Inside the December 2025 Issue

By: The Editors of Sky & Telescope November 26, 2025 0

Cruise the Eridanus Constellation, Care for Your Cat, and Tour Three New Chilean Observatories

In the December 2025 issue of Sky & Telescope, we cruise down Eridanus, the Celestial River. Come tour its deep-sky sites with us and our cats. Schmidt-Cassegrains require special care, so use our guide to keep your telescope operating at peak performance. Thankfully, it’s a lot easier to maintain your SCT than it was to repair Hubble after it launched, but it’s thanks to those repairs that that mighty telescope was able to capture the first deep-field image and change astronomy forever. Join us in learning about the events that led to the capture of this historic image. Plus, we have eyes on three more up-and-coming observatories that are getting ready for their night in the starlight, high atop Chile’s desert mountains. Join Contributing Editor Govert Schilling as he gets up close and personal with these enormous scopes.

FEATURE ARTICLES:

Hubble’s First Home Run

Thirty years ago this month, the Hubble Space Telescope stared at an empty patch of sky. What it found changed astronomy – and the people who made it happen.

By N. G. Boeck

A Celestial River Cruise

The long, southern constellation of Eridanus is awash with deep-sky gems.

By Ted Forte

Chile’s New Eyes on the Skies

With three new observatories, Chile maintains its title as the world’s astronomy capital.

By Govert Schilling

Aryabhata Deciphers the Heavens

Centuries ago, an Indian astronomer set in motion the wheels of a scientific revolution.

By Ajay P. Manuel

Caring for Your Cat

Here’s how to keep your SCT at peak performance.