Astro Modified Camera

My camera has been specially modified to be able to capture a broader spectrum of light, specifically for nightscape and astrophotography purposes. But don't take my word for it, Spencer's Camera has been doing this for years for many happy customers, as well as for NASA to be used on the ISS. If its good enough for NASA, its good enough for me!

Spencer's Camera & Photo, the leading provider of Digital Camera Infrared Conversion Services, now provides a unique modification service specifically for nightscape and astrophotography purposes. With the increased interest in Nightscape and Astrophotography many photographers require more from their normal cameras in order to capture stunning nightscape, astrophotography and/or night sky images with consistant high quality results. The extreme demands of night sky imaging will stretch the performance of any camera on the market today. Spencer's Camera & Photo has solved these problems for you. Image Credit: SpencersCamera.com

Canon R6 Comparison 02

Star Tracker

I recommend using the Move Shoot Move Nomad star tracker.

This little gem is the most genius way to enter the world of tracking if you are just getting started with astrophotography.

Or, if you are already a seasoned astrophotographer, this will be a valuable tool for your arsenal.

• Affordable
• Quick and easy to set up
• Small form factor, lightweight, great for travel
• Can be used in both hemispheres
• Long battery life, can also be hooked up to external battery via usb-c while in use
• Excellent customer support
• Lots of tutorials available online
• Can hold up to 7 pound payload capacity
• Can typically shoot up to 3 minute long exposures with a good polar alignment

If you are thinking of buying this tracker, please use my affiliate link below so I get credit!  By using this specific link, you are helping support my photography adventures, stories and tutorials. It helps me continue sharing these projects! I sincerely appreciate your support.

DISCOUNT TO MY VIEWERS!!  If you use this discount code:  Victoria5
You can get an additional 5% off your purchase (they do limit it though, it cannot be used in conjunction with any other discounts.)

Move Shoot Move Nomad Star TrackerFor payloads up to 7.7 lb (3.5 kg)

New Move Shoot Move Nomad Harmonic I Star TrackerFor heavier payloads up to 11 lb (5 kg)

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I shot all of these images below while using the MSM Nomad.

Dry Tortugas, Fort Jefferson Milky WayMSM Nomad

Havasu Falls CoreMSM Nomad

Runnoft's Last DreamMSM Nomad

Steinhatchee Milky WayMSM Nomad Big Bend, FLMSM Nomad Storyteller GXV NextMSM Nomad The Fallen Giants of Jekyll IslandMSM Nomad St George MW Pano Over DockMSM Nomad

Badwater Basin, Death Valley Winter Milky Way Feb 2025MSM Nomad
Double Pano Summer AND Winter Milky Way, Death Valley Feb 2025MSM Nomad

Smart Telescope

I recommend using the Seestar S50 smart telescope.

For those just getting introduced to deep sky astrophotography, if you want an easy to use and quick to set up system, go with a smart telescope. I started out with the Seestar S50 by ZWO. They now have another model, the S30. Either will do. Its as easy as powering up, connecting to your app, selecting a target, and begin imaging!

You do need to set realistic expectations though. Please research deep sky imaging with a smart telescope first and understand that many deep sky objects can often take a length of time of stacking images within the smart telescope application before a recognizable image will render, but you will see some amazing results that will hook you for life!

• Automatically acquires targets
• Small form factor, lightweight, great for travel
• Long battery life, can also be hooked up to battery via usb-c while in use
• Lots of tutorials available online
• You can image your very own deep sky targets without investing hours in post processing if you elect to use the jpg stacked files OR you can process your own files to see what results you get

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I shot all of these images below while using the ZWO Seestar S50.

Andromeda
Pleiades Orion NebulaThe Orion Nebula is situated within the constellation, Orion, where you would interpret the sword of the warrior to be hanging.
It can be visible with the naked eye on perfectly clear dark nights.
This image is a stack of images taken over the course of 4 hours of imaging.

Western Veil NebulaI wanted to create an image for Halloween, so I chose a target with a suitable name, the Witch’s Broom Nebula also known as Western Veil or NGC6960. It is a remnant from a supernova which occurred about 10,000 years ago. The ‘veil’ effect is thought to be from gasses encountering interstellar debris, but from our angle of view, we are seeing the side of these gas clouds, from the very thin edge. The darker areas are not empty space, they are dark dust that is blocking out other light sources. A shockwave swept away dust in the areas where we are able to see background stars shine through.

In this image, I actually removed the stars (all but the bright center star, Cygni) to get a better view of the veil itself, a graceful sweeping arc.


Ghost of Cassiopiaa Eye of GodHave you seen the Eye of God? I have... in the distant night sky recently.
The Eye of God or Helix Nebula (NGC 7293), is the remnant of a dwarf star around the size of Earth that is ejecting its outer layers into space. It can be found in the constellation Aquarius and is approximately 650 lightyears away. This image was created from stacking 75 images, each a 10-second exposure, then processing in Siril first and finally Photoshop to bring out more detail and color. I'm not finished with this target, I know I can get more out of it, so I'm going to keep imaging it and try to reprocess in the near future.
I am kind of fond of how the nebula detail brings to mind the detail of a human iris. What do you think of it?

Horse Head NebulaThe Horse Head Nebula is in the constellation, Orion, sitting just below the far left star within Orion's belt. It is a difficult target to capture, and is not visible with the naked eye.
This image is the result of several hours of imaging over two days, and stacking them together for this final result. Whirlpool Galaxy M51

Lightning Trigger

I recommend using the MK Controls Lightning Bug Plus.

Knowing when to release the shutter on your camera to capture the sudden bolts of lightning can be tricky.

MK Controls has made it easy for photographers with their trigger that can sense the infrared flash of light which occurs immediately before the bright bolts we are trying to capture. It then quickly communicates to your camera telling it to release the shutter, allowing you to capture the bolts flashing before your eyes! 

• Easy to set up
• Small form factor, lightweight, great for travel
• Uses a single 9-volt battery
• Able to adjust settings like sensitivity and frames per second
• Water resistant
• Enables you to easily capture daytime lightning strikes
• Active, knowledgable and helpful online community  

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I shot all of these images below while using the MK Controls Lightning Bug Plus.

Aug 4 Lightning in Davenport July 11 Sunset Storm Fury over FloridaStorm occurred June 15, 2025 8:30 pm
Shot facing west as storm moved north east toward Mt Dora, FL.
Viewed from Davenport, FL. Best of the BoltsStorm occurred June 15, 2025 8:30 pm
Shot facing west as storm moved north east toward Mt Dora, FL.
Viewed from Davenport, FL. Davenport, FLStorm occurred June 10, 2025 8:30 pm
Shot facing north west as storm moved north east toward Mt Dora, FL.
Viewed from Davenport, FL. Davenport, FLStorm occurred June 10, 2025 7:15 pm
Shot facing north west as storm moved north east toward Mt Dora, FL.
Viewed from Davenport, FL.