Steve Richards

Astronomer and author

Steve Richards is a DIY astronomy expert and author of Making Every Photon Count: A Beginner’s Guide to Deep Sky Astrophotography.

Recent articles by Steve Richards

Neptune and its largest moon Triton imaged through a 356mm telescope. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Astronomy FAQs My planetary photos appear tiny in my DSLR. Do I need more magnification?

The difference in the apparent size of Mars when it’s at its most favourable opposition and when at its most distant from Earth. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Astronomy FAQs My images of planets have coloured fringes. How can I fix this?

telescope focuser

Astronomy FAQs What is backfocus?

Altair 150EDF apochromatic doublet refractor. Credit: BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Astronomy FAQs What is a telescope baffle?

Evergreen Eyepiece and Filter Kit

Astronomy FAQs What eyepieces are best for viewing nebulae and star clusters?

The three most common designs of eyepiece you’ll come across as an observer: an orthoscopic (left), a Plössl (middle) and a wide angle (right). Image Credit: The Secret Studio

Astronomy FAQs What is an ED eyepiece?

Sky-Watcher Skyliner 200P Dobsonian. Credit: BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Astronomy FAQs How can I easily transport my huge Dobsonian telescope?

Binoculars can reveal surprising detail in many deep-sky objects. Credit: Jon Hicks

Astronomy FAQs Are the SkyMaster 25x70 binoculars good for imaging and observing?

Diffraction spikes seen from stars in globular cluster NGC 6397. Credit: NASA, ESA, and H. Richer (University of British Columbia)

Astronomy FAQs What are diffraction spikes?

Tele Vue 2x Barlow lens

Astronomy FAQs What is eyepiece projection and how do I do it?

Canon EOS 1000D DSLR camera body

Astronomy FAQs Why do I need to cool my camera?

Sky-Watcher HEQ5 Pro SynScan mount

Astronomy FAQs How can I convert my Schmidt-Cassegrain into a Go-To system?

A sturdy mount ad tripod is vital for astronomy and astrophotography

Astronomy FAQs Why do I need a sturdy mount and tripod for astronomy?

Maxim dl

Astronomy FAQs How do you set up MaxIm DL software for autofocusing?

Celestron NexStar 8SE Schmidt Cassegrain review

Astronomy FAQs What sort of telescope is best for observing the planets?