Page 5 - 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.
    The Agena AstroProducts Guide to Observing Uranus and Neptune
    September 24, 2017
  2. Agena AstroProducts Observing Guide: The Planet Saturn
    July 19, 2017
  3. Selecting a Guide Scope and Autoguiding Camera for Astrophotography
    July 19, 2017
  4. Agena AstroProducts Observing Guide: The Planet Jupiter
    May 11, 2017
  5. Choosing a Magnifying Finder Scope for Your Telescope
    March 14, 2017
  6. A Guide to Viewing the Total Solar Eclipse of 2017
    February 02, 2017
  7. Tele Vue DeLite 5-9-15mm Eyepiece Review
    August 29, 2016
  8. The Lederman Optical Array LOA-21 3D Eyepiece
    June 26, 2016
  9. An Observer's Checklist for the August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse
    June 09, 2016
  10. Optolong LRGB Filter Testing and Comparison with Baader LRGB Filters
    October 01, 2015