
Stargazing Forecast: Will You Have Clear Skies Tonight?
These websites and apps can help you forecast the astronomical observing conditions for your next night out.

Choosing Your Astronomy Equipment
Astronomy for Beginners: How to Get Started in Backyard Astronomy
Astronomy doesn't deserve its reputation as a tough, expensive hobby. You just need to begin with the right advice.

Stargazing Simplified: What to See in the Night Sky
Learn some of the classic stargazing sights that can be best viewed through a smaller telescope.

Ultimate Guide to Meteor Showers in 2017
Everyone enjoys the brief and sometimes dazzling streaks of light from meteors, sometimes called "shooting stars." Sky & Telescope predicts that the two best meteor showers in 2017 will be the Quadrantids in early January and the Geminids in mid-December.

Stargazer's Corner: Adventures Under the Night Sky
Sketching Celestial Observations
Why, and how, you should sketch your observations through a telescope.

Explore the Night with Bob King
Tips for a Successful Star Party
Planning a sidewalk stargazing event? Here are a few suggestions to make sure people walk away smiling.

Some Pointers on Using Laser Pointers
Many stargazers use handheld laser pointers to show the way to stars and constellations. But these devices can be dangerous if used carelessly. Here are some tips on how to avoid trouble.

Explore the Night with Bob King
Watch Andromeda Galaxy Blossom in Binoculars
How much can you see of the Andromeda Galaxy system with just a pair of binoculars? Turns out a lot!

Astrophotography: Tips & Techniques
Observing with Astro Video Cameras
Video can boost your telescope’s reach by leaps and bounds.

Binoculars for Astronomy: Ultimate Guide to Selecting and Buying
Ordinary binoculars are your ideal "first telescope." And they're so versatile that even seasoned stargazers find them indispensable.

Explore the Night with Bob King
How Many Pleiades Can YOU See?
Most of us are familiar with the Seven Sisters, but have you met their brothers? Learn how to find more Pleiades than first meet the eye.

New Telescope? Learn How to Use a Telescope and See Amazing Sights
Thousands of telescopes are given and received as gifts during the holidays. But once you've assembled your new treasure, then what? The editors of Sky & Telescope show you where to look first.

Viewing Saturn: The Planet, Rings and Moons
Viewing Saturn is an old favorite for every telescope user. Here's a guide to seeing all that you can see on the ringed planet.
Don't Miss the Brightest Objects in the Night Sky
The night's six or seven brightest objects are all visible simultaneously in late February and early March.

Stargazing with Early Astronomer Galileo Galilei
When Galileo Galilei first turned a telescope to the heavens four centuries ago, he discovered amazing things — and you can follow in his footsteps.

DIY: Astronomy Projects & Guidance
Dealing With Dew: Dew Heaters, Dew Shields and More
How to keep your optics dry and clear even on the dampest, dewiest nights.

Choosing Your Astronomy Equipment
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.

111 Deep Sky Wonders for Light-Polluted Skies
Bright skies aren't empty skies. See for yourself how many treasures lie hidden in the glow of a city sky.

Gauging Light Pollution: The Bortle Dark-Sky Scale
Excellent? Typical? Urban? Use this nine-step scale to rate the sky conditions at any observing site.