The Deep Sky, Captured Together: A Collaboration by Giovanni & Nicola

Starting the Journey

For Giovanni Pasquetto, the passion for the cosmos began in 2007 when he bought his first telescope—a small Newtonian—for his son. That initial curiosity sparked a love for visual astronomy, leading him to explore dark skies with a Dobsonian telescope. But it wasn’t until the pandemic lockdown in 2019 that he took his first steps into astrophotography, investing in his first set of imaging equipment.

Nicola Bugin, on the other hand, has been fascinated by astronomy since he was young. However, it wasn’t until 2018 that he decided to turn his interest into practice by purchasing entry-level gear. Over time, he gradually upgraded to more advanced equipment, refining his skills and deepening his connection to the stars.

Though Giovanni and Nicola didn’t know each other at the beginning, they both embarked on their astrophotography journeys in strikingly similar ways—by turning to the internet for guidance. Giovanni often watched professional astrophotographers on YouTube, which gave him the motivation to try it himself. Nicola, starting with no experience, relied on online resources as well —forums, tutorials, and YouTube videos. Later, he connected with fellow enthusiasts who shared his passion and helped him improve his techniques for both data acquisition and post-processing.

Chasing Darkness

For Giovanni, who lives in a city washed in artificial light, that often means packing up and heading out—to the quiet countryside for a quick escape, or deep into the high mountains when time allows. The Dolomites, with their dark and ancient skies, are a favorite refuge. Nicola, meanwhile, often sets up from his Bortle 7 backyard, using narrowband filters to cut through the haze of city lights. But when the weather is kind and the stars call louder, he too heads north—also to those same Dolomite peaks, or to the shores where the Po River meets the sea, enjoy photographing the Milky Way with a DSLR and tripod.

When Passion Meets Friendship

For both Giovanni and Nicola, their most meaningful achievement in astrophotography isn’t defined by awards or online recognition—though their wide-field image of Orion has certainly earned plenty of praise. What truly stands out to them is the journey behind that photo: a collaboration forged in shared passion, long drives in search of dark skies, and unforgettable nights under the stars.

Nicola adds that he’s currently organizing a photography exhibition, with all proceeds going to charity. But for him, the real joy lies in sharing this journey with people who make it special.

Giovanni Pasquetto

Current equipment:

Telescopes: Skywatcher Mak127, Evostar 72ED, Newton 150/600, Newton 150/750, Askar FMA180, Samyang 135mm f/2
Guide scopes: 2× 120mm f/4
Mounts: Skywatcher AZ-GTi, HEQ5 Pro
Cameras & accessories: ASI294MC Pro, ASI294MM Pro, ASI585MC Pro, ASI385MC, ASI120MC-S, ASIAIR Pro, ASIAIR Plus, 2× ZWO EAF

Giovanni vividly remembers his very first astrophotography attempt:

“I was using the Mak127 to photograph the Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula with the ZWO ASI120MC. The setup wasn’t ideal for that target, but it was my very first experience—and the result, even if far from perfect”

Giovanni encourages beginners to join local star parties or astrophotography groups, where they can have in-person conversations and get guidance on their first equipment purchases. In his view, taking the right first steps and avoiding unsuitable gear is crucial for building a solid foundation in the hobby. He also expressed gratitude toward ZWO, “I thank ZWO because it allowed me to cultivate my passion for astrophotography by simplifying the approach with its complete and intuitive instruments that allowed me to achieve the results I hoped for.”

Nicola Bugin’s Astrophotography Trip

Nicola currently uses a Ritchey-Chrétien 8” carbon telescope, an Askar 180fmaPro, and a Skywatcher Heq5pro AZ EQ6 mount. His imaging gear includes the ZWO ASI294MM camera, LRGB and narrowband filters (Ha, OIII, SII), a ZWO EFW filter wheel, and guiding equipment such as 60/240 and 32/128 guide telescopes paired with ZWO 120mm and 120mc guide cameras. Autofocusing is handled by a ZWO EAF, and he manages his setup with a ZWO ASIAIR Plus. For wide-field Milky Way shots, Nicola uses a Canon 7D with a Samyang 14mm f/2.8 lens.

Nicola recalls his very first astrophotography experience clearly: “I took a shot of the M27 nebula with a 200f5 telescope without autoguiding, and some images of the Horsehead Nebula with a DSLR.” Though his early photos were far from perfect, he says the thrill of capturing objects light-years away sparked a passion that continues to this day.

Bok globules in Rosette Nebula-Nicola Bugin

Like many astrophotographers, Nicola encounters bad weather, equipment issues, and processing frustrations. But he explains, “I never get discouraged. I always try to find solutions and what keeps me going is the desire to improve, discover new locations, and share this passion with friends.” Nicola’s favorite celestial targets change with the seasons. He enjoys the rich nebulae of Cygnus in summer, while winter brings him back to Orion, one of the first areas he photographed.

Nicola advises newcomers to start small: “Don’t spend a lot of money right away. Begin with a star tracker and DSLR, join astronomy forums, and most importantly, be patient and persistent—good results take time.” He first discovered ZWO while researching equipment and bought his first ZWO product, the 120mc guide camera, early on. Today, his ZWO gear includes two guide cameras, a 294MM Pro, an EAF focuser, an EFW filter wheel, and an ASIAIR Plus. Nicola is considering adding a 294MC Pro for darker skies and recently borrowed one from his friend Giovanni Pasquetto, with excellent results. Nicola says, “Asiair changed everything for me. Before, I had to connect all the equipment to a laptop and stay by the setup all night. Now, I can control everything remotely, even from my sofa at home.”