Articles

Guides to galaxies, nebulae, telescopes, and the night sky — for curious minds everywhere.

The Prettiest Double Stars You Can Split Tonight
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The Prettiest Double Stars You Can Split Tonight

Double stars are some of the most colorful, satisfying targets in a small telescope. Here are the best ones to observe and what makes them so rewarding.

Team Visit Astronomy · Oct 29, 2026

The Lagoon Nebula: A Summer Deep-Sky Showpiece
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The Lagoon Nebula: A Summer Deep-Sky Showpiece

The Lagoon Nebula (M8) is one of the brightest and largest nebulae visible from Earth — a spectacular cloud of glowing hydrogen in the heart of the Milky Way.

Team Visit Astronomy · Oct 24, 2026

How to Watch the Perseid Meteor Shower Like a Pro
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How to Watch the Perseid Meteor Shower Like a Pro

The Perseids are the most reliable meteor shower of the year. Here's everything you need to know to get the best view — no telescope required.

Team Visit Astronomy · Oct 22, 2026

Observing Saturn's Rings: What You Can Actually See
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Observing Saturn's Rings: What You Can Actually See

Saturn's rings are the single most jaw-dropping sight in a backyard telescope. Here's what to expect at every aperture and how to get the sharpest view possible.

Team Visit Astronomy · Oct 17, 2026

The Veil Nebula: Observing a Supernova Remnant in Cygnus
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The Veil Nebula: Observing a Supernova Remnant in Cygnus

The Veil Nebula is the shattered shell of a star that exploded thousands of years ago. Spanning three degrees of sky in Cygnus, it rewards patient observers with some of the most delicate structure in the deep sky.

Team Visit Astronomy · Oct 15, 2026

Astronomy Journals and Logbooks: Why Recording Observations Matters
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Astronomy Journals and Logbooks: Why Recording Observations Matters

Keeping an observing journal transforms casual stargazing into a deeper practice. Here's why recording your observations makes you a better astronomer and how to start.

Team Visit Astronomy · Oct 13, 2026

Messier Marathon: How to See All 110 Objects in One Night
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Messier Marathon: How to See All 110 Objects in One Night

Every March, a narrow window opens when all 110 Messier objects are above the horizon in a single night. Here is your complete guide to planning, running, and surviving a Messier Marathon.

Team Visit Astronomy · Oct 10, 2026

Virgo Constellation: Gateway to Galaxy Clusters
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Virgo Constellation: Gateway to Galaxy Clusters

Virgo is home to the Virgo Cluster — a massive collection of over 1,300 galaxies that's one of the richest hunting grounds in amateur astronomy.

Team Visit Astronomy · Oct 8, 2026

Full Moon Calendar 2026: Names, Dates, and Folklore
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Full Moon Calendar 2026: Names, Dates, and Folklore

Every full Moon in 2026 at a glance — dates, traditional names, and the stories behind them. Plus tips for observing and photographing the full Moon.

Team Visit Astronomy · Oct 3, 2026

Observing Uranus and Neptune: The Ice Giants in Your Telescope
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Observing Uranus and Neptune: The Ice Giants in Your Telescope

Uranus and Neptune are the most distant planets visible in amateur telescopes. Finding them is the real challenge — here's how to locate, identify, and observe the ice giants with modest equipment.

Team Visit Astronomy · Oct 1, 2026