If you’ve ever tried wearing glasses while looking through a telescope, you know it can be a bit… awkward. So maybe you’ve asked yourself: Do I even need to wear them during my observing sessions? The answer depends on what … Read more
It has come to my attention that some people are asking Google the following question: “Can Earth be seen without a telescope?” And over twice as many people are asking the question: “Can Earth be seen at night without a … Read more
Whether you’re just curious or trying to settle a bet, you’re here because you want to know how many planets there are. The answer is… complicated. It depends on whether you’re only looking at our solar system or the observable … Read more
We live in a world full of lights. Nighttime never truly arrives when we’re surrounded by bright headlights, streetlights, smartphones, and more. So although our eyes are equipped with an incredible ability to adapt to the dark, we rarely experience … Read more
There are countless nebulas in the sky, and each one is amazing in its own way. Although they’re fairly dim when seen from Earth, telescopes can pull in enough light to allow us to see these distant space-clouds. But if … Read more
The Big Dipper is not a constellation. For that matter, Orion’s Belt isn’t a constellation. Neither are the bright Summer Triangle or Winter Triangle. So if they aren’t constellations, what in the George Ellery Hale are they? Asterisms! These examples … Read more
If you want to calculate the magnification of your telescope, you’re in luck: It’s a surprisingly simple formula. In fact, as we’ll see in a moment, your telescope is actually capable of many different magnifications, by combining it with different … Read more
We all know about the Great Red Spot. This dark, blood-red patch has an imposing presence in Jupiter’s atmosphere. Well… that’s not exactly true. The Great Red Spot (or GRS) is a storm, and storms change over time. The color … Read more