Articles
Guides to galaxies, nebulae, telescopes, and the night sky — for curious minds everywhere.
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
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
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
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
Stellarium: The Free Planetarium Software Every Stargazer Needs
Stellarium is the most powerful free planetarium software available — a realistic sky simulator that helps you plan observations, identify objects, and learn the sky. Here's how to set it up and get the most from it.
Team Visit Astronomy · Oct 6, 2026
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
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
Exoplanets: What Backyard Astronomers Can Observe
You don't need a space telescope to detect exoplanets. With a modest telescope and careful technique, you can measure the light dip when a planet crosses its host star.
Team Visit Astronomy · Sep 29, 2026
Narrowband Astrophotography: Ha, OIII, SII Explained
Narrowband filters let you photograph nebulae from light-polluted skies and reveal details invisible in broadband imaging. Here's how Ha, OIII, and SII filters work and how to combine them.
Team Visit Astronomy · Sep 26, 2026
The North America Nebula NGC 7000: A Hidden Giant Near Deneb
The North America Nebula is one of the largest nebulae in the sky — so large that you can't see it through a telescope. Here's how to find, photograph, and appreciate this remarkable emission nebula hiding in plain sight near Deneb.
Team Visit Astronomy · Sep 24, 2026