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Astrophotography

Discover astrophotography - the art of capturing the night sky - from beginner-friendly tips to advanced imaging techniques. Below you’ll find gear guides, step-by-step tutorials, and recommended celestial targets, all based on real-world experience.

Whether you're shooting from a balcony in a light-polluted city or traveling to dark-sky sites, astrophotography is one of the most rewarding hobbies out there. This category brings together everything I’ve learned from over a decade of trial and error, camera tests, gear setups, and long nights under the stars.

I believe that anyone can enjoy astrophotography — no PhD or $5000 rig required. You’ll find that most of my tutorials are created with accessible gear, and almost every shot on this page was taken by me — often under far-from-perfect conditions.

All photos and tutorials here are created by Paweł Białecki, an amateur astrophotographer based in Poland.

Getting Started with Astrophotography

If you're new here, start with the basics. These guides will walk you through what equipment you actually need (and what you don’t), how to find your first targets, and how to avoid the most common beginner mistakes — including the ones I made.

  • Astrophotography for Beginners: How to Start. Learn the Basics!
  • astrophotography telescope for a beginner
    The Best Astrophotography Telescope for Beginners 🔭
  • Summer Milky Way in Smedava
    Milky Way Photography Gear for Beginners
  • Astrophotography books
    5 Best Astrophotography Books for Every Astrophotographer

Best Astrophotography Targets (by Season & Object)

Not sure what to photograph tonight or this season? This section helps you find the most rewarding objects in the night sky — from bright nebulae and galaxies to the Milky Way and even comets. You’ll also learn how to plan your sessions based on the time of year and your gear.

  • Astrophotography Targets by Month Full List
    Astrophotography Targets by Month – Best List for Beginners
  • 7 Spring Astrophotography Targets to Photograph During the Galaxy Season ✨ (March, April, May)
  • Winter Astrophotography: 5 Best Targets For Beginners
  • Fall Astrophotography: The 7 Best Autumn Targets for Beginners

How-To Tutorials & Camera Settings

Ready to take your skills to the next level? Here’s where you’ll find more technical guides: stacking, background removal, color balancing, and post-processing workflows I personally use on macOS. Whether you're using a DSLR or a telescope, these techniques will help you get more detail out of your data.

  • Starry Sky Stacker Tutorial - Astrophotography Stacking on MacOS
  • PixInsight Background Extraction - How to Remove Gradients and Tints
  • Mac OS Astrophotography Post-Processing
    Astrophotography macOS Post-Processing: Capture One, Affinity Photo
  • 10 Best Astrophotography Tips for Beginners - Proven and Instant

Deep-Sky Object Imaging Guides

Photographing deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebulae may sound intimidating — but it’s absolutely doable. These posts break it down by object and method, showing you how I approach each target using DSLR setups, telephoto lenses, and tracking mounts.

  • Andromeda Galaxy
    Andromeda Galaxy (M31): How to Photograph with a DSLR Camera
  • Pleiades (M45/Seven Sisters) - How To Photograph, Tips, Facts
  • Rosette Nebula - Astrophotography How-To and Tips
  • North America Nebula - How to Photograph With a Telephoto Lens

Equipment Reviews & Field Tests

I don’t do generic Amazon-style reviews. Every piece of gear listed below has been tested under real conditions — cold nights, polar alignment challenges, and long exposure sessions. If it’s here, I’ve used it in the field, and I’ll tell you exactly what worked (and what didn’t).

  • Fuji X-T20: The Ultimate Camera Astrophotography Review
  • Rokinon 135mm F/2 Lens Astrophotography Review
  • Hoya Red Intensifier (Enhancer/Starscape) Review
  • SkyWatcher Evostar 72ED APO refractor telescope
    Sky-Watcher Evostar 72ED Review: The Ultimate Beginner Telescope

Special Events & Photo Stories

Sometimes the sky surprises you — a rare eclipse, a comet that suddenly brightens, or just a perfectly clear night. These posts document those moments. They're part tutorial, part photo diary, and fully real: straight from my camera to this site.

  • 27 July 2018 Blood Moon Total Lunar Eclipse
    July 2018 Lunar Eclipse - Blood Moon in Poland and Czechia
  • NEOWISE Comet (C/2020 F3) — How to Photograph? DSLR Tips.

More Astrophotography Tips, Gear, and Stories

Still exploring? These extra posts include bonus tips, niche accessories, and lesser-known targets. If you've already gone through the main sections above, this is where you'll find more hidden gems — gear I didn't expect to love, objects I revisited, and lessons learned along the way.

  • astrophotography acronyms dictionary. Overhead view of astrophotography gear on a dark starry background, including telescope, filters, guide camera, and red flashlight. flat lay of astrophotography equipment on dark starry background, labeled items like telescope, filter wheel, guide camera, star chart, red flashlight, clean overhead view, no text, high detail, night sky theme
    Astrophotography Acronyms: A to Z Astro Imaging Dictionary
  • Petzl ACTIC CORE
    Petzl ACTIK CORE Headlamp Astrophotography Review
  • Dumbbell Nebula (M27): How to Photograph with a DSLR Camera
Paweł Białecki, the author behind Astro Photons
Paweł Białecki

I’m Paweł Białecki — an astrophotographer and indie app developer who’s been exploring the night sky for over a decade. Here on Astro Photons, I share practical guides, cosmic insights, and deep-sky photos to help you enjoy and understand our universe — no telescope degree required.

This blog is part of my personal mission to make astronomy more approachable. I write for beginners, hobbyists, and curious stargazers who want real, useful advice — not just textbook definitions. All guides are based on hands-on experience, actual night sky photography, and a genuine love for the cosmos.

I also build simple, helpful tools for fellow science enthusiasts — like UnitToolbox, a universal unit converter made to work beautifully on any device.

More about me →

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