telescopes

Both Saturn and Neptune are now too close to the Sun to be visible. Saturn will reach conjunction on the 17th, with Neptune reaching the same point next month.

There are eight planets in the solar system (including the Earth), and although you can see the five brightest with the naked eye, you really need a telescope to catch them at their best. Let’s review each one and get an idea of what you can expect to see.

As cities have grown and people have spread out across the globe, we’ve created a bit of a problem that affects amateur astronomers, casual stargazers, and anyone who wants to appreciate the night sky: light pollution.

All the planets are visible in the evening sky at the start of January. Mercury appears within the same binocular field of view as Venus on the 1st, with Mercury appearing to the lower right of Venus at about 30 minutes after sunset.

Collimation is alignment of the optics or process of aligning the optics inside a telescope. The more accurate the alignment of our optics are, the greater the chance that the telescope will function at its highest level of performance and provide a more uniform view.

Astronomy is an all-ages hobby, everyone is welcome to enjoy the wonders of the universe. Our team of Gear Experts has taken the time to compile a list of some of the best telescopes for adults.

It’s no secret: telescopes are expensive. Some telescopes can cost as much as $4,000 – with the mount not even included! But did you know there’s actually many good options for powerful telescopes under $500? These telescopes are big enough to be able to resolve incredible detail on the planets, deep sky objects, and more without breaking your bank.

There’s a rare opportunity to see every planet in the evening sky this month. Mercury appears low in the southwest from about 15 minutes after sunset, with Venus remaining to its lower right throughout the month.

Telescopes are amazing tools. Not only do they allow us to see distant objects that lie beyond the reach of our eyes, but they can also reveal details on objects that would otherwise remain unseen. It’s no exaggeration to say that telescopes have literally revolutionized the way we look at the universe.

We’ve all seen them - an apparently random streak of light across the night sky that often vanishes as suddenly as it appears. Meteors, or shooting stars as they’re popularly known, are nothing more than tiny clumps of dust and rock particles, no larger than an apple seed, burning up in the Earth’s atmosphere at thousands of miles per hour.

We are pleased to announce the best telescopes for 2023! Each telescope was evaluated for its performance and value relative to its peers. The list we compiled contains some brand names we are all familiar with and others that you might not have heard of yet.

The number of inventions that have changed the world is staggering, but one, in particular, has been able to change our view of the world—literally. When humans had nothing but their eyes to use as stargazing tools, questions abounded. What are the stars? Where are we in the universe? What else is out there? What do the other planets look like?

Congratulations on purchasing Apertura Collimation Knobs for Celestron NexStar 130 SLT & StarSense Explorer 130AZ DX Telescopes. Get ready to improve your experience under the night sky by allowing for easier, tool-free collimation!

Neither Mercury nor Venus are visible this month, but Saturn can still be enjoyed for a few hours after sunset. You’ll find it above the southwestern horizon, with a first quarter Moon nearby on the 1st and a waxing crescent Moon close by on the 28th.

In essence, a nebula is a cloud of gas and dust in space; in fact, the word itself is derived from Latin and means “mist” or “cloud” - and when it comes to astronomy, there couldn’t be a more apt description. There are four primary types of nebulae: diffuse nebulae (or, simply nebulae), dark nebulae, planetary nebulae, and supernova remnants.