Is there anything better than stepping outside on a clear night and seeing the sky come alive with color? The greens, pinks, and purples that ripple across the horizon – the northern lights, or aurora borealis, are putting on a show. Auroras happen when charged particles from the Sun interact with gases in Earth’s atmosphere,…
Last updated: February 25, 2026. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. After using the Seestar S30 Pro extensively in my backyard for more than a month, I’ve developed a solid feel for what it can and can’t do. Galaxies, Nebulae, the Sun, EQ mode, Timelapses…
I recently took on a fun backyard challenge: photographing the Fox Face Nebula (NGC 1788) using the William Optics UltraCat 76. It’s not a target you hear about very often, and that’s exactly what drew me to it. While Orion is packed with famous, high-contrast objects, this one tends to fly under the radar, especially…
Last updated: July 16, 2026. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. The ZWO ASI585MC Air is a compact, self-contained smart astrophotography camera that replaces the usual laptop, controller, and cable mess with a single, lightweight unit you control from your phone or tablet. This is…
Last updated: July 25, 2026. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. Over the past few months, I have been testing the DWARF mini smart telescope from the backyard and at a dark-sky site. This smart telescope is currently the world’s smallest, weighing just 840 grams. …
Have you ever wondered if you could contribute to exploring the universe? Citizen science in astronomy allows anyone, no matter their experience, to contribute to real scientific research. From discovering comets to tracking light pollution, amateurs play a vital role in helping scientists study the cosmos. Today, online tools and accessible equipment make it easier…
Many people recognize nebulae as the bright, colorful clouds seen in images like the Orion Nebula, but not all nebulae emit or reflect light. Some are made of dense dust that block the starlight behind them, appearing as dark patches or shapes against the brighter regions of the Milky Way. These are dark nebulae. To…
Last updated: November 4, 2025. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. My latest photo of the Andromeda Galaxy is my best effort yet. I have been taking deep-sky astrophotography images for almost 15 years now, and this might be my favorite photo of space I’ve…
Last updated: July 21, 2026. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. Smart telescopes are revolutionizing amateur astronomy by enabling ordinary people to capture incredible images of space without prior astrophotography experience. These systems combine modern camera sensor technology with computerized tracking platforms to deliver impressive…
Last Updated October 2, 2025 The Witch Head Nebula is a faint reflection nebula in the constellation Eridanus, bordering Orion. Its appearance resembles the side profile of a Witch’s face, complete with a long nose and pointy chin. The dusty areas of this nebula are lit by the nearby star Rigel, a Blue-White Supergiant Star. Radio…
This summer, we traded in our usual short camping trips for a big adventure: three weeks on the road to Newfoundland. We drove more than 6,000 KM (3,728 miles), stayed at 12 campgrounds, hiked trails, worked from the road, visited breweries, and explored new cities – all with Rudy in tow. This was…
Last Updated September 28, 2025 I recently assembled a budget astrophotography rig to capture deep-sky objects in my backyard. While I knew this system would be very capable, I was astonished by the quality of the pictures I took with it. Astrophotography (and photography in general) can be an expensive hobby, with high-end equipment often…