The Astrocast

Christopher Page
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Astronomy
  • Updated Weekly

A podcast about Astrophotography and Astronomy. Deep dive discussions into all things Astro. Gear, Best Practices, Interviews, and everything in between. 

  1. 6d ago

    EPISODE 100 - BORTLE 1 OR BUST (part 2)

    ✨ Agena Astro | 🔭 High Point Scientific | 📦 Amazon | 🌌 First Light Optics **Please note!! When using affiliate links, PLEASE check and make sure you don't have an ad blocker, incognito mode, or blocked cookies... thank you for your support!!!**  WELCOME BAAAACK to The Astrocast! WATCH this weeks new episode on YouTube! LOTS of video content! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7UZA-h5MTw We’re celebrating Episode 100 with a full-length road-trip adventure from Charlotte to the Bortle 1 skies of Utah. Join Parish and me as we visit Astro Peak, build remote observatory rigs, image under some of the darkest skies in the country, and reflect on 100 episodes of The Astrocast. JOIN THE ASTROCAST PATREON https://www.patreon.com/c/TheAstrocast SUPPORT THE SHOW ON BUY ME A COFFEE https://buymeacoffee.com/theastrocast GET ASTROCAST MERCH https://qcroo.com/store JOIN US ON FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/TheAstrocastPod AFFILIATE LINKS — PAID LINKS Purchases made through the links below may earn The Astrocast a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some ad blockers and strict privacy settings may prevent affiliate referral tracking. Thank you for supporting the show! BUILD YOUR OWN REMOTE ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY RIG — AFFILIATE LINKS I’m still adding the DeepSkyDad FP2 flat panel and dew heaters, but here is the rest of the setup: GL.iNet Comet Remote KVM https://amzn.to/4fF9GNp ZWO ASI2600MC Pro Cooled Astronomy Camera https://bit.ly/4ymcjLD ZWO ASI120MM Mini Guide Camera https://bit.ly/4vwbs8b ZWO AM3N Harmonic Drive Mount with Tripod https://bit.ly/4ysuIX1 Mini PC https://amzn.to/4gHGLcH ZWO EAF Electronic Automatic Focuser https://bit.ly/4yIEf1X ZWO CAA Camera Angle Adjuster https://bit.ly/4pnFoC6 ZWO 5 x 2-inch EFW Filter Wheel https://bit.ly/4w9Kkxa SVBONY SV241 Pro Power Hub https://amzn.to/4h1lsD9 APC BE600M1 UPS Battery Backup https://amzn.to/4f8snci NETGEAR GS305E Network Switch https://amzn.to/44v2uNE TP-Link Tapo P316M Smart Power Strip https://amzn.to/4ymeJdb If this kind of trip sounds great to you, consider joining our Patreon. You’ll get access to our members-only Discord, where 99% of adventures like these begin. While Parish and I were heading for Bortle 1 in the United States, our friend and cohost Mark was meeting up with other listeners in Europe. Stay tuned for that episode! Thank you for helping The Astrocast celebrate 100 episodes in style. Please stop by Facebook, YouTube, or—better yet—the Discord and say hello! CHAPTERS 00:00 Why We Didn’t Fly 01:00 Episode 100 & Astro Peak Update 02:57 The CEM26 Remote-Mount Mistake 07:07 Supporting The Astrocast 09:23 First Night at Astro Peak 11:45 Utah Drive & First Light 2027 15:34 Bortle 1 Skies & 100 Episodes 18:43 The 100th-Episode Intro 19:42 Final Night Under Bortle 1 Skies 22:15 The Road From Charlotte to Utah 24:11 Building Astro Peak Observatory 26:05 First Piers & Parish’s Astro-Physics AP1100GTO 30:48 Polar Alignment and First Light 35:24 Five-Minute Unguided M81 37:06 Sleeping Under the Milky Way 39:26 Building the Remote Observatory Rigs 45:26 Rho Ophiuchi and the Bortle 1 Sky 46:31 The Otherworldly Drive Across Utah 50:18 Ticaboo Lodge and Mile Marker 13 1:02:29 Setting Up a Bortle 1 Imaging Night 1:10:15 Seestar, Rho Ophiuchi & 30-Second Exposures 1:17:12 The 2027 Astrocast Listener Meetup 1:23:03 Satellites, Space Ads & Saving the Night Sky 1:30:14 Cosmic Perspective, Learning the Sky & Polar Alignment 1:35:46 Parish’s Astrophotography Gear Journey 1:43:44 Modern Star Trackers & Rethinking Smart Telescopes 1:58:19 Harmonic Mounts & Ultimate Travel Rigs 2:10:26 Integration Time, Processing & Growth 2:14:08 Friendship and the Astrocast Community 2:23:24 Life Is Short, Saturn & Endless Possibilities 2:28:41 Remote Observatories and the People Who Inspire Us 2:36:48 Final Thoughts Under the Milky Way 2:39:28 The Astrocast Song 2:42:41 Dropping Off Parish & Heading Home 2:46:13 Road-Trip Essentials & Remote-Rig Backups 2:59:34 Laws, Sober Driving & Mountain Safety 3:05:27 Speed, Police, Brakes & Mountain Descents 3:12:30 No Cell Service, Satellites & Starlink Mini 3:25:01 Portable Fridge, Missouri Roads & Desert Comforts 3:34:27 Scorpions, Wildlife & Remote-Site Safety 3:41:57 Protecting Gear and Choosing Hotels 3:48:51 Why You Should Bring a Friend 3:55:34 Rental-Car Lessons & Two-Person Benefits 4:00:20 Driving Limits and Knowing When to Stop 4:04:16 Blue Horsehead First Light & Astro Peak Thanks 4:07:01 Thank You, Astrocast Family 4:07:55 Clear Skies Questions or comments? [Roo@TheAstrocast.com](mailto:Roo@TheAstrocast.com) Clear skies, and thank you for watching! Support the show Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

    EPISODE 100 - BORTLE 1 OR BUST (part 2)

  2. Jul 6

    Episode 99 - Bortle 1 or Bust (Part 1 of 2)

    ✨ Agena Astro | 🔭 High Point Scientific | 📦 Amazon | 🌌 First Light Optics WELCOME BAAAACK to The Astrocast!  We have a FULL video component with this weeks episode, which you can find here! There's some truly beautiful scenery while me and Parish make our way to the middle of nowhere! We drove nearly 5,000 miles in 10 days for an EPIC run to the Darkest Skies N. America has to offer!!! If you happen to watch the YouTube video, please give a like and comment, and subscribe! The Astrocast will have a lot more video content coming this year, so make sure you're subscribed! If this kind of trip sounds great to you, please consider joining our Patreon! You'll get access to the incredible members only Discord where 99 percent of plans like these hatch! While me and Parish we're heading for Bortle 1 in the US, our friend and cohost Mark was meeting up with other listeners in Europe! Stay tuned for that episode, it's coming! Thank you so much for all of your support, as the Astrocast prepares to celebrate it's 100th episode in STYLE! Find us on Facebook! - if you don't join the Patreon, please stop by and say hi! Support the show Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

    Episode 99 - Bortle 1 or Bust (Part 1 of 2)

  3. Jun 12

    Bortle 1 or BUST

    Just a quick check in from the Tennessee rest area!!! If you’re seeing this because you scanned the QR code, welcome to the Astrocast Family!!! clear skies!  Roo Support the show Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

    Bortle 1 or BUST

  4. Jun 3

    Episode 98 - Let's talk Astro (w/Justin and Parish)

    ✨ Agena Astro | 🔭 High Point Scientific | 📦 Amazon | 🌌 First Light Optics WELCOME BAAAACK to The Astrocast! This week, Roo sits down with his buddies Justin and Parish to talk Astrophotography! Remote imaging, Rokinon 135's, SSDs, HDDs, and everything in between! This is an EXTRA-LENGTH episode, so get comfy, and hopefully under a dark clear sky! Special thanks to Justin and Parish for spending the evening talking AP with me.  Here's a link to the m48 Flange we discuss during the back half of the show, guaranteed to make your Rokinon/Samyang 135 a better rig! First Light Optics M48 to Samyang/Rokinon 135 Flange The Bambuu Labs 3d printing debacle! Great USB Cables we were discussing The prior links are affiliate links that help the show! If you make a purchase through one of them, you get the same great price, but a small cut of the profit goes to support The Astrocast. Thanks for your support! Join our PATREON! Become a member of The Astrocast Family today, and talk with us whenever ya please! You will get access to the AC Discord right away, and you'll love it! I also send a personal video thank you to every single person who joins, I greatly appreciate your support!  Quick disclaimer: this is a discussion based on our opinions, interpretations, and publicly available information. Nothing we say should be taken as a legal claim, accusation, or statement of fact about anyone’s guilt, intent, liability, or wrongdoing. We’re here to comment, speculate, and discuss not to litigate.  Support the show Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

    Episode 98 - Let's talk Astro (w/Justin and Parish)

  5. May 30

    AC Shorts (Trips a comin)

    Hey Guys! Happy weekend :) 3 Roo Support the show Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

  6. May 27

    Episode 97 - Capturing Exoplanet Transits w/Jorik

    ✨ Agena Astro | 🔭 High Point Scientific | 📦 Amazon | 🌌 First Light Optics Welcome BAAAACK to The Astrocast! This week, Roo recaps some of the preparations he is taking before setting off on a 4,000 mile round trip adventure to the darkest skies he has ever seen. Afterwards, he sits down with a new friend to talk about a VERY fascinating field, capturing exoplanet transits! Roo is extremely excited at the thought of capturing his own transit, and will definitely keep you posted on how his progress goes, as he makes it! If there's enough interest in this, I would consider doing a video episode going through all the steps! Join the Astrocast Family! - Gain access to our members only Patreon, access to Astropeak Remote Observatory in the wide open Bortle 1 skies of Utah, and become friends with some of the best astronomers in the world! Buy me a coffee if you enjoy the show! A big shoutout to our newest 3 members of the Astrocast family, Jesse, Sean, and Dr. Dave! Thank you guys for joining the Patreon and the Discord, you've been a breath of fresh air! Also, a big thank you to everyone who continues to use the affiliate links at the top of the post, if you use them when making any purchase through these vendors, you'll get the same great prices as always, but a small portion of the profits goes to benefit the Astrocast. Thanks so much for your support! LINKS from this week's episode!  The Swarthmore Transit Finder - Find a transit happening in a solar system "near" you tonight!  How to observe exoplanets (part of the NASA Exoplanet Watch programme) - The how! Read this first, to get a better understanding!  Information about EXOTIC (EXOplanet Transit Interpretation Code) - Definitely check this out. The google form for EXOTIC advanced - You'll definitely need this! Joriks Astrobin - WOW!!! I'm glad you did this, Jorik! Amazing images! And here's Roo's Astrobin - though it definitely needs some more photos! That'll be coming this summer, for sure.  As a reminder, I'll be ON THE ROAD from June 12-22nd, so episodes will be flakey during this period...but stay tuned, cause it's gonna be worth it when we get back! Cover photo this week - credit to Acererak! Great image! Support the show Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

    Episode 97 - Capturing Exoplanet Transits w/Jorik

  7. May 19

    Episode 96 - The NEAF Episode

    https://youtu.be/b_54zFXexTI The NEAF Episode premiers on Youtube at 4pm EST 5/19/2026! I hope to see you there!  Clear Skies!!! -Roo Support the show Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

    Episode 96 - The NEAF Episode

  8. Apr 29

    Episode 95 - Craving Dark Skies

    ✨ Agena Astro | 🔭 High Point Scientific | 📦 Amazon | 🌌 First Light Optics Welcome BAAAACK to The Astrocast! This week, join Roo as he takes you on a midnight journey to the middle of nowhere, a place where only Whippoorwills and Darkness dare to tread, a place where sleepy eyes are no match for the Milky Way! As a reminder, if you'd like to join the coolest Astronomy club there is, consider joining The Astrocast Society! Become a member today and get exclusive access to The Astrocast Discord - where you will meet and talk with like minded individuals 24/7. It truly is a GREAT place to be.  You can also get exclusive access to Astropeak Observatory, a remote observatory in Utah under Bortle 1 skies! Join the Patreon now and when you reserve your pier Astropeak will pay for your membership! WIN WIN! We'll be off next week to take time for editing a HUGE episode that is coming up soon, but we'll see you in Mid-May! Happy early Milky Way season, get out there and see it! No excuses! If you'd like to see the photo Roo got from this trip, check it out here on the FB Page for The Astrocast. For 1 hour of exposures it came out pretty cool!  Move Shoot Move Nomad - Currently sold out - but keep checking back! Support the show Email me at "Roo@TheAstrocast.com" with any questions/comments. Thanks for listening!

    Episode 95 - Craving Dark Skies
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5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

A podcast about Astrophotography and Astronomy. Deep dive discussions into all things Astro. Gear, Best Practices, Interviews, and everything in between. 

Information

  • Creator
    Christopher Page
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    104
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Astrocast
  • Show Website
    The Astrocast

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