The best thing I ever purchased to help do more astrophotography!
I cannot say enough about my SkyShed POD XL-5. I bought it used and it has been the best tool in my box for making it easier for me to get out and actually take pictures. Or rather, not get out and take pictures. That's right, the SkyShed POD - which stands for Personal Observation Dome - lets me stay in and take pictures!
You can read all about it at the manufacturer's web site, and you can learn more about Wayne Parker, the literal rock star who didn't just start the company, and doesn't just run it, but has created one of the strongest communities of fellow Astropotamuses (also known as "astrophotographers") as there ever has been. So I'll focus on that aspect.
Wayne encourages direct contact with him for any questions that POD owners may have. Even used POD owners like myself. If someone were to ask me "who's the most famous person that you have their cell phone number on speed dial," my answer would be, "Wayne Parker." In addition to taking care of customer orders, he's literally out there designing and building and testing and taking videos on how to put together the next round of POD gizmos. From the original POD to the POD-MAX to the newest, fully automated POD-S. I'm not sure how he finds time to sleep or eat, let alone work, but on top of all of that, he takes amazing astro images and is one the best imagers I know.
Back to the POD.
Rather than spend over an hour setting things up, wiring everything, aligning everything, and making sure it all works, I just leave it all set up in the POD. If it looks like it's going to be a great night for imaging, I just open the POD roof clamshell and everything is ready to start going. If the weather takes a turn for the worse (which it's literally just done as I write this) no need to rush out and tear everything down and throw it haphazzard in the car - just flip the POD clamshell closed and go back inside. In fact, if you've got power and network in your POD, then you can put a mini computer in it and remote control everything. Take the time while it's raining to transfer images or set up the next night's run!
I cannot say enough good things about the POD, but I will say the best thing:
The POD has enabled me to actually take pictures where, before, I always had an excuse not to: It takes too long to set up.
With the POD, I just flip and go. In fact, the POD has been the inspiration to start writing for my web site again, and to encourage others to become Astropotamuses themselves! So thanks for that, Wayne!