u/Comprehensive_Door_1

...but not getting too close!

Near Austin, Texas.

Central Texas, USA.

Taken this weekend from Central Texas, USA.

Image Details:

- Imaging Scope: William Optics 61mm ZenithStar APO

- Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC Color with IR Cut filter

- Guiding Equipment: Celestron Starsense Autoguider

- Acquisition Software: Sharpcap

- Guiding Software: Celestron

- Light Frames: 30*4 mins @ 100 Gain, Temp -15C

- Dark Frames: 10*4 mins

- Stacked in Deep Sky Stacker

- Processed in PixInsight, Adobe Lightroom and Topaz Denoise

See it? Taken with the Dwarf3 using Milky Way mode. From Central Texas. 1hr45mins, bortle 4.

Taken from Liberty Hill, Texas with a Dwarf3.

​

It’s been over a year since I acquired a Dwarf3 smart scope, so wanted to check in and talk about my experience. I have my own observatory with a full astrophotography setup but wanted something portable which was easy to set up and run for excursions and travel. I had played around with a Dwarf 2 belonging to someone I met at a star party, and decided to go ahead with the Dwarf3. It’s been a great experience so far.

Almost immediately, I was able to collect very nice images from my property here in the central Texas area. The interface has been easy to use and is updated fairly regularly with new functionality to expand the scope’s capabilities. Really liking the dual scope design, which allows for widefield and tele astro and regular photography. The recent star trails addition was a good call by the folks at Dwarflab which provides very nice results. Really, you can set it up and capture great astro images in no time.

As an aviation buff, the tracking feature has been fun to mess around with. I’ve tracked and acquired video and stills of aircraft flying up to 40,000’, and have also had it capturing some action at a nearby glider field.

Portability is great! I took it with me on two trips to Australia last year and was able to capture southern hemisphere objects very easily. No fancy setup process, just turn it on, use the Atlas to find object and shoot away. Literally a portable observatory.

I recently acquired another two Dwarf3s and will be using them to teach astrophotography in my area. I taught astronomy for a little while at a nearby observatory and used the Dwarf there to give visitors a “camera view” of the objects they were observing visually through our main telescope. It always impressed folks!

Anyway, a great system that continues to evolve. Highly recommend it if you’re looking to get into astrophotography without great expense.

Cheers

Phil

Photos Attached:

1.  Carinae Nebula shot from Australia
   

2.  M8 Lagoon Nebula thot from Texas
   

3.  Comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon from Central Texas
   

4.  Omega Centuari shot from Australia
   

It’s been over a year since I acquired a Dwarf3 smart scope, so wanted to check in and talk about my experience. I have my own observatory with a full astrophotography setup but wanted something portable which was easy to set up and run for excursions and travel. I had played around with a Dwarf 2 belonging to someone I met at a star party, and decided to go ahead with the Dwarf3. It’s been a great experience so far.

Almost immediately, I was able to collect very nice images from my property here in the central Texas area. The interface has been easy to use and is updated fairly regularly with new functionality to expand the scope’s capabilities. Really liking the dual scope design, which allows for widefield and tele astro and regular photography. The recent star trails addition was a good call by the folks at Dwarflab which provides very nice results. Really, you can set it up and capture great astro images in no time.

As an aviation buff, the tracking feature has been fun to mess around with. I’ve tracked and acquired video and stills of aircraft flying up to 40,000’, and have also had it capturing some action at a nearby glider field.

Portability is great! I took it with me on two trips to Australia last year and was able to capture southern hemisphere objects very easily. No fancy setup process, just turn it on, use the Atlas to find object and shoot away. Literally a portable observatory.

I recently acquired another two Dwarf3s and will be using them to teach astrophotography in my area. I taught astronomy for a little while at a nearby observatory and used the Dwarf there to give visitors a “camera view” of the objects they were observing visually through our main telescope. It always impressed folks!

I'll also say the support team are quite responsive and knowledgeable. I've dealt with them several times, and they are always willing to help me out if an issue pops up.

Anyway, a great system that continues to evolve. It feels like the team behind it suport it well, and continue to make updates that keep the system relevant and interesting. Highly recommend it if you’re looking to get into astrophotography without great expense.

Cheers

Phil

Photos Attached:

1.  Carinae Nebula shot from Australia
   

2.  M8 Lagoon Nebula thot from Texas
   

3.  Comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon from Central Texas
   

4.  Omega Centuari shot from Australia
   

Taken at around 1:35pm today from the north. Really brought a pleasant temp drop!

In the central Texas area. Cheers.

Taken with a Dwarf 3 smart scope from central Texas.. 300 exposures 1/200 @ Gain 60.

G'day/Howdy! Ex-pat Aussie, found this 2005 "GTO" in El Paso and ordered a Holden front end and rebadged it all. There are some great roads in the Texas Hill Country near Austin, and this car eats them up.

A few highlights from Mother Nature's display throughout the past week. Taken from Liberty Hill, Texas.

Taken a short while ago from Liberty Hill, Texas, USA. William Optics 61mm refractor telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera.

NOT FAKE OR AI

I used to live in Australia, now in the US. Was back in Australia last month and took my Dwarf3 smartscope with me. Easily transported in my backpack. While I only had one decent night, I got a couple of great captures from the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne. Being able to do all this just blows my mind.

Omega Centauri (200×15 secs, Gain 60, astro filter)

NGC6188, The Fighting Dragons of Ara, (200×15 secs, Gain 60, DuoBand filter)