Learn real astrophotography —
from someone who’s actually doing it
From dark skies in Turkey — step-by-step guides, free tools, and real deep-sky images.
Astrophotography
Learn the science behind capturing nebulae, galaxies, planets and star clusters
Equipment
From your first DSLR to advanced telescope, find the right gear for your budget.
Techniques
Master stacking, imaging, taking long exposures, and processing your images.
Hello, I’m Karl Perera. My journey into astrophotography started in my backyard with a single blurry photo of the moon, captured through my own telescope. As a university teacher by trade, I built Astroimagery — the guide I wish I’d had.
Free tools for your next clear night
Astro Target Planner
Plan your session based on your location, equipment and sky conditions. FOV overlay and filter recommendations included.
Exposure Calculator
Find the best sub-exposure length for your telescope, camera and sky conditions. For both broadband and narrowband.
More from the blog
Asteroid Astrophotography: How to Find and Capture Moving Space Rocks
I used to think of asteroid astrophotography as just photographing “space grit.” But then I actually tried to image one, and my entire perspective on the solar system shifted.
Siril vs Photoshop Experiment – Which is better?
Is free software like Siril as good as Photoshop for deep-sky image processing? I tested them to find out. The results surprised me!
Comparing an astro camera and a DSLR
I tested if a budget DSLR camera compares to an astronomy camera for astrophotography. The results may surprise you.
Where do you get your images — are they real or AI-generated?
The vast majority of images on this site and in the shop are those I’ve captured myself, using my own telescope from dark skies in Turkey. My own work is never stock photography or AI-generated — it’s genuine long-exposure astrophotography, start to finish.
What equipment do you use?
I image with a Celestron 130slt and a C8 Schmidt-Cassegrain, a William Optics Zenithstar 66mm APO, a ZWO ASI533MC Pro camera, and an iOptron CEM26 mount — accessible gear, not the premium end of the hobby. I process everything in Siril and Photoshop, with StarXterminator for star removal and NoiseXterminator for removing the noise.
Who is Astroimagery for?
Astroimagery is for beginners and more experienced astrophotographers who want to learn astrophotography and improve their skills. If you enjoy planetary observation or astrophotography, then you’ll find help here. Lunar photography and the best way to image Saturn, Jupiter, and more can be found inside.
What kinds of astrophotography can I find information on?
From star clusters to distant faint objects such as nebulae and galaxies, I’ll show you how to photograph them and get the best results. if you’re a beginner in astrophotography, then you can learn how to image bright objects in the skies too such as the Milky Way, comets and much more!
What is different about astroimagery?
Astroimagery is my educational astrophotography project, built for beginners and intermediate astronomers. I’m a member of the British Astronomical Association with over 30 years of teaching experience, and my tutorials focus on affordable, accessible equipment — because that’s what most people actually have, not unlimited access to premium gear.
My own skills have grown immensely over the six years I’ve been doing this — both my imaging and my processing have come a long way, and I’ve upgraded my equipment along the way too. I still learn something new every time I image, and I think that’s part of what makes me a good teacher — I remember exactly what it’s like to be stuck on the problems you’re facing right now, because I’ve worked through them myself. I have a unique teaching style which I bring to Astroimagery, and I aim to help anyone who’s new to astronomy and astrophotography, or anyone who wants to develop their skills further.
What services does Astroimagery provide and how will these help me?
Astroimagery gives you three things. First, written guides and articles covering equipment, imaging, and processing — practical, step-by-step help based on what I’ve actually tested myself from dark skies in Turkey. Second, a free YouTube channel where I post tutorials and walkthroughs regularly — useful whether you’re just starting out or trying to push your images further. Third, several free tools including the AstroTarget Planner, which helps you find and plan the right targets for your equipment and sky conditions, and the Exposure Calculator, which works out the best sub-exposure length for your setup. My focus here is affordable, accessible gear — because that’s what most of us are actually working with.