From astrophotographer for astrophotographers
affordable astrophotography gear

Home of the first ASIAIR supported motorized flat panel and field rotator

Developed to optimize the capture process. Striving for stress-free astrophotography sessions.



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Flat panels

Flat frames are crucial part of astrophotography to remove vignetting and dust moths from your data. Making flats can be quite cumbersome, especially if you stride towards automation and simplification of the process. Our first ASIAIR supported flap panel makes making flat frames with your telescopes part of automated routine, without hacks like LCD screens, sky with T-shirt etc. Main features:

  • LED technology, to achieve good uniformness
  • Magnetic snap-shut system, to keep it closed
  • Attached with compression ring via hand tightening knob (no fiddling with zip ties)
  • ASCOM/INDI/ASIAIR compatible
  • Optional LED heater, to prevent dew accumulation
  • 270 degree range of motion
  • modern ARM Cortex processor
  • USB-C connector
  • obstacle detection
  • custom opened position
  • customizable to the diameter of your telescope

We offer following flat panels:

Diameter for our motorized flap panel compression ring can be customised to the dewshield of your telescope free of charge, so if you don’t find one which suits your telescope, write us to always@deepskydad.com and we’ll find a solution. For details, you can also check the user manual and software section.

Field rotator

Framing manually can be cumbersome, time consuming and inaccurate. That’s why we decided to create Deep Sky Dad field rotator. Development was quite lengthy with many stages of testing different approaches. Our top priority was preventing any tilt and still trying to make it as affordable as possible. And now, it is finally finished! We have used innovative hybrid combination of precise milled parts and 3D printed circuit enclosure. Main features:

  • thickness 17.5mm
  • weight: 750g
  • maximum payload: 8kgg
  • M48 x 0.75 female thread (on both sides)
  • M48 female to M48 male adapter
  • ASCOM/INDI/ASIAIR compatible

Autofocusing

We are striving to provide the astrophotographers across the globe with affordable autofocusing solutions, which can greatly improve the automation aspect of the capture process. Apart from the smoother motion, it also provides more accurate movement with microstepping down to 1/256. We are offering many ready to use microfocusing adapters and autofocusing kits. Main features:

  • step/speed/current control
  • optional hand controller
  • optional temperature sensor
  • ASCOM/INDI compatible
  • compact design: 44.5mm x 48.5mm x 50.2mm
  • direct drive stepper motor (no gearbox)

Power distribution

Cable management can be a nightmare in astrophotography. DC hub is essential for cleaning up the mess. But every powered device still has an extra cable running up from the outlets. After our successful basic DC hub with 3 outputs, we decided to step up the game. Our new DC HUB 2 includes 5 x 12V output ports AND 2 x 5V output with USB connector. This enables you to power all kinds of devices with a single power cable running up to the telescope. You can power imaging cameras, mounts, filter wheels, autofocusers, ASIAIR, heatstrips and more. Main features:

  • Dimensions: 65mm x 45mm x 26mm
  • 5 x 12V (5.5mm x 2.1mm dc socket)
  • 2 x 5V @ 3A (USB)
  • Self resettable fuse (4A hold, 8A trip)
  • Weight: 70g
  • INPUT: 12V, 8A max (5.5mm x 2.1mm dc socket)

All-sky camera enclosure

Are you looking to set up an All Sky camera to monitor cloud cover and automatically record nighttime observations (meteors, Northern lights, Milky Way) but struggling to create a simple yet effective enclosure? Look no further! We offer a comprehensive solution with our heated acrylic dome and power distribution system, designed to accommodate the mini PC of your choice. Our kit includes:

  • Main enclosure with O-ring seals and dome lid
  • Acrylic dome with protective film (to be removed during assembly)
  • Built-in heater
  • DC hub power splitter circuit
  • DC cable to connect the heater to the power splitter
  • Silica gel
  • Circuit tray with mounting bolts
  • Customizable camera mounting plate

Our kit does NOT include Raspberry Pi or camera/camera lens. If you wish us to provide a preconfigured Raspberry Pi, please contact us via email info@deepskydad.com

Accessories

We are offering ever expanding array of different accessories which can ease your imaging sessons. From simple autofocuser accessories, ASIAIR accessories and compression rings, to heaters, covers, masks and replacement bolts for polar alignment. If you do not find an accessory which solves your problem, you can also contact us and we will prepare a custom solution tailored to fit your specific setup. Short list of the most popular accessories:

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Reviews

Tim Hutchison

“This is a shot of the AF3 focuser for the William Optics Redcat 51 from Deep Sky Dad. This thing performed BEAUTIFULLY on my first night out. Big improvement over trying to manually focus that scope with the Bahtinov mask. http://deepskydad.com/autofocuser/redcat

I was getting picture perfect V-curves from SGP and my first image with it came out well (https://astrob.in/oy747p/0/). The installation was easy (20 mins) and the manufacturer provided the SGP setup on his website. Couldn't be happier!

I have no affiliation with this product or the company. I was just very happy with the product and I wanted to share my impressions with the Astrobin community.”

Anders Misfeldt

“On the 2nd of December the weather was great again, so I decided to try out M33 with my now pretty automated setup (so nice to sit inside watching a movie while the RP4 just controls all :))

The end result was pretty great IMHO. Your AF3 did an outstanding job of keeping the focus throughout the imaging session. It's a truly amazing piece of hardware you've developed for a very reasonable price. I can only give it my highest recommendations.”

Matej Mihelčič

“Multiple autofocusing solutiuons by Deep Sky Dad! Highly recommended.”

Tudor Chibacu

“An awesome piece of gear made by an astrophotographer for astrophotographers. Fully ASCOM ready and custom 3D printed mounting platform”

Ulrich Metz

“New autofocuser from @deep.sky.dad on my new TS 60 APO. Perfect fit, all i need is a #clearsky.”

Murat Sana

“Deepskydad ascom motofocus made by my friend @deep.sky.dad It’s an overkill unit for the price and works flawlessly even in low temperatures.”

Andrew Klinger

“This product is 100% plug-and-play. I copied the suggested settings in SGP and on the very first test run I achieved perfect focus (confirmed with a bahtinov mask). Pavle also worked with me to custom design a mounting plate that seamlessly fit upon arrival. It really is an astrophotographer's dream!”

Alec Dummer

“Fantastic, simple to use design, plug and play. Customer support is excellent with regular updates on the build of your custom unit.”

Tomáš Mojžiš

“I was able to collect approximately 40 hrs of exposures and still got enough sleep. I recommended your focuser on local astronomy forum.”

James Ross

“The APT autofocus routine worked very well straight away and achieved a perfect enough focus on the Pleiades to reveal my slightly twisted spider vane (to be replaced!). All in all the autofocuser worked very well and took about 20 minutes to mount and install.”

Matthew Sole

“Amazing piece of gear that has seen me leave my rig out all night capturing data while I happily sleep away! I was able to get it working flawlessly with my gear achieving hands off perfect focus.”

Vašek Uhlíř

“I used AF1 "in the field" first time last weekend. It worked wery well. I tried focus with Bahtinov mask first, took a few photos and after that ran the APT autofocus procedure. The focusing was much more precise. The coma in the corners of pictures was completely lost. Thank you for a great accessories.”

Gerrit Barrere

“I gave my AF1 its first field test last night, and it worked great! It certainly helped that my focuser was all cleaned and adjusted, but I found that the AF1 did an excellent job with it. I had it autofocusing with SGP, and it worked just fine. There was no evidence of slipping or missed steps, and it autofocused perfectly compared to my Bahtinov on several targets.”

Company

L2 tech d.o.o.
Nova Gora 18
8270 Krško
Slovenia

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