amazon/B0gPwgts5
• • Waterproof outdoor power box: https://link.amazon/B096Pgf58
• • TeleGizmos 365 Series Cover (up to 14" SCT): https://bit.ly/4eux0MN
• • Sky-Watcher SynLink controller: https://bit.ly/4yWse2X
• • StellarMate OS: https://stellarmate.com
• • iOptron Photron RC10 Truss: https://bit.ly/4zZ0tXs
• • iOptron Photron RC14 Truss: https://bit.ly/48m8J8d
• • iOptron Photron RC12 Truss: https://bit.ly/3UuwdF0
• • iOptron Photron RC16 Truss: https://bit.ly/4yU7ZCj
• • Askar SQA55 (Roo's remote scope): https://bit.ly/4s4pAWg

The 14/16 are true "retirement scopes", in my opinion. Here's hoping!

Please note: any purchases made from links here will result in a small cut of the profit going to The Astrocast, thank you for your support!

Remote Imaging?
• Astro Peak Observatories (Bortle 1, southern Utah): https://astropeak.space

Join our Patreon to get a discount on your pier at AP!

https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheAstrocast

⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:46 Welcome Back
01:50 From Refractors to an SCT
02:18 Five Months at Astro Peak
03:54 Learning to Collimate the C8
04:20 SharpCap: The Right Tool for Collimation
06:28 Connecting Gear & Finding a Bright Star
08:59 Making the "Donut" — Defocusing Explained
10:29 The Cardboard Mask Trick
13:48 Adjusting the Collimation Screws
15:28 The Flattened Donut Mystery
16:15 Building a Non-ZWO C8 Rig
18:51 SVBony SV241 & Ditching the Laptop
20:39 Running a 30ft Active USB Cable to the Pier
23:54 Controlling the Rig from an iPad
25:21 Future Plans: Mini PC, StellarMate & SynLink
26:59 A Waterproof Power Box
28:54 The TeleGizmos 365 Cover
31:28 RC Telescopes & the "Retirement Scope"
33:34 Wrap-Up: Orion Season & the Pleiades
35:49 Outro

💬 Know great C8/Gemini autofocus settings (step size, backlash)? Email Roo: roo@theastrocast.com

🌌 SUPPORT THE SHOW
Join the Patreon for members-only Discord access and a discount at Astro Peak:
https://www.patreon.com/theastrocast

🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

Shout-outs: Nathan, Mike, Craig, Natalie & the Astro Peak crew • Ben for the SharpCap tip • John & the Discord fam!

Clear skies! ✨

#astrophotography #telescope #collimation #SCT #Celestron #PlayerOne #NINA #SharpCap #astronomy

Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

If you'd like to watch the video version of this interview, check it out here.

EPISODE 108: GREEN STARS & SUPERNOVA SURVIVORS WITH DR. MARK HOLLANDS

What color would a white dwarf look if you could see it up close? That simple question led Dr. Mark Hollands to some surprising answers, including a star that would appear pale green.

This week, Roo welcomes Mark, a Warwick Prize Fellow and astrophysicist at the University of Warwick, for a conversation about the dense stellar remnants that most stars will eventually become. We explore why these stars can have unusual colors, how their spectra reveal their chemistry, and what those findings mean for the way astrophotographers think about star color.

Mark takes us through the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Gaia's transformation of white-dwarf research, and the care needed when translating astronomical measurements into RGB colors. We also discuss the realities of working at professional observatories - from liquid-nitrogen-cooled cameras to telescope breakdowns and whether backyard imagers can photograph the stars in his study.

Then we turn to an extraordinary class of survivors: white dwarfs flung through space when their companions explode. Their chemistry offers clues to supernovae and the origins of elements around us. Mark also introduces his favorite stellar oddball, GD 492, known as LP 40-365.

There's room for the person behind the research, too: mushroom foraging, birding, sim racing, following your curiosity, and a Pink Floyd reference hiding in a scientific paper.

Also in this episode: an update on The Astrocast's new Move Shoot Move partnership!

IN THIS EPISODE
- How white dwarfs form and why they fascinate Mark.
- Pale-green, yellow, and pink stars...and why green is especially unusual.
- Spectroscopy as a chemical barcode for starlight.
- Gaia, PixInsight, and the limits of mapping measurements to visible color.
- Carbon molecules, dense atmospheres, and salmon-pink starlight.
- Professional observing, remote telescopes, and future surveys.
- Type Ia supernovae, runaway D6 survivors, and stellar chemistry.
- Practical advice for students interested in astrophysics.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome to The Astrocast
01:24 Meet Dr. Mark Hollands: what is a white dwarf?
02:17 Mark's path into astronomy
05:09 The fate awaiting most stars
06:54 What colors are white dwarfs?
08:36 A star that would look pale green
09:32 How rare are unusual stellar colors?
11:50 Spectroscopy and a star's chemical barcode
16:07 Mining the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
18:35 How Gaia transformed white-dwarf research
21:26 Gaia, PixInsight, and star-color calibration
23:19 Red stars, carbon, and a salmon-pink white dwarf
28:16 Mushroom foraging, birding, and curiosity
31:56 Advice for aspiring astrophysicists
34:00 Life at a professional observatory
39:54 Book recommendation & Move Shoot Move update
40:47 Pink Floyd and Any Colour You Like
41:43 Can amateurs photograph these stars?
43:54 The next generation of spectroscopic surveys
45:57 D6 survivors: white dwarfs launched by supernovae
51:38 Supernova chemistry and the iron around us
54:21 Mark's favorite object: GD 492 / LP 40-365
56:39 Mushrooms, sim racing, and hobbies
57:59 A dream observation with the Extremely Large Telescope
59:37 Roo's closing thoughts
1:00:06 The Astrocast outro song

GUEST & RESOURCES
Dr. Mark Hollands:
https://mahollands.github.io/

Paper discussed: Any Colour You Like
https://academic.oup.com/rasti/article/doi/10.1093/rasti/rzag069/8914458?searchresult=1

Book mentioned: The Last Stargazers by Emily Levesque
https://link.amazon/B0eV2rQKv

JOIN THE ASTROCAST SOCIETY
Support the show on Patreon and join our private astronomy and astrophotography Discord community:
https://www.patreon.com/c/TheAstrocast

SHOP THROUGH OUR AFFILIATE LINKS
Your purchases through these links help support The Astrocast at no additional cost to you.

Agena Astro:
https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=8632339.cb455f

High Point Scientific:
https://www.highpointscientific.com/?rfsn=8141859.a5f5d85

Amazon:
https://amzn.to/4n0OMsz

First Light Optics:
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/index/ref/astrocast/

365 Astronomy:
https://www.365astronomy.com/&af=astrocast

Move Shoot Move:
https://www.moveshootmove.com/?aff=784

Disclosure: The Astrocast earns a small commission from qualifying purchases through these links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

If you enjoyed the episode, follow The Astrocast, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who loves astronomy. Clear skies!

<3 Roo

Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

WELCOME BAAAACK to The Astrocast! This week, Roo catches up on remote imaging adventures, new gear, and getting back under the backyard skies.

A late-night rotator alert at AstroPeak turns into a reminder of why reliable on-site support matters when your telescope is hundreds of miles away. With the rig back in action, Roo sets his sights on the challenging Garlic Bulb Nebula and plans an experiment comparing unfiltered imaging with dual-band filters and ten-minute exposures to capture its faint OIII signal.

Back home, the Celestron C8 gets some attention with a Player One Xena 585M guide camera and FHD-OAG MAX. Roo shares his first impressions, considers Sky-Watcher’s SynLink controller as an alternative to ASIAIR or a mini PC, and talks about the MLAstro SAL-33 mount, learning SCT collimation, and the simple joy of neighbors turning their lights off.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Opening & Astrocast intro
00:49 Welcome back & a Savannah getaway
02:17 A late-night telescope scare at AstroPeak
03:11 Why on-site support matters for remote imaging
03:59 The rotator collision & getting the rig running again
06:26 Chasing the Garlic Bulb Nebula
07:34 Ten-minute exposures & the faint OIII experiment
08:49 Dark Shark results & throwing out cloudy-night data
10:05 EUROCAST thanks & community updates
10:51 The Astrocast Society, Discord & AstroPeak member discount
11:59 Building out the Celestron C8 beyond the ZWO ecosystem
13:51 Player One Xena 585M & FHD-OAG MAX first impressions
16:14 Bigger prisms, guide stars & a smooth helical focuser
18:50 Sky-Watcher SynLink: a new imaging controller option
21:26 SynLink vs. a mini PC running N.I.N.A.
23:43 Remote imaging features & controller considerations
24:25 C8 progress & the MLAstro SAL-33 mount
25:14 Learning SCT collimation
26:18 A future backyard setup & TeleGizmos 365 cover
26:44 Good neighbors, fewer lights & backyard astronomy
28:20 Upcoming projects, listener thanks & closing thoughts
30:03 Astrocast outro song

JOIN THE ASTROCAST SOCIETY

Want to talk astronomy, share your images, ask gear questions, and hang out with fellow astrophotographers? Join The Astrocast on Patreon for access to our private Discord community, and an exclusive discount at Astropeak Observatory, under Bortle 1 skies:
https://patreon.com/theastrocast

As discussed in this episode, Patreon members can also receive $5 per month off AstroPeak hosting, contact Roo for details.

AstroPeak remote observatory hosting - remember, JOIN THE PATREON and save 5 bucks a month!
https://astropeak.space/how-it-works

SOFTWARE & RESOURCES

N.I.N.A. — Nighttime Imaging ’N’ Astronomy:
https://nighttime-imaging.eu/

Target Scheduler plugin for N.I.N.A.:
https://tcpalmer.github.io/nina-scheduler/

Pushover notifications:
https://pushover.net/

GEAR & EQUIPMENT LINKS

Some links below are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting The Astrocast!

Askar SQA55 Astrograph:
https://bit.ly/4s4pAWg

Celestron C8 — current optical tube listing:
https://bit.ly/4dCBTTO

ASIAIR:

https://bit.ly/4ew1pdE

MLAstro SAL-33 Mount:
https://mlastro.com/product/mlastro-sal-33/

ZWO ASI585MC Pro:
https://bit.ly/4B3rWIT

Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi:
https://bit.ly/4sazmq0

Celestron EdgeHD 8 Telescope:
https://bit.ly/4jkzGzX

TeleGizmos 365 Telescope Covers:
https://bit.ly/4eux0MN

Askar Color Magic Duo Filter Set:
https://bit.ly/47hvSbC

Sky-Watcher SynLink:
https://bit.ly/4yWse2X

GL.iNet Comet Remote KVM:
https://amzn.to/4fF9GNp

ZWO ASI2600MC Pro Cooled Astronomy Camera:
https://bit.ly/4ymcjLD

ZWO ASI120MM Mini Guide Camera:
https://bit.ly/4vwbs8b

ZWO AM3N Harmonic Drive Mount with Tripod:
https://bit.ly/4ysuIX1

Mini PC:
https://amzn.to/4gHGLcH

ZWO EAF Electronic Automatic Focuser:
https://bit.ly/4yIEf1X

ZWO CAA Camera Angle Adjuster:
https://bit.ly/4pnFoC6

ZWO 5 × 2-inch EFW Filter Wheel:
https://bit.ly/4w9Kkxa

SVBONY SV241 Pro Power Hub:
https://amzn.to/4h1lsD9

APC BE600M1 UPS Battery Backup:
https://amzn.to/4f8snci

NETGEAR GS305E Network Switch:
https://amzn.to/44v2uNE

TP-Link Tapo P316M Smart Power Strip:
https://amzn.to/4ymeJdb

Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

Episode 106 is here!

Please join us on the Youtube Channel this week for Part 2 of the Mono Procesing in Pixinsight Series, where Roo sits down w/Justin and Parish to learn how to work with Narrowband Data in Pixinsight! Whether you are a Seestar owner, a Planewave guy, or just a "refractor with OSC" kinda person like me, there is a LOT to learn in this series, and i can PROMSIE you, it WILL improve your techniques!

A VERY special thanks to Justin and Parish for all their help in making this series happen.Justin will be launching his own YouTube content in the near future, so make sure you subscribe to his channel in advance and turn on notifcations, that way you'll know right away when new content comes out! And if you haven't done so already, PLEASE subscribe to The Astrocast YouTube channel!

Thanks so much for your support, we'll be back in a couple weeks with a brand new episode!

Clear Skies!

Roo

Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

JOIN THE FAMILY: The Astrocast | Weekly Astronomy/Astrophotography Podcast | Patreon

WELCOME BAAAACK to The EUROCAST! In this weeks episode, guest host Mark Lindley takes The Astrocast to Europe for a trip through Switzerland, the French Alps, and the Vosges Mountains, where online friendships finally become face-to-face conversations.

Between missed train stops, passport trouble, cloudy skies, and a shared meal, Mark catches up with Dr. Klaus Schweitzer and Tim from Belgium. There’s plenty of astrophotography talk along the way: traveling with camera lenses, remote observatories, processing software, simple star trackers, and knowing when to upgrade your gear.

But the moment that makes the trip comes under the stars, when Tim sees the Milky Way for the first time. Mark closes his journey with a personal reflection on loneliness, friendship, and finding your people, followed by his original poem, “Alone Together.”

Come for the stars. Stay for the company.

Featured guests: Mark Lindley, Dr. Klaus Schweitzer, Tim, and Roo.

Field-recording note: Parts of the car conversation have rough audio. To skip ahead to the cottage conversation, jump from 36:05 to 1:16:40.

Chapters

00:00:00 A first glimpse of the Milky Way — cold open
00:00:48 Mark takes the mic: welcome to the Eurocast
00:04:20 The friends, the route, and the plan
00:09:14 Arriving in Geneva
00:12:21 Chamonix and the French Alps
00:16:48 Alpine hiking, wildlife, and changing glaciers
00:20:42 Sponsor: Dark Dragons Astronomy
00:22:29 The Mont Blanc Express and a break in the clouds
00:26:26 Lausanne, passport trouble, and travel lessons
00:34:53 A missed train stop on the way to the meetup
00:39:05 Meeting Dr. Schweitzer and hitting the road
00:54:52 Finding time to image and planning for remote skies
01:16:40 At the cottage: meet Tim
01:22:06 Cooking dinner and talking dark skies
01:31:08 Camera lenses versus telescopes
01:37:07 Processing software and homemade mounts
01:47:54 Building a remote observatory setup
01:58:09 Simple star trackers, dithering, and calibration frames
02:09:19 Choosing gear, upgrades, and support
02:20:32 Learning from the community
02:28:49 One-on-one with Tim: photography and finding astronomy
02:39:08 Generosity, friendship, and the Astrocast community
02:50:21 Imaging together and learning to gather more data
02:57:52 Mark shares his Mont Blanc Milky Way image
03:03:22 Planning a simple Milky Way setup
03:13:10 Finding the joy in less gear
03:22:11 Under the Stars: a clearing above the clouds
03:24:24 Tim sees the Milky Way for the first time
03:29:20 Heading home: Mark reflects on the trip
03:38:28 “Alone Together” — a poem by Mark Lindley
03:41:13 Roo’s closing thanks and epilogue
03:43:47 The Astrocast outro song

Music credit

“La fille aux cheveux de lin” from Préludes, Book I by Claude Debussy. MIDI performance by Katsuhiro Oguri, rendered using Garritan Steinway; published by Quinn Mason. Sourced from IMSLP, file #280628, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0. Mixed beneath poetry and closing narration for this episode.

✨ Agena Astro | 🔭 High Point Scientific | 📦 Amazon | 🌌 First Light Optics | 🪐 365 Astronomy

Please note!! When using affiliate links, PLEASE check and make sure you don't have an active ad-blocker/incognito mode on, as it will prevent the link from working. We also would like to welcome 365Astronomy as a new affiliate with the Astrocast! This affiliate has been requested for our friends across the pond in Europe, so I hope someone will use it. Thanks for your support!!!

Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

Sorry to bother your feeds! I had to reupload this weeks video, here ya go!

https://youtu.be/vl6zu6NJoH0

Clear skies!

-Roo

Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

UPDATE : Link updated, video back up! Sorry about that!

Hey Astrocast family! This week we have a VERY special episode for you, where me, Justin, and Parish sit down to discuss mono-processing in Pixinsight! There's no point in uploading an audio only version of this, so I thought i'd share the link! Hope to see you there, clear skies!

https://youtu.be/vl6zu6NJoH0

ALSO - we'll be back shortly with an all new audio episode!

Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

✨ Agena Astro | 🔭 High Point Scientific | 📦 Amazon | 🌌 First Light Optics | 🪐 365 Astronomy

Please note!! When using affiliate links, PLEASE check and make sure you don't have an active ad-blocker/incognito mode on, as it will prevent the link from working. We also would like to welcome 365Astronomy as a new affiliate with the Astrocast! This affiliate has been requested for our friends across the pond in Europe, so I hope someone will use it. Thanks for your support!!!

Welcome BAAACK to The Astrocast! This week, Roo sits down and chats about getting back to basics, watching meteor showers with friends and family, and lots of new software for managing shared/networked folders and files.

RustDesk: https://rustdesk.com/
SyncThing: https://syncthing.net/
Home Assistant: https://www.home-assistant.io/

Affiliate links to popular Astrogear!
ASI2600MC Pro - Cooled Astronomy Camera: https://bit.ly/4ymcjLD
ASI2600MM Pro (Mono) - https://bit.ly/3RsqQVr
ASI6200MC Pro (Full Frame OSC) - https://bit.ly/4h4iFsN
ASI6200MM Pro (Full Frame Mono) -- https://bit.ly/4yIhZ2u
AM3N Harmonic Drive Mount (w/tripod) - https://bit.ly/4ysuIX1
Seestar S30 Pro Smart Scope : https://bit.ly/4hH14Hp

Want to run a remote rig???

You can build your own version of my remote rig! The only things I don't have listed here yet are the DeepSkyDad FP2 and Dew heaters. I'm workin on that!
GLI.Net Comet - Remote KVM : https://amzn.to/4fF9GNp
ASI2600MC Pro - Cooled Astronomy Camera: https://bit.ly/4ymcjLD
ASI120MM Mini - Guide Camera: https://bit.ly/4vwbs8b
AM3N Harmonic Drive Mount (w/tripod) - https://bit.ly/4ysuIX1
Mini PC - https://amzn.to/4gHGLcH
ZWO EAF - Focuser: https://bit.ly/4yIEf1X
ZWO CAA - Rotator/Camera Angle Adjuster: https://bit.ly/4pnFoC6
ZWO 5X2” EFW Filter Wheel (2025) - Filter Wheel: https://bit.ly/4w9Kkxa
SVBONY SV241 Pro - Power Hub: https://amzn.to/4h1lsD9
APC BE600M1 - UPS Battery Backup: https://amzn.to/4f8snci
NETGEAR GS305E - Network Switch: https://amzn.to/44v2uNE
TP-Link Tapo P316M - Smart Power Strip (HS300 successor/equivalent): https://amzn.to/4ymeJdb

Please note - these are affiliate links and The Astrocast receives a small percentage of the profits from the seller. The prices do not change for you, and it benefits the show. Win win!

Get your AC Merch Today - https://qcroo.com/store
Thanks for your support!

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to make a 1 time contribution, please feel free to at Buy me a Coffee!

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Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

WELCOME BAAAACK to The Astrocast! Roo sits down this week for a quick catch up with you guys to discuss his next project, and the ongoing NONSENSE that is Reflect Orbital. This one gets a little spicy, fair warning!!! Read the FCC Petition from AAS here. CALL OR WRITE YOUR LOCAL POLITICIANS! MAKE them do SOMETHING!

Join our Patreon, and get access to the BEST community in AP!: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheAstrocast

🛒 AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
Some links below are affiliate links. The Astrocast may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ad blockers, incognito browsing and strict tracking protection may interfere with affiliate tracking. Thank you for supporting the show!

✨ SHOP WITH THE ASTROCAST
Agena Astro: https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=8632339.cb455f
High Point Scientific: https://www.highpointscientific.com/?rfsn=8141859.a5f5d85
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4n0OMsz
First Light Optics: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/index/ref/astrocast/

🔭 GEAR DISCUSSED
Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L: https://amzn.to/3S6iyTi
ZWO ASI6200MM Pro: https://bit.ly/4yIhZ2u
ZWO ASI6200MC Pro: https://bit.ly/4h4iFsN
ZWO AM3N with tripod: https://bit.ly/4ysuIX1
ZWO Seestar S30 Pro: https://bit.ly/4hH14Hp

🌌 BUILD ROO’S REMOTE RIG
GL.iNet Comet Remote KVM: https://amzn.to/4fF9GNp
ZWO ASI2600MC Pro: https://bit.ly/4ymcjLD
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro: https://bit.ly/3RsqQVr
ZWO ASI120MM Mini: https://bit.ly/4vwbs8b
ZWO AM3N: https://bit.ly/4ysuIX1
Mini PC: https://amzn.to/4gHGLcH
ZWO EAF: https://bit.ly/4yIEf1X
ZWO CAA Rotator: https://bit.ly/4pnFoC6
ZWO 5 × 2-inch EFW: https://bit.ly/4w9Kkxa
SVBONY SV241 Pro Power Hub: https://amzn.to/4h1lsD9
APC BE600M1 UPS: https://amzn.to/4f8snci
NETGEAR GS305E Switch: https://amzn.to/44v2uNE
TP-Link Tapo P316M Power Strip: https://amzn.to/4ymeJdb

👕 SUPPORT THE SHOW
Astrocast merch: https://qcroo.com/store
Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theastrocast
Join our Patreon and members-only Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheAstrocast

Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

**YOUTUBE VERSION HERE!!!***- you'll wanna see this!

How big does another galaxy look with the naked eye? In Chile’s Atacama Desert, Nico Carver saw the Large Magellanic Cloud hanging in the sky—so large that members of his group initially thought it was an ordinary cloud!

Welcome BACK to The Astrocast! Roo sits down with Nico Carver of Nebula Photos to discuss his Atacama astrophotography workshop, the Southern Milky Way, 3D-printed astro gear, AI, smart scopes, remote observatories, mono versus one-shot color and much more. We also explore Nico’s incredible images of Gamma Velorum, the Vela Supernova Remnant, the LMC, Corona Australis and the Southern Cross-to-Carina region.

Thank you to Nico for being such a wonderful friend of the show!

🔭 NICO CARVER / NEBULA PHOTOS
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO_gBdHekc74feh0bWqKJ1Q
Website: https://www.nebulaphotos.com/
AstroBin: https://app.astrobin.com/u/nebulaphotos
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nebulaphotos

🛒 AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
Some links below are affiliate links. The Astrocast may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ad blockers, incognito browsing and strict tracking protection may interfere with affiliate tracking. Thank you for supporting the show!

✨ SHOP WITH THE ASTROCAST
Agena Astro: https://agenaastro.com/?rfsn=8632339.cb455f
High Point Scientific: https://www.highpointscientific.com/?rfsn=8141859.a5f5d85
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4n0OMsz
First Light Optics: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/index/ref/astrocast/

🔭 GEAR DISCUSSED
Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L: https://amzn.to/3S6iyTi
ZWO ASI6200MM Pro: https://bit.ly/4yIhZ2u
ZWO ASI6200MC Pro: https://bit.ly/4h4iFsN
ZWO AM3N with tripod: https://bit.ly/4ysuIX1
ZWO Seestar S30 Pro: https://bit.ly/4hH14Hp

🌌 BUILD ROO’S REMOTE RIG
GL.iNet Comet Remote KVM: https://amzn.to/4fF9GNp
ZWO ASI2600MC Pro: https://bit.ly/4ymcjLD
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro: https://bit.ly/3RsqQVr
ZWO ASI120MM Mini: https://bit.ly/4vwbs8b
ZWO AM3N: https://bit.ly/4ysuIX1
Mini PC: https://amzn.to/4gHGLcH
ZWO EAF: https://bit.ly/4yIEf1X
ZWO CAA Rotator: https://bit.ly/4pnFoC6
ZWO 5 × 2-inch EFW: https://bit.ly/4w9Kkxa
SVBONY SV241 Pro Power Hub: https://amzn.to/4h1lsD9
APC BE600M1 UPS: https://amzn.to/4f8snci
NETGEAR GS305E Switch: https://amzn.to/44v2uNE
TP-Link Tapo P316M Power Strip: https://amzn.to/4ymeJdb

👕 SUPPORT THE SHOW
Astrocast merch: https://qcroo.com/store
Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theastrocast
Join our Patreon and members-only Discord: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheAstrocast

🕒 CHAPTERS
0:00 Welcome Back, Nico Carver!
4:31 The Rise of 3D-Printed Astro Gear
11:42 Collimation and Continuing to Learn
15:30 AI in Astrophotography
22:20 Nico’s Atacama Adventure
27:23 The Travel Rig and Imaging Plan
35:10 Imaging Under Atacama Skies
41:32 Seeing the LMC Naked-Eye
43:39 Dark Skies vs. Remote Imaging
45:32 Leading Astrophotography Workshops
49:57 Friendship and the Astronomy Community
56:28 Gamma Velorum and the Vela Supernova Remnant
1:03:22 Nico’s Large Magellanic Cloud Image
1:06:39 The Southern Milky Way
1:15:07 Flamingos, Vicuñas and Rainbow Valley
1:17:05 Teaching Image Processing
1:19:24 Listener Questions
1:21:51 Imaging Under Heavy Light Pollution
1:25:57 Gatekeeping and Smart Telescopes
1:29:11 Remote Imaging Lessons
1:33:50 Mono vs. One-Shot Color
1:39:09 Nico’s Future Projects and Giant Prints
1:44:07 Managing YouTube, Patreon and Burnout
1:47:11 Nico’s Astronomy Tattoos
1:48:03 The Astrocast Outro

#Astrophotography #Astronomy #NebulaPhotos

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Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

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**Please note!! When using affiliate links, PLEASE check and make sure you don't have an ad blocker, incognito mode, or blocked cookies... thank you for your support!!!**

WELCOME BAAAACK to The Astrocast!

WATCH this weeks new episode on YouTube! LOTS of video content!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7UZA-h5MTw

We’re celebrating Episode 100 with a full-length road-trip adventure from Charlotte to the Bortle 1 skies of Utah. Join Parish and me as we visit Astro Peak, build remote observatory rigs, image under some of the darkest skies in the country, and reflect on 100 episodes of The Astrocast.

JOIN THE ASTROCAST PATREON
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AFFILIATE LINKS — PAID LINKS

Purchases made through the links below may earn The Astrocast a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Some ad blockers and strict privacy settings may prevent affiliate referral tracking. Thank you for supporting the show!

BUILD YOUR OWN REMOTE ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY RIG — AFFILIATE LINKS

I’m still adding the DeepSkyDad FP2 flat panel and dew heaters, but here is the rest of the setup:

GL.iNet Comet Remote KVM
https://amzn.to/4fF9GNp

ZWO ASI2600MC Pro Cooled Astronomy Camera
https://bit.ly/4ymcjLD

ZWO ASI120MM Mini Guide Camera
https://bit.ly/4vwbs8b

ZWO AM3N Harmonic Drive Mount with Tripod
https://bit.ly/4ysuIX1

Mini PC
https://amzn.to/4gHGLcH

ZWO EAF Electronic Automatic Focuser
https://bit.ly/4yIEf1X

ZWO CAA Camera Angle Adjuster
https://bit.ly/4pnFoC6

ZWO 5 x 2-inch EFW Filter Wheel
https://bit.ly/4w9Kkxa

SVBONY SV241 Pro Power Hub
https://amzn.to/4h1lsD9

APC BE600M1 UPS Battery Backup
https://amzn.to/4f8snci

NETGEAR GS305E Network Switch
https://amzn.to/44v2uNE

TP-Link Tapo P316M Smart Power Strip
https://amzn.to/4ymeJdb

If this kind of trip sounds great to you, consider joining our Patreon. You’ll get access to our members-only Discord, where 99% of adventures like these begin. While Parish and I were heading for Bortle 1 in the United States, our friend and cohost Mark was meeting up with other listeners in Europe. Stay tuned for that episode!

Thank you for helping The Astrocast celebrate 100 episodes in style. Please stop by Facebook, YouTube, or—better yet—the Discord and say hello!

CHAPTERS

00:00 Why We Didn’t Fly
01:00 Episode 100 & Astro Peak Update
02:57 The CEM26 Remote-Mount Mistake
07:07 Supporting The Astrocast
09:23 First Night at Astro Peak
11:45 Utah Drive & First Light 2027
15:34 Bortle 1 Skies & 100 Episodes
18:43 The 100th-Episode Intro
19:42 Final Night Under Bortle 1 Skies
22:15 The Road From Charlotte to Utah
24:11 Building Astro Peak Observatory
26:05 First Piers & Parish’s Astro-Physics AP1100GTO
30:48 Polar Alignment and First Light
35:24 Five-Minute Unguided M81
37:06 Sleeping Under the Milky Way
39:26 Building the Remote Observatory Rigs
45:26 Rho Ophiuchi and the Bortle 1 Sky
46:31 The Otherworldly Drive Across Utah
50:18 Ticaboo Lodge and Mile Marker 13
1:02:29 Setting Up a Bortle 1 Imaging Night
1:10:15 Seestar, Rho Ophiuchi & 30-Second Exposures
1:17:12 The 2027 Astrocast Listener Meetup
1:23:03 Satellites, Space Ads & Saving the Night Sky
1:30:14 Cosmic Perspective, Learning the Sky & Polar Alignment
1:35:46 Parish’s Astrophotography Gear Journey
1:43:44 Modern Star Trackers & Rethinking Smart Telescopes
1:58:19 Harmonic Mounts & Ultimate Travel Rigs
2:10:26 Integration Time, Processing & Growth
2:14:08 Friendship and the Astrocast Community
2:23:24 Life Is Short, Saturn & Endless Possibilities
2:28:41 Remote Observatories and the People Who Inspire Us
2:36:48 Final Thoughts Under the Milky Way
2:39:28 The Astrocast Song
2:42:41 Dropping Off Parish & Heading Home
2:46:13 Road-Trip Essentials & Remote-Rig Backups
2:59:34 Laws, Sober Driving & Mountain Safety
3:05:27 Speed, Police, Brakes & Mountain Descents
3:12:30 No Cell Service, Satellites & Starlink Mini
3:25:01 Portable Fridge, Missouri Roads & Desert Comforts
3:34:27 Scorpions, Wildlife & Remote-Site Safety
3:41:57 Protecting Gear and Choosing Hotels
3:48:51 Why You Should Bring a Friend
3:55:34 Rental-Car Lessons & Two-Person Benefits
4:00:20 Driving Limits and Knowing When to Stop
4:04:16 Blue Horsehead First Light & Astro Peak Thanks
4:07:01 Thank You, Astrocast Family
4:07:55 Clear Skies

Questions or comments?
[Roo@TheAstrocast.com](mailto:Roo@TheAstrocast.com)

Clear skies, and thank you for watching!

Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

✨ Agena Astro| 🔭 High Point Scientific | 📦 Amazon | 🌌 First Light Optics

WELCOME BAAAACK to The Astrocast! We have a FULL video component with this weeks episode, which you can find here! There's some truly beautiful scenery while me and Parish make our way to the middle of nowhere! We drove nearly 5,000 miles in 10 days for an EPIC run to the Darkest Skies N. America has to offer!!! If you happen to watch the YouTube video, please give a like and comment, and subscribe! The Astrocast will have a lot more video content coming this year, so make sure you're subscribed!

If this kind of trip sounds great to you, please considerjoining our Patreon! You'll get access to the incredible members only Discord where 99 percent of plans like these hatch! While me and Parish we're heading for Bortle 1 in the US, our friend and cohost Mark was meeting up with other listeners in Europe! Stay tuned for that episode, it's coming!

Thank you so much for all of your support, as the Astrocast prepares to celebrate it's 100th episode in STYLE!

Find us on Facebook! - if you don't join the Patreon, please stop by and say hi!

Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

Just a quick check in from the Tennessee rest area!!! If you’re seeing this because you scanned the QR code, welcome to the Astrocast Family!!!

clear skies!

Roo

Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

✨ Agena Astro| 🔭 High Point Scientific | 📦 Amazon | 🌌 First Light Optics

WELCOME BAAAACK to The Astrocast! This week, Roo sits down with his buddies Justin and Parish to talk Astrophotography! Remote imaging, Rokinon 135's, SSDs, HDDs, and everything in between! This is an EXTRA-LENGTH episode, so get comfy, and hopefully under a dark clear sky!

Special thanks to Justin and Parish for spending the evening talking AP with me.

Here's a link to the m48 Flange we discuss during the back half of the show, guaranteed to make your Rokinon/Samyang 135 a better rig!

First Light Optics M48 to Samyang/Rokinon 135 Flange

The Bambuu Labs 3d printing debacle!

Great USB Cables we were discussing

The prior links are affiliate links that help the show! If you make a purchase through one of them, you get the same great price, but a small cut of the profit goes to support The Astrocast. Thanks for your support!

Join our PATREON! Become a member of The Astrocast Family today, and talk with us whenever ya please! You will get access to the AC Discord right away, and you'll love it! I also send a personal video thank you to every single person who joins, I greatly appreciate your support!

Quick disclaimer: this is a discussion based on our opinions, interpretations, and publicly available information. Nothing we say should be taken as a legal claim, accusation, or statement of fact about anyone’s guilt, intent, liability, or wrongdoing. We’re here to comment, speculate, and discuss not to litigate.

Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

Hey Guys!

Happy weekend :)

<3 Roo

Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

✨ Agena Astro| 🔭 High Point Scientific | 📦 Amazon | 🌌 First Light Optics

Welcome BAAAACK to The Astrocast! This week, Roo recaps some of the preparations he is taking before setting off on a 4,000 mile round trip adventure to the darkest skies he has ever seen. Afterwards, he sits down with a new friend to talk about a VERY fascinating field, capturing exoplanet transits! Roo is extremely excited at the thought of capturing his own transit, and will definitely keep you posted on how his progress goes, as he makes it! If there's enough interest in this, I would consider doing a video episode going through all the steps!

Join the Astrocast Family! - Gain access to our members only Patreon, access to Astropeak Remote Observatory in the wide open Bortle 1 skies of Utah, and become friends with some of the best astronomers in the world!

Buy me a coffee if you enjoy the show!

A big shoutout to our newest 3 members of the Astrocast family, Jesse, Sean, and Dr. Dave! Thank you guys for joining the Patreon and the Discord, you've been a breath of fresh air!

Also, a big thank you to everyone who continues to use the affiliate links at the top of the post, if you use them when making any purchase through these vendors, you'll get the same great prices as always, but a small portion of the profits goes to benefit the Astrocast. Thanks so much for your support!

LINKS from this week's episode!

The Swarthmore Transit Finder - Find a transit happening in a solar system "near" you tonight!

How to observe exoplanets (part of the NASA Exoplanet Watch programme) - The how! Read this first, to get a better understanding!

Information about EXOTIC (EXOplanet Transit Interpretation Code)- Definitely check this out.

The google form for EXOTIC advanced - You'll definitely need this!

Joriks Astrobin - WOW!!! I'm glad you did this, Jorik! Amazing images!

And here's Roo's Astrobin - though it definitely needs some more photos! That'll be coming this summer, for sure.

As a reminder, I'll be ON THE ROAD from June 12-22nd, so episodes will be flakey during this period...but stay tuned, cause it's gonna be worth it when we get back!

Cover photo this week - credit to Acererak! Great image!

Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

https://youtu.be/b_54zFXexTI

The NEAF Episode premiers on Youtube at 4pm EST 5/19/2026! I hope to see you there!

Clear Skies!!!

-Roo

Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

✨ Agena Astro| 🔭 High Point Scientific | 📦 Amazon | 🌌 First Light Optics

Welcome BAAAACK to The Astrocast! This week, join Roo as he takes you on a midnight journey to the middle of nowhere, a place where only Whippoorwills and Darkness dare to tread, a place where sleepy eyes are no match for the Milky Way!

As a reminder, if you'd like to join the coolest Astronomy club there is, consider joining The Astrocast Society! Become a member today and get exclusive access to The Astrocast Discord - where you will meet and talk with like minded individuals 24/7. It truly is a GREAT place to be. You can also get exclusive access to Astropeak Observatory, a remote observatory in Utah under Bortle 1 skies! Join the Patreon now and when you reserve your pier Astropeak will pay for your membership! WIN WIN!

We'll be off next week to take time for editing a HUGE episode that is coming up soon, but we'll see you in Mid-May! Happy early Milky Way season, get out there and see it! No excuses!

If you'd like to see the photo Roo got from this trip, check it out here on the FB Page for The Astrocast. For 1 hour of exposures it came out pretty cool!

Move Shoot Move Nomad- Currently sold out - but keep checking back!

Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

See the new episode here!

Click the link above to goto The Astrocast on Youtube, and see this weeks new episode!

Thank you all SO MUCH for your support! Special episodes like this one are only possible because you all show your support by listening to all the others, and supporting the Patreon!

Clear Skies!

-Roo

Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

✨ Agena Astro| 🔭 High Point Scientific | 📦 Amazon | 🌌 First Light Optics

Welcome baaaack to The Astrocast! This week, Roo sits down w/James from Leviathan Optical to discuss the current state of Astrophotography, Filters for OSC Cameras, and of course, the Spectral Pro from Leviathan Optical. James is an incredibly talented and smart astrophotographer based in Dublin, Dr. James Murphy is an endlessly fascinating guy who I could talk to for 8 hours if I didn't have to make dinner with my wife occasionally.

I'm going to do my best to link to everything we discussed, but if I missed anything, please let me know!

LINKS from this weeks Discussion:

Leviathan Optical Website

Get your Leviathan Spectral Pro at FLO!

Horizon Astronomy (if you're in Germany, check em out!)

John Walsh on Astrobin

Resources on Leviathan Optical (this is where you can find the tools/datasheets we discussed during the show)

Gallery showing results from Leviathan Spectral Pro(including my Heart Nebula)

Thanks so much for tuning in to the Astrocast, we'll be back with a new episode next week, and until then...as always - CLEAR SKIES!!!!

-Roo

Support the show

Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!