Page 2 - Articles & Guides

At Agena Astro, we're committed to helping our customers understand the many options available for telescopes and accessories for astronomy. That's why we take the time to produce detailed and useful guides to choosing astronomy equipment for visual astronomy, astrophotography, and solar observing. Some of these guides are short and are intended to solve particular issues such as product installation or maintenance. Others are more detailed to help you make the best choice for accessories and upgrades such as focusers, astronomy cameras, and filters. You can find a list of our current guides at the links below. We'll continue to add new guides in the coming months.

If you still have questions, or if you have an idea for an astronomy product guide, please get in touch with us.

1. Visual and Imaging Filters

1.1 Choosing a Color/Planetary Filter (Jan 2017)
1.2 Guide to Light-Pollution Filters for Visual Astronomy (Sep 2017)
1.3 Guide to Imaging Filters (Oct 2017)
1.4 A Guide to Lunar Observing Filters (May 2021)
1.5 Optolong LRGB Filter Testing and Comparison with Baader LRGB Filters (Oct 2015)

2. Finders and Guidescopes

2.1 Choosing a Non-Magnifying Finder for Your Telescope (Oct 2016)
2.2 Choosing a Magnifying Finder for Your Telescope (Mar 2017)

3. Focusers

3.1 Refractor Focuser Compatibility Table (Apr 2018)
3.2 Customer Installation Photos (Feb 2015)
3.3 Upgrading a GSO Single-Speed Focuser to Dual Speed (Dec 2013)
3.4 Optimizing the Performance of your GSO Crayford Focuser (Jan 2014)
3.5 Attaching a Finder Telescope to a GSO Crayford Focuser (Apr 2014)
3.6 Upgrading the Focuser of Your Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope (Apr 2018)

4. Solar Observing and Equipment

4.1 Observing the Sun (May 2016)
4.2 Solar Astronomy 101 (Jun 2022)
4.3 Frequently Asked Questions About Baader AstroSolar Film Filters
4.4 Making Your Own Solar Filter Using Baader AstroSolar Film (PDF File)
4.5 Baader AstroSolar Film Technical Specifications
4.6 Cleaning AstroSolar Film
4.7 The Baader ASTF White Light Solar Filter (Sep 2015)
4.8 An Observer's Checklist for the August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse (Jun 2016)
4.9 A Guide to Viewing the Total Solar Eclipse of 2017 (Feb 2017)
4.10 How to View the Annular Eclipse 2023 (Jun 2023)
4.11 How to Make A Solar Filter for Viewing A Solar Eclipse (Sep 2023)

5. Cameras

5.1 Buyer's Guide to ZWO Astronomy Cameras (Feb 2018)

6. Eyepieces / Binoviewers

6.1 Tele Vue DeLite Eyepieces - First Light Review (Jul 2015)
6.2 Choosing an Eyepiece - Step by Step (Jan 2016)
6.3 The Lederman Optical Array LOA-21 3D Eyepiece (Jun 2016)
6.4 Tele Vue DeLite 5-9-15mm Eyepiece Review (Aug 2016)
6.5 The Baader Hyperion Mark IV Zoom Eyepiece – A Performance Review with Monoviewing and Binoviewing (Jan 2018)
6.6 Baader Morpheus 17.5mm Eyepiece Review (May 2018)
6.7 The Baader Planetarium Morpheus (Aug 2018)
6.8 How to Choose Eyepieces for Your Astronomy Telescope (Nov 2018)
6.9 Guide to Choosing Eyepieces for Binoviewers (Apr 2017)
6.10 Field Test of the Baader Maxbright II Binoviewer (May 2020)

7. Autoguiding

7.1 Selecting a Guide Scope and Autoguiding Camera for Astrophotography (Jul 2017)

8. Diagonals

8.1 Choosing a Baader Planetarium Star Diagonal (Dec 2017)
8.2 Choosing and Using 2" Diagonals for Schmidt-Cassegrain and Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescopes (Mar 2019)

9. Observing Guides

9.1 The Planet Jupiter (May 2017)
9.2 The Planet Mars (Oct 2020)
9.3 The Planet Saturn (Jul 2017)
9.4 The Planets Uranus and Neptune (Oct 2020)

10. Telescopes

10.1 GSO 8-inch True Cassegrainian (Oct 2019)
10.2 William Optics Telescopes – A Buyer's Guide (Dec 2019)
10.3 Review of the Askar 72mm f/5.6 Quintuplet Petzval Flat-Field Astrograph and Askar 0.7x Reducer (Jul 2020)
10.4 A Review of the Askar FMA230 ED Telescope (Mar 2022)

11. Barlow Lenses / Focal Extenders and Focal Reducers

11.1 Focal Reducers for Astronomy (June 2019)
11.2 A Guide to Barlow Lenses for Astronomy (Nov 2019)

12. Miscellaneous

12.1 Astronomy Threads Explained (Sept 2018)
12.2 Holiday Gift Guide (Dec 2017)
12.3 ZWO Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector - Product Review (Sep 2016)
12.4 A Review of the Vixen 2.1x42 Super Wide Constellation and Kasai Trading 2.3x40 Wide Field Binoculars (May 2018)
12.5 An Introduction to Electronically-Assisted Astronomy (EAA) (Jun 2018)
12.6 ZWO ASIAIR PRO WiFi Controller – Field Notes and First Impressions (Apr 2020)
12.7 A Beginner's Guide to Choosing Equipment for Deep-Sky Electronically-Assisted Astronomy (EAA) (Jun 2020)
12.8 Celestron Smart Modules - StarSense Autoalign, SkyPortal WiFi, and SkySync GPS Module (Jun 2018)
12.9 A Primer on Back Focus in Astronomy (Jul 2021)
12.8 A 3D Printing Q&A with Astrodymium and BuckeyeStargazer (Oct 2021)
12.10 A Review of the ZWO ASIAIR-Plus Controller (Oct 2021)
12.11 Exploring Astrophotography with William Optics Telescopes (Feb 2022)
12.12 The Agena AstroProducts Buyer’s Guide to iOptron Mounts (Jun 2022)
12.13 A Primer on T-Rings and T-Adapters for Astronomy and Astrophotography (Jan 2023)

13. Blogs

13.1 What is Light Pollution in Astrophotography? (Nov 2021)
13.2 Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in November 2021 (Nov 2021)
13.3 Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in December 2021 (Dec 2021)
13.4 Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in January 2022 (Jan 2022)
13.5 Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in February 2022 (Jan 2022)
13.6 Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in March 2022 (Feb 2022)
13.7 Top Telescopes & Setup For Galaxy Season (Mar 2022)
13.8 Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in April 2022 (Apr 2022)
13.9 2022 Total Lunar Eclipse: Round 1 (Apr 2022)
13.10 Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in May 2022 (May 2022)
13.11 Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in June 2022 (May 2022)
13.12 Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in July 2022 (Jul 2022)
13.13 Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in August 2022 (Jul 2022)
13.14 Choosing the Best Telescope for Beginners (2022 Guide) (Sep 2022)

  1. Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in August 2022

    July 28, 2022
    Blogs

    Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in August 2022

    Author: Spencer Collins Published: July 29, 2022 Add a Comment

    1. Introduction

    Welcome to August, another exciting month for the astronomy community thanks to a third consecutive Full Super Moon, meteor shower, and some excellent opportunities for planetary imaging and observing! To help prioritize your astronomical observing and imaging sessions, we’ve put together an overview of this month’s highlights to get you out with a telescope under clear skies and looking up at the cosmos. Gear recommendations and highlights from the astronomy community are included to give you a good idea of the tools needed (or not needed) to enjoy the night sky.

    2. Solar System Events

    Figure 1 - Sinus Iridum, Jeffrey Horne

    The first and last weeks of the month will be the ideal time for dark skies during the

    Read more »

  2. Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in July 2022

    June 30, 2022
    Blogs

    To help prioritize your astronomical observing and imaging sessions, we’ve put together an overview of this month’s highlights to get you out under clear skies and looking up at the cosmos. Gear recommendations and highlights from the astronomy community are included to give you a good idea of the tools needed (or not needed) to enjoy the night sky!

    Read more »

  3. Solar Astronomy 101

    June 22, 2022
    Articles & Guides, Solar

    Solar Astronomy 101

    Author: Spencer Collins Published: June 23, 2022 Add a Comment

    Figure 1 - Sun in White Light and Calcium-K, Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau

    1. Introduction

    As of June 21, the summer solstice, the Northern Hemisphere will officially have entered its summer season. This time of the year is typically highlighted by long sunny days, with June 21 actually having the longest daylight period of the entire year. For many astrophotographers, this unfortunately also represents less total darkness at night for imaging deep sky objects. While many find the summer months to be less than ideal for nighttime imaging, the long days of sunlight serve as a friendly reminder of the most readily available astronomy target in the skies, our own Sun!

    Solar astrophotography has become increasingly popular in recent years thanks to the increased availability and affordability of solar equipment,

    Read more »

  4. The Agena Astro Buyer’s Guide to iOptron Mounts

    June 01, 2022
    Articles & Guides, Miscellaneous
    5

    This buyer’s guide sorts through the various package options for iOptron mounts including their compact equatorial mounts, CEM mounts, GEM mounts, and altazimuth mounts.

    Read more »

  5. Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in June 2022

    May 30, 2022
    Blogs

    We’ve made it nearly halfway through 2022! The first half of the year brought some much-needed excitement to the astronomy community thanks to increasing solar activity, lunar eclipses, meteor showers, newly identified supernova, and much more. With June ringing in the Summer Solstice and the official beginning of summer for the Northern Hemisphere, the next few months will bring even more excitement to our skies. To help prioritize your astronomical observing and imaging sessions for June, we have put together an overview of this month’s highlights to get you out under clear skies and looking up at the cosmos. Gear recommendations and highlights from the astronomy community are included to give you a good idea of the tools needed (or not needed) to enjoy the night sky.

    Read more »

  6. Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in May 2022

    May 02, 2022
    Blogs

    Much like April, the May skies are filled with an endless list of galaxies and summer targets for amateur astronomers and stargazers to appreciate.

    Read more »

  7. 2022 Total Lunar Eclipse: Round 1

    April 17, 2022
    Blogs

    It's time to start preparing for one of 2022's most looked forward to events of the year, the May 15/16 total lunar eclipse! While the May eclipse has the astronomy community patiently waiting, we'll also be fortunate enough to experience another total lunar eclipse later this year in November.

    Read more »

  8. Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in April 2022

    April 03, 2022
    Blogs
    2

    April brings plenty of wonderful sights to our night skies, including planetary conjunctions, meteor showers, and multiple New Moons.

    Read more »

  9. Top Telescopes & Setup For Galaxy Season

    March 20, 2022
    Blogs
    3

    As the Northern Hemisphere moves into springtime, here are the top telescope recommendations for astronomers to image distant galaxies.

    Read more »

  10. Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in March 2022

    February 27, 2022
    Blogs

    Are you ready for a peaky galaxy season? March is packed with planetary and lunar conjunctions, making it a great month for both astrophotographers.

    Read more »