telescopes
Whenever you see a depiction of someone stargazing, they’re often either looking up with just their eyes or peering through a telescope. It seems as though we associate binoculars more with birding than with astronomy, and yet binoculars can be an extremely u...
Everyone wants to look at the stars. When you buy a telescope, chances are the purpose is for stargazing. Astronomy is thought of as a night-centered discipline, and to a large extent, it is. But by focusing solely on the planets and outer stars, we’re l...
Observatories are the second homes of many astronomers, and anyone with an interest in astronomy will find themselves in awe of these grand places. If you’ve never been to an observatory and don’t have one near you, you’re not doomed to miss out. Thank...
Mercury and Mars remain in the evening twilight and can be seen low over the western horizon from about 15 minutes after sunset. However, while Mercury reaches greatest elongation on the 9th, it then disappears around the 20th...
If you’re in the market for a solar filter, chances are you’ve noticed that there’s a variety of materials these are made in. Naturally, this begs the question - what, if anything, is the difference between these different filters? Is one material more...
If you’ve ever opened a brand new telescope, or read the manual for one, you’ll likely be familiar with the large stickers, notices, and paragraphs about how you should not point your telescope at the sun...
Mercury, Venus, and Mars each appear close to the star Regulus this month. Mars is closest on the 10th when about 0.8 degrees will separate them, with Venus being closest from the 14th to the 16th, with 3.5 degrees between them...
There is no doubt that the factory configuration of Apertura Dobsonian telescopes offers an incredible user experience. While this is true, we continued our quest to increase the ease of use and performance of this telescope - adding to the already wildly...
The Askar V Modular Refractor is Askar’s newest addition to their line of premium refractors. This refractor is special. It is an incredible and versatile option for those looking to shoot widefield astrophotos...
A new evolution of the RedCat series is here! The Redcat 61 is a petzval refractor designed specifically for astrophotography. William Optics led by example with the RedCat 51 and revolutionized astrophotography for all skill levels...
Askar recently reached out to us citing an issue with their highly anticipated Askar V telescope system. This relates to how the focuser operates, where it has been found that on some V telescopes, the dual-speed focus knob may ‘slip’ when a heavy loa...
Venus and Mars spend most of the month in Cancer. Mars appears near the center of the Beehive Cluster on the 2nd, while Venus will be closest on the 13th, but with the cluster low in the sky, its stars might prove difficult to spot...
You’re setting up for the night with your new telescope and you point it at the Moon. You’re dazzled by the views, but you also might notice something strange: the view is upside down! Why is that...
Telescopes are great for exploring the night sky, and while that might be your primary reason for buying one, you might also be wondering if you can use them during the daytime too. Maybe you’re into birding, live near the ocean or simply have a backyard o...
Get excited! On October 14, 2023, a solar eclipse will be visible over the United States for the first time since 2017. However, unlike the 2017 eclipse, this eclipse will be an annular eclipse (also known as a “ring of fire” eclipse)...