Guidance for an Amazing Hobby
An astrograph, also known as an astrophotographic telescope, is a type of telescope specifically designed for astrophotography. Its notable features include fast focal ratios like f/2 or f/3, wide apertures and optics designed to produce high-quality flat fields across the entire field of view. A key feature that sets astrographs apart is their wide field … Read more
Is There a Best Telescope for Astrophotography? Budget and desired targets are the primary factors. Read on! Can’t I just throw a dart at a dartboard? To simplify the choice a bit, if you want to photograph planets or small galaxies, look for longer focal lengths, something near or above 2000 mm would be a … Read more
Planetarium software simulates the night sky, allowing users to visualize stars, planets, constellations, and celestial objects based on the user’s time and location. It’s used for education, amateur astronomy, and astrophotography, offering interactive sky maps and real-time tracking of astronomical events. Have you ever gazed up at the night sky and felt a profound curiosity … Read more
Have you ever gazed up at the night sky and been mesmerized by the twinkling stars? You’re not alone. The fascination with the cosmos draws countless like-minded stargazers to annual star parties. These events are more than just gatherings; they’re a celebration of the universe and a testament to our enduring curiosity about what … Read more
Solar prominences were very pronounced during this eclipse My First Eclipse Texas was my 3rd eclipse trip. In 2008, I was reading Astronomy Magazine, and I came across an advertisement for a 2 week trip to China, southern Japan, and South Korea that was highlighted by a total solar eclipse in the waters near Iwo … Read more
As the days lengthen and the chill of winter fades, spring emerges with a nightly spectacle above. You’ve noticed the stars seem clearer, the night air is more inviting, and it’s as if the heavens are beckoning amateur astronomers and photographers alike to look upward. This urge you feel is not just a random impulse. … Read more
Astronomy vs. Astrology: Fundamentally Different Fields. Let’s dive deeper. What is Astronomy? Astronomy is the science of stars, planets, and the universe. It uses telescopes to study celestial objects and their properties. What is Astrology? Astrology, on the other hand, is a belief system that relates the positions of celestial bodies to human events and … Read more
What’s in the Sky Tonight -Early Spring Northern Hemisphere The following are interesting objects that are perfect for capturing in the early spring in the Northern Hemisphere. They must be large enough and bright enough to be doable even from light polluted skies for beginners. They must also be high enough in the sky for … Read more
In a perfect astrophotography world, we would live in the modern world, but with one exception: nighttime lighting would be minimal or nonexistent. Although that scenario is not realistic, we can achieve something similar. There are a variety of optical filters that do a fine job of filtering out the wavelengths of common lighting fixtures … Read more
The Saros cycle, a fascinating phenomenon in astronomy, plays a crucial role in predicting eclipses. Because the orbit of the moon is not exactly parallel to the orbit of the Earth around the Sun, eclipses (both lunar and solar) do not occur every time the moon is between the Earth and the Sun. They only … Read more