Prasun Saw the Universe — then Decided to Capture It

“Two thoughts immediately crossed my mind—the vastness of the cosmos, and that I could also create images like the ones that inspired me.”

” If you spend more time debugging than collecting data, it might be time to rethink your setup.”

—Prasun Agrawal

Astrophotography often begins with a simple moment of awe—standing under a starry sky, camera in hand, trying to freeze time and light. For Prasun Agrawal, that moment came about five years ago during a visit to Warrumbungle National Park in New South Wales, Australia. What began as a casual encounter with the night sky under a pristine Bortle 1 sky has since evolved into a passionate pursuit of cosmic beauty.

Rho Ophiuci: Askar FMA 135, ZWO 2600mm Pro, Chroma LRGB 36mm filters, ZWO AM5, Total integration of 44 hours

With a lifelong fascination for astronomy, Prasun’s foray into astrophotography was inevitable. But it wasn’t until he experienced the pitch-black skies far from Sydney that the spark ignited. “I took a few very basic images with my DSLR and got hooked,” he recalls. The encounter didn’t just inspire images; it led him to the Northern Sydney Astronomical Society, where he found community, mentorship, and the technical knowledge needed to dive deeper.

Gears

Today, Prasun’s astrophotography arsenal is nothing short of impressive. His main setup features a Takahashi 130 NFB telescope on a 10Micron GM1000 mount paired with a ZWO ASI2600MM Pro camera. In parallel, he operates a highly portable triple-scope system—three Takahashi FCT 65D scopes with 0.65 reducers on a ZWO AM5 mount. “I also have an astro-modified mirrorless camera that I use for Milky Way shots and timelapses,” he adds.

This combination of high-end precision and adaptability allows him to image both from dark-sky locations and, occasionally, even from the city—though he admits he’s now less inclined to settle for poor-quality data. “I used to image a lot from my balcony… but now, quality matters more. I usually shoot from dark sky locations near Sydney. There are various little towns within a 4-5 hr drive radius, where skies are nice and dark; almost Bortle 1.”

Car_Milky Way: Sony A7C (astro modded), Astronomik 12nm clip-in Ha filter, Voigtlander 35/f2, stack of 30 images of sky at 20s/f2/ISO3200

Memories Under the Stars

Prasun Agrawal vividly recalls his very first astrophotography experience—a night that marked the beginning of a transformative journey. It was back in 2020, when he packed up his modest gear—a 350mm refractor, a DSLR, and a star tracker—and drove 90 minutes out to the Blue Mountains, a region with slightly darker skies than his home in Sydney. With no automation software to rely on, he spent nearly 45 minutes struggling to polar align manually—a daunting task in the Southern Hemisphere. To make things even more difficult, he hadn’t properly balanced the scope, which limited him to just 30-second exposures of the Lagoon Nebula.

Despite the technical hiccups, that night left a lasting impression. When Prasun saw his first image of the cosmos appear on the screen, he was overwhelmed. “Two thoughts immediately crossed my mind—the vastness of the cosmos, and that I could also create images like the ones that inspired me,” he recalls. That moment of awe didn’t just ignite his passion—it gave him a sense of belonging in a universe far larger than himself. Years later, he would revisit the Lagoon Nebula in 2022 and again in 2025, each time returning with better data, more refined processing skills, and a deeper appreciation for how far he had come.

Batman: Takahashi 130 NFB, ZWO 2600mm Pro, Chroma LRGB 36mm filters, 10 Micron GM 1000. Total integration of 12 hours

Calm, Connection, and Cosmos

What keeps Prasun coming back to the stars isn’t just the beauty of the images, but the experience itself. “Astrophotography is calming and relaxing. It helps me disconnect from the hustle of city life.” It has also led to unexpected moments of connection. “Strangers often walk up when I’m out with my scope, curious and full of questions. I love sharing a bit of the magic.”

NGC 6188: 2 panel vertical mosaic. Takahashi 130 NFB, ZWO 2600mm Pro, Antlia Sii 3nm/36mm, Chroma Ha 3nm/36mm and Oiii 3nm/36mm filters, 10 Micron GM 1000. Total integration of 20 hours

In fact, his definition of success has evolved over time. “I used to think winning awards or getting an APOD was the pinnacle. But now, I think the real achievement is being able to share astronomy with others—especially in regional communities that don’t often get that chance.”

Pleiades: Takahashi 130 NFB, ZWO 2600mm Pro, Chroma LRGB 36mm filters, 10 Micron GM 1000. Total integration of 6 hours

Overcoming Obstacles

Of course, no journey is without its hurdles. For Prasun, cloudy skies during La Niña years, technical hiccups, and the ever-frustrating forgotten cable or adapter have tested his patience. But he approaches these challenges with a methodical mindset. “I now keep a checklist and redundant parts. Most of the time, it’s about learning from mistakes and making small, smart changes.”

Tools That Made a Difference

Among his gear, Prasun points to two ZWO products that transformed his workflow: the ASIAIR Pro and the AM5 mount. “The ASIAIR Pro helped me focus on imaging instead of troubleshooting in my early days. It just worked.” The AM5, with its portability, made packing and setup dramatically easier. “I could lift the entire setup, place it in the car, and be imaging within minutes.”

Orion: Takahashi 130 NFB, ZWO 2600mm Pro, Chroma LRGB 36mm filters, 10 Micron GM 1000. Total integration of 6 hours

“I am not affiliated by ZWO in any way, but always recommend the ZWO ecosystem, along with ASIAir for beginners. If you spend more time debugging than collecting data, it might be time to rethink your setup. ZWO helps you focus on what really matters—learning to process and enjoy the journey.” He shared.

Looking Ahead

One dream that remains on Prasun’s horizon is building a remote imaging setup in a dark-sky location. “It’s been on my mind for a while,” he says. “I just haven’t had the time yet—but one day, I’ll make it happen.”

Until then, Prasun continues to push his limits, one frame at a time. Whether it’s from a quiet rural town or a public star party in Sydney, he brings the cosmos a little closer to Earth—and invites us all to look up, pause, and wonder.