Parts and Pieces: My Telescope and Dad

The summer of 2023, I begged my father for a telescope. For my birthday, my father gave me a Celestron NexStar 8SE. This has developed past a mere excitement into a hobby. I’ll often find my dad in my backyard huddled over his computer, taking pictures of the planets, nebulas, or just cursing at the camera, telling it to work. After bundling up, I’d go outside and shiver next to him. Eventually, this became a weekly, sometimes nightly routine: set up the telescope, bundle up, take pictures, shiver, take more pictures, sleep.

This became a major investment, and eventually, began to cost more than my car. My dad would knock on my door in the middle of the day, smiling and saying, “Look what I bought for you!” Overall, this process was a mush of trial and error, and in the end, the set up became what you see in the picture.

For the camera, we use the Canon EOS R10. We use a guiding scope called Orion 50mm, with a camera that’s a ZWO variant. Additionally, we use a stabilizer, extender, dovetail for the scope, and continue to use the 8SE.

Ultimately, I am blessed to be given the opportunity to have such a telescope, and a father who shares my passion. The telescope is just a part, but my dad is a piece of me.