My single most expensive piece of kit is the pier I built in my back yard. Why make such a big deal out of what is, effectively, a glorified tripod?

If you want to do EAA with a one-shot color camera, SharpCap works really well. Why?

Windows Remote Desktop is the best way I’ve found to control my telescope remotely.

Cable management is a skill I didn’t know existed until I screwed it up. Trust me, it’s important!

Focusing aids are good. Some require an EAF, others don’t. SharpCap and NINA (shown here) both provide fully automatic focus support.

On balance, I prefer an equatorial mount. However, you can do VERY high quality EAA on an Alt/Az mount, so if that’s your starting point, don’t let it stop you!

A unique tool that makes tight framing a breeze.

If you control your telescope via WiFi (as I do) a solid connection is essential.

No, it’s not a form of meditation. It’s a way to eliminate “walking noise” in your images.

SharpCap’s GoTo catalog is extensible, which can be really useful if you enjoy observing quirky targets.

If you use a “one shot color camera” in relatively dark skies, filters aren’t essential. But even so, they’re VERY useful.

Fab, reasonably-priced general-purpose photo editor with astro features.