Articles
Guides to galaxies, nebulae, telescopes, and the night sky — for curious minds everywhere.
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
Spectroscopy at Home: Splitting Starlight with a Simple Grating
You do not need a university lab to analyze starlight. A simple diffraction grating and your backyard telescope can reveal the chemical fingerprints of stars, nebulae, and even distant galaxies.
Team Visit Astronomy · Oct 20, 2026
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
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