A public reference for Chris Hollander's current backyard astrophotography setup, organized around an interoperable construction kit of hardware, power, accessories, deployment practices, and experimental rig profiles used around regular capture sessions.
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7matrix rigs
4operational rigs
80inventory rows
1commissioning rigs
Two active nightly rigsS30 Pro on the left, S50 on the right, with paver footings, ballast, and weather-protected power nearby.Night deploymentThe two-rig pattern supports side-by-side observing and efficient target coverage.WideSky current buildNikon D5300 with FMA135 on the AZ-GTi, now mounted on the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer latitude base.C50 earlier build (5SE OTA)Celestron C5 / 5SE optics paired with the Nikon D5300 on the NexStar mount, with the modular guide hardware visible alongside it.F30 current buildAskar FMA135 paired with ASI662 imaging and guiding hardware; the second ASI662 camera unlocks guiding for the ASI662-primary custom rigs.F30 on the EQ-AL55i ProF30 on the Sky-Watcher EQ-AL55i Pro equatorial mount and its steel tripod, the platform it now shares with WiNG.WiNG earlier build (formerly WOZ61)This earlier WiNG setup pairs the Zenithstar 61 and FLAT 61A with an ASI662 main camera, ASI224-guided SV165, SVBONY filter drawer, ASIAIR, and the EQ-AL55i Pro.Backyard skyThe capture site is practical rather than perfect, with repeatable setup positions and a familiar horizon.
Core setup
Capture baseline and experiments
This page is a compact equipment and deployment reference for the astrophotography setup. It treats the
gear as a construction kit: shared mounts, optics, cameras, filters, and control hardware can assemble into
rigs with very different imaging capabilities.
OperationalS50, S30 Pro, WiNG, and WideSky can be easily deployed each night to capture data
Commissioningassembling core components and working towards first light
Alternatessuccessfully operated, components currently in use in other operational rigs
Imaging ecosystem
Imaging Ecosystem
Seven imaging rigs assembled from a shared collection of smart scopes, optics, cameras, mounts, and control hardware—each with a different role in the capture lineup.
Group
Rig
Main components
Description
Status
Next steps
Survey InstrumentsThese are used to evaluate subjects for deeper imaging projects; they perform initial data collection for test framing, filter response, and sky brightness impact.
At a modest 250 mm focal length, this is my longer-reach device until the Celestron-based rigs are operational. It is used primarily for galaxies, detail regions, and smaller nebulae.
Operational
Continue as the primary longer-reach rig while the Celestron systems move toward operational status.
The best astro-specific sensor I have right now, paired with a useful wide field of view. It is used primarily for larger nebulae, often narrowband subjects.
Operational
Continue as the wide-field and narrowband workhorse for larger nebulae.
Specialized Integration InstrumentsThese are used for longer integration for planned projects; they have specialized roles such as wide field, narrowband, and long focal length.
My sharpest optics paired with my largest sensor. It is optimized for very wide fields. The Nikon D5300 astro-modification is complete and the upgraded system is fully operational.
Operational
Continue regular wide-field capture with the astro-modified Nikon D5300, ASIAIR Mini, and ASI178MM guiding.
WiNG stands for Williams-Optics: Interstellar, Nebula and Galaxies. A 61 mm, 360 mm focal-length refractor paired with the ASI662 for the tightest field of view among the currently operational rigs. ASIAIR control and dedicated guiding turn the compact imaging train into a complete narrow-field system.
Operational
Continue building integration on smaller nebulae, galaxies, and detail fields while refining the repeatable swap between WiNG and F30 on the EQ-AL55i platform.
PiNG stands for Planetary, iNterGalactic. Core components are being assembled and the rig is working towards first light. Its long focal length and small sensor produce a very small field of view intended for planetary and intergalactic imaging—thus the name.
Commissioning
Complete assembly of the core components and work towards first light.
DecommissionedThese rigs were assembled and proven operational, but their components are currently being used in other operational rigs.
A compact combination using what is often a guide camera as the primary camera. Its field of view is similar to the Seestar S30—thus the name—but at lower resolution.
Alternates
Reassemble when needed as an alternate; components are currently in use in other operational rigs.
My longest focal length paired with my largest sensor. C50 keeps its original name, now using the 6-inch C6 at 1500 mm for a narrower field than the S50. First light was captured with the previous 5SE OTA.
Alternates
Reassemble when needed as an alternate; components are currently in use in other operational rigs.
Capability matrix
Component-level comparison of the seven rigs, including optics, control, field of view, and operational state.
All owned Seestar filters work with either Seestar telescope and can also be used through the SVBONY filter drawer or ICE step-up ring where the optical path supports it.
Quick-release ratcheting handles provide clearance when Vixen rail clamp knobs would otherwise collide with flat-bottom devices such as the Seestar telescopes
Rechargeable 500-lumen headlamp for field setup and teardown
USB Ecosystem Adapters
These adapters help the four-port USB and four-port 12 V ASIAIR system use standard cables for both data and power. Voltage, polarity, connector dimensions, protocol, and load requirements are verified before a 12 V adapter is introduced into a device path.
Allows reliable, correctly sized USB-C cables to replace rigid or inconvenient dedicated 12 V leads where the equipment's electrical requirements match
Provides a right-angle magnetic breakaway for power and data; matching cables remain in the field and office so telescopes can move between them quickly
General-purpose adapters used in both directions across field and office cabling
Cable Management
Stable, quasi-permanent cable runs reduce setup mistakes and the risk of a snag damaging a camera, telescope, mount, or connector. Appropriate cable lengths and the USB adapter system keep each bundle as short and legible as possible.
Controlled heat source used to finish the heat-shrink ends of permanent cable bundles
Outdoor Power Weatherproofing
Permanent outdoor power requires layered weather protection: enclosed supplies and connections during operation, plus separate covers for cable ends and plugs when they are idle.
Covers plugs emerging from the weatherproof boxes whenever they are not connected
iPhone Accessories
The iPhone can act as a primary capture device or an operational instrument. Current uses include cloud timelapses that can be correlated with image-quality and weather data, plus 360-degree panoramas of observing sites.
Power, data, and control paths across the Seestar and ASIAIR-driven capture systems.
Backyard power and data wiring
Current high-level AC, 12 V DC, USB-power, camera-control, and mount-control routing across the backyard capture systems.
External AC power
12 V power
USB power cables
USB-A → USB-B / USB-C / EQMOD (data)
USB-A → Mini-USB
Operational notes
Current field practice
Controller and power distribution usually follow the mount: ASIAIR Pro with EQ-AL55i Pro, ASIAIR Mini with AZ-GTi. WiNG gets the Pro and WideSky gets the Mini; these are usual pairings, not fixed restrictions.
The center shelf shown in the reference photo is a temporary plank of wood, not a formal part of the documented rig.
The pavers are fixed parts of the current backyard setup and serve as semi-permanent footing / leveling support until replaced by something more permanent.
The green laser pointer is not part of every observing session and is not in use by default.
WideSky is fully operational with the astro-modified Nikon D5300 and SV165 / ASI178MM guiding.
C50 is an alternate: successfully operated, components currently in use in other operational rigs.
F30 is an alternate: successfully operated, components currently in use in other operational rigs. Its FMA135 / ASI662 build shares the EQ-AL55i Pro platform with WiNG.
PiNG is commissioning: assembling core components and working towards first light with the Celestron C6 / ASI662 combination.
The older NexStar 5SE / D5300 setup is retained as a shared-parts reference, but C50 is the current matrix column for the replacement Celestron C6 / Nikon D5300 configuration.
The backyard setup is quasi-permanent: the two main tripods stay outside 24/7, while the telescopes are brought in and out.
Both Seestar scopes normally run on external power for the full session.
Setup assumptions
Reusable assumptions
The capability matrix status row is the source of truth: S50, S30 Pro, WiNG, and WideSky are operational; PiNG is commissioning; F30 and C50 are alternates.
ASIAIR Pro (WiNG / usual EQ-AL55i pairing) and ASIAIR Mini (WideSky / usual AZ-GTi pairing) 12V distribution, camera power, mount power, and cabling details still need field notes for WiNG, WideSky, C50, and F30
C50 alternate deploymentOn demand
Successfully operated; reassemble when components are available from other operational rigs
F30 is an alternate using the shared EQ-AL55i Pro and steel tripod under ASIAIR control; update field notes when reassembled
PiNG commissioning checklistCommissioning
PiNG uses the Celestron NexStar SE tripod and NexStar+ GoTo mount with SVBONY SV241 power delivery and the shared guide pair; computer control is TBD and final cabling still needs field notes
Celestron C6 camera adapter stackNeeds confirmation
Useful for documenting the exact D5300 and ASI662 connection and spacing
Dew shield / mask / spike accessory fit mapNeeds confirmation
