HANDY Telescope-mountable mobile phone holder HandyHaltPA

The HandyHaltPA is a universal smartphone holder that lets you attach a mobile phone to almost any telescope. It accommodates devices between 57 and 100 mm wide when used without a protective case. The eyepiece should have an outer diameter between 27 and 46 mm to fit the holder.

Mounting is straightforward: clamp the smartphone into the holder and align it with the back of the phone so the camera lens sits centrally. Then fit the holder onto the eyepiece and insert the assembly back into the telescope. If the image shows vignetting, pinch to zoom the live view with two fingers to reduce the cut-off edges.

For the best results, focus the telescope on a distant point of light before attaching your phone. A self-timer set to 2 to 10 seconds helps prevent touching the screen from blurring the shot. Removing the rubber eyecup brings the phone closer to the eyepiece, giving you a wider field of view.