Hi everyone.
My name is Oliver Tinley, and first of all I wanted to thank you for stopping by Optical Mechanics.
I don’t have some crazy story about how I got into this, I just wanted to create a resource to help people learn about telescopes, binoculars and all things optical equipment.
While I’m not an expert in everything there is to know, the team here at Optical Mechanics are.
Our editorial team is made up of some of the best in their respected fields, from die hard enthusiasts to experienced professionals and published authors.
The team at Optical Mechanics will always put our readers first when it comes to how we do business and the content that we produce and thats something that we put our name to.
I’d like to thank you again for stopping by, please take a minute to check out the profiles of the rest of the team and find out what makes us tick.
Meet the Team
Below we have sorted our Posts by Author, so if you like a particular style, they should be easier to find.
Posts from Oliver
Narrowband Deep-Sky Astrophotography Masterclass
Master narrowband deep-sky imaging: Ha/OIII/SII filters, SHO/HOO palettes, exposure strategy, guiding, stacking, and processing for breathtaking nebula photos.
Polaris, the North Star: Science, Navigation, Future
Polaris, the North Star: find it, navigate by it, understand its Cepheid pulsations, distance challenges, Earth’s precession, and the future of pole stars.
Dew Control and Thermal Management for Telescopes
Stop dew from ruining nights: physics, dew shields, heaters, controllers, cooling fans, power planning, and best practices for every telescope type.
Posts from Richard
Why Does the Moon Have Phases? You Need to Know
There isn’t a person alive who hasn’t seen the Moon in the sky and noticed it changing shape. We’ve all watched it change from night to night, from a crescent to a half and then to full. It then seems to disappear from the night completely before returning, a few weeks later, to the evening
How to Read a Star Chart
It can be confusing when you first start to learn astronomy. What’s the best way to find the constellations? How can you learn to identify the stars? Not only can a star chart help you to explore the heavens, but it can also pinpoint objects of interest along the way. And, fortunately, a map of
Posts from Zane
What is a Dobsonian Telescope and How Does it Work? Find Out!
The Dobsonian telescope has gone through a wide variety of iterations and innovations since it was first invented at the dawn of the Space Age, as well as a great deal of criticism. However, today Dobsonians dominate observing fields, are common even at astronomical observatories, and are widely considered the best beginner telescopes, if not
Sky Watcher HEQ5 Pro Review: An A+ Equatorial Mount
Sky-Watcher’s HEQ5 Pro mount is arguably the single best equatorial mount you can buy for astrophotography. It’s not too expensive, it can carry a variety of instruments, and it performs well enough out of the box that it won’t drive you crazy. The HEQ5 Pro is portable enough to serve as a glorified star tracker
Orion SkyQuest XT12i Review: A Dob at a Great Price
The Orion SkyQuest XT12i is a massive instrument designed for demanding observers, and one of the less expensive 12” Dobsonians available, mainly due to its simple build. The XT12i costs only a bit more than its non-computerized competitors, but its Intelliscope mount makes it a bit easier to use – and is a bit more
Posts from Alan
Can You Rent Telescopes? 7 Top Considerations
We’ve all been there; scrolling through images of planets and deep-sky objects on your phone, your eye settles on an astoundingly detailed and colorful nebula. Then you view an image of Jupiter with its intricate cloud belts shown in high-resolution detail. What, you wonder, would it take to produce results like that yourself? Checking the
Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro Review: Is This The Sweet Spot?
The Skywatcher EQ6-R-Pro is a Go-to German Equatorial mount that finds itself in something of a price and weight-bearing sweet spot. It’s relatively affordable in a hobby that will never be cheap, but expensive enough an investment that you won’t want to replace it for many years. It’s a well-known true-ism in astrophotography circles that
How to Take a Photo of the Moon
The moon is potentially one of the easiest astronomical objects to photograph. It is very bright so it does not require long exposure times or specialist equipment, and most people in most places on earth can see the moon every month. However, photographing the moon well does require some knowledge and planning and some basic
Posts from Jordanne
How Far Can You See with 12×25 Binoculars? You’ll Be Amazed
12×25 Binos: What to Expect Binoculars are one of the most important assets in an amateur astronomer’s arsenal. They provide easy grab-and-go portability while allowing you to crank up the power and light gathering on objects that may need it. For daytime users, binoculars can also be a great tool for walking or exploring, providing
Orion Constellation – The Ultimate Guide to a Classic Beauty
Lying on the celestial equator, the constellation of Orion is one of the most recognizable and well-known constellations in the night sky. It is visible in both hemispheres from November to March, hitting the meridian at sunset in January. The areas in and around Orion are home to one of the most glorious parts of
Cancer Constellation: The Ultimate Guide
Located on the ecliptic, Cancer (the “crab”) is one of the twelve constellations of the zodiac and is found in the northern celestial hemisphere. Cancer is a medium-sized constellation with an area of 506 square degrees and is home to many exciting deep-sky objects, many of which will be discussed in this ultimate guide to
Post from Andrew
Astrophotography – Imaging the Fireworks Galaxy
Astrophotography – Imaging the Fireworks Galaxy. An interview with D.j Van Bourgondien. Watch the full Interview Imaging the Fireworks Galaxy Using a Celestron EdgeHD 8″ Telescope Recently, Andrew Roberts from Optical Mechanics sat down with astrophotography enthusiast DJ Van Bourgondien to discuss his fascinating journey into this captivating field, as well as his process and
Imaging the ButterFly Nebula IC1318.
Astrophotography and the IC1318 Butterfly Nebula, an interview with Drew Evans. Watch the Interview Now Introduction Welcome to Optical Mechanics, where we delve into the fascinating world of astronomy and the passionate individuals who contribute to its exploration. Recently, we had the pleasure of interviewing Drew Evans, an astrophotographer whose work with the Butterfly Nebula
Exploring the Sculptor Galaxy: A Journey Through Deep Space Imaging
Interview with Bernard Miller, Imaging the Sculptor Galaxy. Watch the Full Interview Now The universe is filled with wonders, and among them, the Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253) stands out as one of the most stunning spiral galaxies visible from Earth. Situated approximately 11.4 million light-years away in the constellation Sculptor, this galaxy is a favorite
