Astrophotography starter picker

Want to photograph the night sky? Answer five quick questions and we'll suggest the types of cameras, lenses, trackers and telescopes that fit your budget, sky and goals — with links to browse current options.

Disclosure: Product links go to Amazon search results. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. We suggest types of gear rather than specific models, and we don't list prices — check current prices and reviews on the retailer's page. Learn more.

Gaspra itself is far too faint for a starter setup. These picks are for photographing the Moon, planets, the Milky Way and — with a telescope and tracking — brighter asteroids, galaxies and nebulae. Never point a camera or telescope at the Sun without a proper certified solar filter.

1/5 What's your budget?

Under $150$150 – $500$500 – $1,500$1,500+

2/5 How much photography experience do you have?

Phone camera onlyI use a camera in manual modeI've done some night-sky shooting

3/5 What are your skies like?

City — bright, few starsSuburbs — Milky Way faint or hiddenDark rural skies

4/5 What do you want to photograph?

The Moon & planetsThe Milky Way & night landscapesGalaxies, nebulae & clustersA bit of everything

5/5 How portable does it need to be?

Grab-and-go / travelFits in a carMostly backyard use

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How the picker works

Your answers filter a list of common astrophotography gear categories by budget band, then rank them by how well they suit your photography experience, sky conditions, what you want to photograph and how portable your setup needs to be. Budget bands are rough guides only; prices vary by retailer and change often. Recommendations are general guidance, not professional advice.