Blog
Background knowledge on astronomy and astrophotography — explained clearly, with a direct link to the factors SkyGrade rates.
Why doesn’t the night sky look like the photos?
Just a grey smudge in the eyepiece instead of the colourful nebulae you see online? That is normal. Why the eye and a camera see so differently — and how to get the most out of visual observing.
Read articleTransparency: why a cloudless sky can still be poor
The sky is starry-clear, not a cloud in sight – and yet the stars look dull and the galaxy just will not land on the sensor. The reason is called transparency. What is behind it and why "cloudless" does not mean "clear".
Read articleAstronomical twilight: when does real night begin?
The Sun is gone, but the sky is still glowing. Why? Because twilight is not just twilight. We explain the three phases and why in summer you sometimes have to wait until midnight.
Read articleThe Bortle scale: how dark is your sky really?
Class 1 to 9, from the pitch-black desert to the inner city. The Bortle scale makes light pollution measurable and helps you understand what to expect in the sky.
Read articleWhat is seeing? The invisible enemy of astrophotography
Everything is right: clear sky, good gear, a perfect setup. And yet the stars are wobbly and blurred. The culprit has a name: seeing. What is behind it and why it matters so much.
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