Articles
Guides to galaxies, nebulae, telescopes, and the night sky — for curious minds everywhere.
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
Star Trail Photography: How to Capture Circles in the Sky
Star trail images turn the Earth's rotation into art — long arcs of light sweeping across your frame. Here's how to plan, shoot, and stack star trail photographs with any camera.
Team Visit Astronomy · Sep 22, 2026
Aquarius Constellation: Ancient Water Bearer in Modern Skies
Aquarius is one of the oldest constellations, home to the Saturn Nebula, the Helix Nebula, and fascinating deep-sky targets. Here's how to find and explore it.
Team Visit Astronomy · Sep 19, 2026