astronomy.de
Astrophotography by H.Dannhoff
Equipment
News!!!!
March 2026:
I had to take a long break from astrophotography due to work commitments.
In the meantime, I sold my fiberglass dome. However, all the equipment and the observing site are still available.
Now I have more time again and will resume my activities.
I recently acquired the Dwarf 3 Smart Telescope. I bought this compact device for travel and have already tested it with amazing results.t
1. My observer location
My observer location lies in the 900 soul village of Nordwohlde in the administrative district Diepholz -- North Germany. I use a classic CGE german mounting of Celestron. A great advantage of the mounting is replacing a different optics fast. The column is poured of concrete. By the solid construction of the instruments and by the computer-controlled PEC drive a good tracking is ensured. This is in addition by a ST2000XM CCD dual camera a separate after leading chip of SBIG optimizes. New is the QHY8L with a large chip (28mm diagonal).
The country sky about Nordwohlde offers 6 m2 at ideal conditions. Merely in the direction of the north one recognizes the light pollution of Bremen. The village itself is which ones are turned off as of 01:00 clock with some streetlamps fitted.
Base literature: I primarily use the book The Night Sky Observers guide of Willmann Bell Inc for the visual observation (and object choice for the CCDimaging). A masterpiece with infinitely many objects. With cards, object drawings/pictures and descriptions.
Base software: A PC is used for the control of the telescope and the CCD cameras. The software guide 8.0 and Starry Night per serve for the navigation of the telescope and the representation of cards. A Mac is used for the digital imaging.
2. Telescopes
Super Apo Refractors 130 mm 1307M25
130 mm f/7 Astreya, super-apo four lenses (with interferometric test report), carbon tube/CNC aluminium, five internal baffles
Optical design: 4 elements
Focal Lenght: 910 mm
Aperture: 130 mm
Chromatic Correction: SuperApo
RMS (not worse): 0,03 lambda
Strehl Number (not worse) - 0.96
Multicoating
Scopos TL 805 as Guidingscope
Exact focal length 504 mm
Aperture 80 mm in the setting/83 mm without setting
Glass of types Ohara FSL 5 (comparable bulkhead FK -5 ) / NBM 51
Compensation Fully multinational Coated of 400 nm to 700 nm
Correction very good correction of 435 nm to 707 nm
TS Newton 10“ f/5
Aperture / focal length 254mm / 1250mm / f/5Diameter of secondary mirror70 mmOTA weight15.5 kg (with clampshells, focuser and viewfinder)OTA diameter / length303 mm / 1150 mmMain mirrorBK-7 substate, diffraction limited operation guaranteedFocuser 2" Crayford with 1:10 transmissionLimiting visual magnitude14m7Resolution 0.46"Collimation aidCentre marking ring on main mirror
Intes Mikro Alter M715 - Maksutov Cassegrain
Aperture / focal length 180mm / 2700mm / f/15Diameter of secondary mirror45 mmOTA weight7,0 kg
OTA diameter / length 220 mm / 600 mmMain mirrorpyrex
3. Cameras
A dual chip camera is Quality inter line chip the ST2000XM with a High. The TC 237 chip is used for the tracking. Your download time is over the USB connection approx. 4.5 seconds.
The camera can be only not headed by a PC but either offed a Mac. User kindness and out agendas image processing qualities combined with a CCD tax software become please many a Mac user so.
SBIG ST 2000 XM
CCD Kodak KAI-2020M +
TI TC-237
Pixel Array 1600 x 1200 pixels
CCD Size 11.8 x 8.9 mm
Total Pixels 2 million
Pixel Size 7.4 x 7.4 microns square
Full Well Capacity ~45,000 e- unbinned
~90,000 e- binned
Dark Current <0.1e-/pixel/sec at 0 deg. C.
Antiblooming Standard
CCD Kodak KAI-2020M +
TI TC-237
Pixel Array 1600 x 1200 pixels
CCD Size 11.8 x 8.9 mm
Total Pixels 2 million
Pixel Size 7.4 x 7.4 microns square
Full Well Capacity ~45,000 e- unbinned
~90,000 e- binned
Dark Current <0.1e-/pixel/sec at 0 deg. C.
Antiblooming Standard
QHY8L
Total pixel : 3110 x 2030
■Active pixels: 3032 x 2016
■Pixel Size: 7.8um x 7.8um square
■Color method: RGB BAYER film on CCD
■Effective sensor area: 28.4 mm diagonal
■Readout noise: 6-10 e @600 Kpixel/s
■QE: 60% at Green (Peak) , 50% at Blue and H.a
■Microlensing on chip
■Progressive Scan
■ABG: -110dB
■16bit ADC with CDS and Preamp
■USB2.0 High Speed interface
■Build in temperature sensor
■DC201 with TEC controller/Regular
■Ultra small size suitable for primary focus imaging and Hyperstar
■Weight: 400g
QHY5
Micron MT9M001 1/2inch CMOS sensor, 1280 x 1024 Active pixels, 1.3 megapixels, Pixel Size: 5.2um x 5.2um, Peak QE = 56%, USB2.0 High Speed download; 24Mpixel/s 15 FPS @ 1280 x 1024; 50 FPS@ 640 x 480 Uncompressed Video data, Built in Opto Isolated Guide Port Progressive Scan, ROI support,
Dwarf 3
The DWARF 3 from Dwarflab is a compact, AI-powered smart telescope with a dual camera, designed for astrophotography, birdwatching, and panoramas. It is app-controlled, features a 35mm apochromatic lens, a highly sensitive Sony STARVIS 2 sensor, and automatic day/night tracking (GoTo/Tracking).
Key Features and Functions:
Versatility: It functions as a telescope for deep-sky objects (nebulae, galaxies), the moon/sun, and as a telephoto lens for bird or aircraft photography.
Dual Camera System: Utilizes a wide-angle and a telephoto lens (150 mm focal length) that work synchronously.
AI-Powered: Automatic object recognition and tracking, as well as live stacking for image enhancement.
Compact & Portable: Very handy, ideal for travel.
Integrated Filters: Interchangeable filters for astrophotography and daylight photography.
QHY 5-III-462C
Sensor: Sony IMX462 STARVIS CMOS (color, back-illuminated BSI)
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels (2.1 megapixels)
Pixel size: 2.9 µm x 2.9 µm
Sensor size: 1/2.8 inch (6.4 mm - 6.5 mm diagonal)
Read noise: Extremely low, approx. 0.5e-
Frame rate: Up to 135 FPS (8-bit)
Data depth: 12-bit (output 8-bit or 16-bit)
Sensitivity: Increased sensitivity in the near-infrared (NIR, 850nm-1100nm)
Interface: USB 3.0
Shutter: Electric rolling shutter
Exposure times: 7µs to 900s
Back focus: 12 mm
Connection: 1.25 inch with C-mount thread
Scope of delivery: Includes 1.25" UV/IR blocking filter and 1.25" IR850nm filte