Our Story
We are Stargazers Before We are Makers.
Why did we build the ArcBlue C42? The answer lies in a total solar eclipse from decades ago, in the freezing wilderness waiting for the clouds to part, and in the personal journey of every member of this team.
Like you, we are the ones who have shivered in the dark, looking up. We know the steep climb from "beginner" to "masterpiece." But we didn't just stay in the backyard.
From Scientific Research to Your Backyard
Over the years, our passion evolved into deep technical expertise. Before building consumer cameras, our team spent years developing custom, highly automated astronomical equipment for scientific-grade research and professional astronomy projects.
We have even co-published research papers with top-tier astronomical institutions.
Read our published papers →The Convergence of Two Worlds
So why pivot back to consumer gear? Because we discovered a fascinating convergence in technology.
Historically, professional observatory tech is incredibly powerful but highly complex to operate; meanwhile, consumer tech is highly automated but lacks raw optical and processing power.
We realized that true innovation comes from blending these two worlds. Just like how Electronic Viewfinders (EVF) started in point-and-shoot cameras and eventually revolutionized professional mirrorless systems, the extreme automation and low-barrier tech we developed is now feeding back to create a revolutionary tool.
The ArcBlue C42 is the offspring of this philosophy: A professional-grade astrophotography camera that is exceptionally easy to use, yet perfectly retains the pure joy of the process.
The Meaning of C42
C42 is more than a model number.
It is the official IAU (International Astronomical Union) observatory code where our CEO, Song, discovered his first Near-Earth Object (NEO).
It is also a nod to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy—the ultimate answer to life, the universe, and everything.
For us, the ArcBlue C42 is our ultimate answer to the future of astrophotography.
The Architects
We gathered a group of fanatics to distill our collective obsession with the stars into this camera.
Song Chen BG4AHZ
CEO
The Amateur Astronomer & Serial Entrepreneur
"Every 5.5 years, the asteroid named after me meets the Earth."
Song embodies the perfect balance of an amateur astronomer's passion and a serial entrepreneur's vision. He has successfully founded tech startups—including a company that mass-produced TOF cameras for electric vehicles.
In 2016, he and Dr. Shen co-developed a massive 500mm F3.8 survey telescope. Operating from the IAU Code C42 observatory, this legendary rig powered the discovery of 8 named asteroids and the first NEO found by Chinese amateurs. The International Minor Planet Center officially named asteroid No. 807098 "Chen Song".
Dr. Shen LandingField
CTO
From Reverse Engineering to Hardcore R&D
"Testing sensors in a fridge really brings back that garage startup vibe."
Dr. Shen's R&D history is a timeline of hardcore tinkering. From organizing astronomy events during the 2009 Solar Eclipse to becoming a founding member of the "Nikon Hacker" community in the US to reverse-engineer firmware, he lives for the tech.
He is the mastermind behind our core technology: Integrated Guiding, validated on an early engineering sample chip from Sony that we still keep as a "Badge of Honor." Every line of code in the C42 represents a stargazer's persistence.
Lu Nebula
Product Manager
The Gearhead Who Understands Your Pain
"I've spent nights shooting in graveyards just to find the perfect dark sky."
Lu has witnessed the entire evolution of astrophotography—from the era of hyper-sensitized film (and many wasted rolls) to automated capture boxes. He has written letters to experts, sought sponsorships for his first DSLR, and built remote observatories.
Because he has experienced every pain point of a photographer's growth, Lu knows exactly what features are "gimmicks" and what features actually save your night. He packed decades of this empathy into the C42.
Ni 星野牧歌
Co-Founder
The Witness and The Recorder
"The 1998 Leonids looked like fireworks—it remains the most spectacular sight of my life."
Ni's memories are mapped by the stars: identifying the Big Dipper at age 5, and witnessing the 1998 meteor storm. Evolving from hand-drawn lunar maps to managing remote observatories on the high plateaus of Daocheng, Ni now captures research-grade solar spectrum images.
He understands "growth" better than anyone. His experience shaped how the ArcBlue C42 serves as both a welcoming guide for beginners and a powerful workhorse for experts.
Building with the
True Believers
We could have launched the C42 through traditional retail channels. But astrophotography isn't just a market; it's a community. It's made up of tinkerers, garage scientists, and dreamers who stay awake while the world sleeps.
We chose Kickstarter because we love the raw, collaborative culture here. We don't just want customers; we want co-creators. We want to put this revolutionary tool into the hands of true early adopters who will push its limits, give us unfiltered feedback, and help us refine the software and ecosystem.
Join us on Kickstarter.
Let's build the
ultimate answer to the universe, together.