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Dark Nebulae, Budget Cuts, and Teenage Solar Systems
In the August 2026 issue of Sky & Telescope, grab your binoculars for a tour of the darkest parts of the Milky Way. Then, we’ll swap over to our color cameras to capture some exquisite narrowband images with dual-bandpass filters. While we’re snapping up nebulae and galaxies, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array is tracking down young planetary systems to find out how they develop during their “teenage years.” Finally, in consideration of this month’s total solar eclipse over Spain, we study the story behind the photo of another Spanish eclipse that changed solar science forever.
FEATURE ARTICLES:
Dark Clouds of the Summer Milky Way
Grab your binoculars and track down these elusive, velvety “voids” in the sky.
By Akarsh Simha
How One Year Changed Space Science in America
Skeletal budgets, grant cancellations, and workforce reductions dominated 2025. Will history repeat itself in 2026?
By Hannah Richter
Narrowband Imaging with Color Cameras
Dual-bandpass filters open up new opportunities for astrophotographers with color detectors.
By Ron Brecher
Snapshots of young planetary systems are filling in our picture of what happens as these systems develop.
By Meredith Hughes
De la Rue and the Eclipse of 1860
On August 12, 2026, the daytime sky above the Spanish town of Rivabellosa will fall dark — just as it did on July 18, 1860.
By Colin Stuart
Beyond the Printed Page:
Learn more about this month’s total solar eclipse.
Build your own PiFinder.
Discover the truth behind the six flashes witnessed by the crew of Artemis 2.
See the stars from anywhere at any time of day.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
This celestial beast was the product of radical transformations.
By Stephen James O’Meara
Mercury and Jupiter Meet at Dawn
The solar system’s innermost planet has a busy month with several interesting conjunctions.
By Gary Seronik
Observers have a full slate of celestial excitement this month.
By Bob King
This year offers ideal conditions for photographing the Perseid meteor shower.
By Alan Dyer
Table of Contents
See what else August’s issue has to offer.
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