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DIY: Astronomy Projects & Guidance
Our Stairway to the Stars
Ever since we first became serious about astronomy more than 20 years ago, we dreamed of having our own backyard observatory.
Make Way for the LightBridge
Finally a mass-produced Dobsonian telescope with a truss-tube design — until now a feature found only on homemade and premium-priced commercial instruments.
Astronomy Online with Stuart Goldman
Floating Above Earth
A high schooler's software can enliven your Macintosh's desktop.
Astronomy Online with Stuart Goldman
Buffaloed from Observing
Back home from the range, Stuart Goldman is ready to process some vacation photos.
Equipment: Guides & Recommendations
S&T Test Report: Good Gets Better: Meade’s DSI II CCD Cameras
Meade’s original DSI cameras introduced in 2005 offered an unprecedented value for entry-level deep-sky digital imaging. Less than a year later they have been replaced with the DSI II models, which feature improved hardware and software. While the prices have increased, the new cameras still represent an unmatched value for…
Think Big (and Small)
My current observatory is a multilevel structure. It began as a plan to mount my telescopes on the roof of a small barn on the property.
How to Successfully Beat Atmospheric Seeing
"Seeing" — the atmospheric quivering that fuzzes out high-power views — is the bane of every telescope user. Here's how to minimize its impact.
SkyScout Hits the Street
The first production models of Celestron's SkyScout began shipping in July, and we had one in time to begin our testing late last month. Here's our first impression.
Telescopes: Guides & Recommendations
Take-Along Telescopes
Want a telescope to bring on your next vacation? Here are some things to consider when looking for a travel scope.
Choosing Your Astronomy Equipment
The Art of Using a Telescope
Congratulations — you've followed our advice and bought the telescope that's best for you. Now learn how to get the most out of it.
Choosing Your Astronomy Equipment
Testing Stargazing Binoculars
How do you choose the right binocular for stargazing? Here's our expert's easy-to-do, step-by-step test.
DIY: Astronomy Projects & Guidance
A Simple Home Observatory in Your Backyard
Size can be deceptive; this small home observatory is remarkably practical.
DIY: Astronomy Projects & Guidance
How to Care for Your Telescope Optics the Right Way
The mirror in your telescope will probably work fine with a bit of dust on it, but if it's really dirty, you may want to clean it — carefully!
Choosing Your Astronomy Equipment
What Are Celestial Coordinates?
"Right ascension" and "declination" tell you where your telescope is pointed in the sky. But what do they really mean?
Choosing Your Astronomy Equipment
Observing from the City
With the stars increasing being lost amid the light pollution of our urban areas, is there no hope for an astronomer in the city? Fortunately, there's still a lot of observing that can be done.
Telescopes: Guides & Recommendations
Optical Aberrations at the Telescope — And How to Avoid Them
Optical aberrations limit the performance of an eyepiece. Here are seven common problems, with solutions where applicable.
Telescopes: Guides & Recommendations
Common Telescope Magnification Myths
Answers to some of the most common misconceptions about telescope magnification.
DIY: Astronomy Projects & Guidance
My Place in the Dark
Twenty weekends and countless trips to the building-supplies store later, I'd done it — I had an observatory to call my own.
DIY: Astronomy Projects & Guidance
A Compact Backyard Observatory
A personal telescope shelter doesn't have to take up a lot of yard space.
