barndoortracker

Star trackers are important for capturing long exposures of star formations by slowly moving to compensate for the rotation of the Earth. Most modern star trackers use motors to do this, but in this 22.5-minute video, photographer Nico Carver shows how he built a hang-crank version for just $30.

Did you know that your ordinary DSLR camera has the power to detect planets orbiting other stars? You don't need a high-powered telescope to look through either. All that's required is a DSLR, a telephoto lens, and a special contraption that helps your camera track stars.