Outten Astrophotography

10/23/2026

10/12/2026

Great write up from Qhyccd Astronomical & Scientific Camera regarding our discovery over summer.

https://www.qhyccd.com/qhyccd-minicam8m-helps-reveal-hmk-1-a-newly-documented-planetary-nebula/

10/04/2026

NEW VIDEO: Testing QHY’s Rare He-II Filter

I’ve been waiting to get my hands on this one.

In my latest video, I’m testing the Qhyccd Astronomical & Scientific Camera He-II filter, one of the more unusual and rarely used filters in amateur astrophotography, to see what kind of signal it can reveal in a planetary nebula.

For this test, I imaged M76, the Little Dumbbell Nebula, using He-II, ArIII, H-alpha, and OIII, with a total of 24 hours of integration. I compare the different emission lines, take a closer look at the He-II data, and show how everything comes together in the final image.

With my continued focus on planetary nebula research and discovery work, He-II could become another very interesting tool for studying these objects in greater detail.

Watch the full video here:
https://youtu.be/WxXmyyIMuxc

Let me know what you think of the He-II results and whether this is a filter you would consider adding to your own setup.

Outten Astro Prints: https://outtenastroprints.etsy.comEquipment ...

09/23/2026

NEW VIDEO: HMK 1 Confirmed! Our Planetary Nebula Discovery Is Now Cataloged

This is a major update on our planetary nebula discovery.

The object we have been working on has now received its official catalog designation, HMK 1, and is listed on PlanetaryNebulae.net. We’ve also been calling it the Blue Gumdrop Nebula because of its distinctive shape and color in our processed data.

In this video, I go through the full story of how we got to this point, from first identifying the candidate, collecting deeper narrowband data, comparing it with existing survey information, and ultimately getting it entered into the planetary nebula database.

It took a lot more than just spotting something unusual in an image, and this video walks through that process and what comes next for HMK 1.

Watch the full video here:
https://youtu.be/X0jApL89Tts

Qhyccd Astronomical & Scientific Camera ZWO Astrophotography Agena Astro Svbony

Seeing HMK 1 officially attached to this object is a huge milestone for the project, and we’re excited to keep pushing the research further.

09/23/2026

🌟 Big congratulations to our good friend Outten Astrophotography! 🌟

We’re excited to celebrate their AstroBin Image of the Day for September 23rd, captured using SVBONY equipment! 🔭✨

The setup included:
🔭 SV503
🔭 SV550
🌌 SV220
✨ SV227

It’s always amazing to see what passionate astrophotographers can create with the right gear. Congratulations again to Outten Astrophotography on this well-deserved recognition! 👏

Check out the SVBONY gear used in this image:

🔗 SV503: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08ZS66JRB?maas=maas_adg_31946DA12F568FBB0579D906EEFBD818_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas
🔗 SV550: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9929VY9?maas=maas_adg_57B568EDD6F7C9F921F52D3890735E6D_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas
🔗 SV220: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRCYF29T?maas=maas_adg_89C3CE8F98F702735E56D7E7218D34E3_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas
🔗 SV227: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D26394KX?maas=maas_adg_278CC27BEC69FD276AD544C234C20D03_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas

09/14/2026

DeHt 5 is one of those deep-sky objects that raises more questions the closer you look at it.

Is it a planetary nebula? An emission nebula? Or are we seeing a combination of both?

In my latest video, I take a closer look at this unusual object in Cepheus, walk through the imaging project, and show the final result while digging into why DeHt 5 has such a complicated classification.

It is a fascinating target because the structure changes dramatically depending on the emission line, and there is still plenty of discussion surrounding what exactly we are looking at.

Watch the full video here:
https://youtu.be/H4uM7iCx0Xk

If you enjoy unusual deep-sky targets, planetary nebula research, and the science behind astrophotography, this one is worth checking out.

So what do you think? Planetary nebula, emission nebula, or both?

Qhyccd Astronomical & Scientific Camera Agena Astro

Outten Astro Prints: https://outtenastroprints.etsy.comEquipment ...

09/11/2026

Here’s my latest deep-sky capture, and this one turned into quite the project. A total of 62 hours of RGBSHO data went into revealing the incredibly faint structure surrounding DeHt 5, captured with my Orion 10" Astrograph.

Located in the constellation Cepheus, DeHt 5 is a large and extremely faint evolved planetary nebula. Its central star has shed its outer layers, leaving behind an enormous, tenuous shell of ionized gas that has expanded into and interacts with the surrounding interstellar medium.

That interaction is part of what makes this field so fascinating. There is a tremendous amount of faint emission throughout the region, and going deep helps reveal structures that are almost completely invisible in shorter exposures.

I combined RGB, Hydrogen-alpha, Sulfur II, and Oxygen III data to bring out both the natural star field and the subtle emission surrounding DeHt 5. With 62 hours of total integration, this was definitely a target where patience paid off.

There’s also an interesting question when looking at this Nebula. A planetary nebula, emission nebula... or a little bit of both?

Video coming soon! I’ll be diving much deeper into DeHt 5, what makes this object so unusual, and everything that went into capturing 62 hours of data on this incredibly faint target.

09/11/2026

NEW ITEM NOW AVAILABLE ON OUTTEN ASTRO PRINTS

I’ve just added a new Upgraded Baader AstroSolar Filter for the Seestar S50 Pro to the Outten Astro Prints Etsy shop!

This was designed as an upgrade over the stock solar filter, using Baader AstroSolar filter material for rich contrast and excellent solar performance. The housing is made from UV-resistant filament and is designed so the S50 Pro’s wide-angle lens can still be used as a finder scope.

Another big feature is the low-profile design. The filter can stay installed when the Seestar arm is lowered and closed, making setup and storage that much easier.

Each filter also comes with its own protective hard case for safe storage when not in use.

If you’re looking to upgrade your solar imaging setup on the Seestar S50 Pro, check it out here:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/4572945459/upgraded-baader-solar-filter-for-seestar

This Photography Accessories item is sold by OuttenAstroPrints. Ships from Laurel, DE. Listed on Sep 10, 2026

09/08/2026

Agena Astro the GOAT for helping me handle this defective S50 Pro quickly and the expedited shipping. Top tier company as always

09/07/2026

NEW VIDEO: DWARFLAB DRACO SPECS REVEALED

DWARF LAB has officially revealed the new DRACO smart telescope, and this looks like a major step forward for the smart telescope market.

In my latest video, I break down the newly released specs, including the 90mm aperture, 340mm focal length, f/3.8 optics, active cooling, built-in guiding, and exposures up to 300 seconds.

I also take a look at one of the most interesting options, the DRACO SHO Edition, which adds expanded narrowband capability for working with SII, H-alpha, and OIII data.

The big question is whether all of these upgrades are enough to make DRACO worth considering over the current generation of smart telescopes.

Watch the full video here:
https://youtu.be/pSs2vUbXQz8

Let me know what you think. Does the new DRACO have enough to convince you, and would you choose the standard model or the SHO version?

Where to Pre-Order:High Point Scientific: Standard https://bit.ly/...