Portable star trackers let beginners capture sharp, long-exposure astrophotos without heavy gear. Perfect for wide-field shots of the Milky Way and nebulae with just a camera and lens.
Learn how to tell aurora and airglow apart in the night sky-two natural light sources that look similar but have completely different causes. See what to look for, where to spot them, and why they matter.
Planets need time to cool down after sunset for clear telescope views. Learn how long each planet takes to reach thermal equilibrium and how to time your observations for the sharpest details.
Learn how to identify the Moon's major surface features-craters, maria, mountains, and rilles-with simple observations. Understand how they formed and why they look the way they do.
Learn how to identify and understand the Moon's four main surface features-craters, maria, mountains, and rilles-formed by impacts and ancient volcanism. No telescope needed to start observing.
Learn how to calculate your telescope's true field of view using simple math. Discover which eyepieces show the whole Pleiades, Orion Nebula, or just the Moon - and how to pick the right setup for any object.
Learn how to save and share custom observing lists from planetarium software like Stellarium, SkySafari, and Cartes du Ciel. Export lists in CSV format for cross-platform use and never lose your favorite targets again.