Are you intimidated by manual polar alignment? To be sure, computer-controlled, GPS-equipped telescopes have largely automated this task. But, like star-hopping, polar alignment is...
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An indispensable astronomy guide is making a comeback. Since 1974, Guy Ottewell has put out his annual Astronomical Calendar. Over 43 years, the Astronomical...
Looking for a gift for that special amateur astronomer in your life? Try these 12 items. ‘Tis the season. Amateur astronomers can be tricky...
Whether observing or photographing, most people start with the Moon. As the sky’s brightest target, the Moon holds up with simple techniques, including holding...
A great place for starting with your first telescope is a small refractor. While children of the 1970s like me remember flimsy toys with...
Public star parties – either formal organized gatherings or impromptu sidewalk affairs – are a great way to introduce the general public to the...
Living and observing on the U.S. East Coast, I’m no stranger to dealing with dew on optics. In fact, doing the Universe Today Virtual...
Why sometimes, the best magnification, is no magnification at all. Here’s a true story. The very first telescope I had as a kid –...
We’ve all been there. The telescope is set up, the target is aligned… and there’s a glaring light shining just beyond the view of...
Amateur astronomy isn’t an inherently dangerous pursuit. While it’s much safer than, say, rock climbing or scuba diving, one aspect of the field merits...