Backyard Universe – when curiosity turns into a mission
How fascination and passion grew into a project that sharpens the view of the stars.
Hello, my name is Michael – physicist, developer, and curious explorer. I have always been fascinated by how technology can make the world more visible, more understandable, and a little better.
That is why I studied Applied Physics with a focus on laser technology and optics – a field that perfectly complements my passion for precision and innovation, and that still forms the foundation of many of my projects today.
Astronomy has always been part of this journey. For a long time, however, only in theory – until the Corona pandemic gave me the opportunity to finally dive into it on a more practical level. My first telescope was a Skywatcher 200PDS. And, true to my nature, I started optimizing it after only a short time to get the very best out of it.
Over time, it formed the cornerstone of what is now Backyard Universe — a place where passion, technology, and precision come together to help ambitious amateur astronomers get the most out of their equipment.
Our Philosophy
At Backyard Universe, it’s not about cheap mass products – it’s about precision, passion, and personal dedication.
Every upgrade, every optimization, and every detail is developed as if we were building it for ourselves – always with the ambition to get the very best out of every telescope.
Our journey goes far beyond design. With cutting-edge simulations in ANSYS and ZEMAX, we optimize every detail before it’s ever built. In our workshop, concepts become prototypes — and in our observatory, those prototypes prove themselves under the night sky.
Our components don’t just happen by chance – they are designed with state-of-the-art CAD software (Autodesk), thought through down to the very last detail.
With nearly 20 years of experience in industrial research, development, and design, we build the foundation for precise and reliable solutions.
Even before the first prototype is built, FEM simulations with Ansys and ZEMAX show us how a component or optical element will perform. Loads, deformations, material properties, and optical behavior are analyzed under realistic conditions – a must in modern engineering.
This way, we only build and test what has already proven itself in simulation – and then refine it further until every detail delivers.
From virtual design to reality: In our in-house workshop, we manufacture prototypes to turn ideas into something you can touch. Here, we combine simulation results with craftsmanship and precision, transforming innovation into real products.
Theory meets practice in our own observatory. Every product is thoroughly tested, refined, and improved before entering series production. This ensures that our solutions not only perform on the computer, but also under real conditions in the night sky.
Our Vision
Astronomy should not be complicated, inaccurate, or frustrating – but fascinating, precise, and inspiring.
Our vision is to provide ambitious amateur astronomers with tools that until now have been reserved for professionals.
We aim to develop telescopes and accessories that are intuitive to use, technically sophisticated, and uncompromisingly reliable.
Products that not only eliminate the weaknesses of conventional solutions, but also set new standards – in precision, quality, and ease of use.
To achieve this, we reinvest a large part of our revenue from upgrade sales directly into new machines and tools, constantly expanding our capabilities to develop even better products.
In the end, only one thing matters:
Creating solutions that bring amateur astronomers more joy, less frustration, and a clearer view of the stars, because...
“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.”
Carl Sagan