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AstroBackyard

• I Captured The Same Nebula with a DSLR, Astro Camera, & Smart Telescope May 23, 2026
  Recently, I captured the same deep-sky object using three very different camera systems. A full-frame mirrorless DSLR-style astrophotography setup. A dedicated astronomy camera rig with autoguiding. And a smart telescope that handled almost everything on its own. The target was the Elephant’s Trunk Nebula, a beautiful emission nebula in the constellation Cepheus. Each setup collected... […]
  Trevor Jones
• ToupTek StellaVita Review: Better Than Ever, But Not Perfect May 15, 2026
  The ToupTek StellaVita is a control box that can run an entire astrophotography setup from your phone or tablet.   It supports a wide range of cameras and accessories, so you’re not locked into a single ecosystem, and that alone makes it one of the more interesting alternatives to systems like the ASIAIR.   After... […]
  Trevor Jones
• Dark Sky Camping: RV Lighting Etiquette and Setup April 28, 2026
  Dark sky camping has become a big part of how we travel. Whether we’re heading to a remote site or setting up at a star party, the goal is always the same: get away from artificial light and experience the night sky the way it’s meant to be seen. What we’ve learned, though, is that... […]
  Ashley Northcotte

NASA Solar System & Beyond

• World Cup Fever in Guadalajara June 12, 2026
  The city’s metro area has pushed westward since it last hosted World Cup matches in 1986, expanding across a landscape shaped by ancient volcanoes.
• NASA Award Boosts Space Technology Research Capabilities June 11, 2026
  NASA is introducing a new funding opportunity to accelerate academic research and technology development. The Minority University Research and Education Project Space Technology Artemis Research (M‑STAR) application window opened Thursday and will remain open through 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Aug. 11. The research funded through this award supports the agency’s priorities for exploring the […]
  Sandra May
• NASA’s Chandra Discovers Possible Supernova Remnant in Galactic Center June 11, 2026
  Using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, astronomers may have found a supernova remnant in an intriguing neighborhood in the middle of our galaxy. A paper describing these new findings published in The Astrophysical Journal. Supernova remnants are the expanding remains of exploded stars and provide elements – like iron, oxygen, and silicon – that […]

Sky & Telescope

• This Week's Sky at a Glance, June 12 – 21 June 12, 2026
  The three planets in the western twilight are pulling away from each other now. On Wednesday, the Moon will occult Venus in daylight. The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, June 12 – 21 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  Alan MacRobert
• Revival of Australia’s Molonglo Radio Telescope June 11, 2026
  Australia's Molonglo Observatory was saved from retirement; now, it holds the promise of future radio observations. The post Revival of Australia’s Molonglo Radio Telescope appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  Govert Schilling
• Meet Callisto, Jupiter's Ancient Moon June 10, 2026
  Meet Callisto, the heavily cratered moon that's the most distant of the Galilean satellites from Jupiter. The post Meet Callisto, Jupiter's Ancient Moon appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  Daniel Johnson

Phil’s Astronomy Blog