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AstroBackyard

• Rediscover the Night Sky: 6 Things You’re Missing Because of Light Pollution April 13, 2026
  If you’ve ever stepped outside at night and looked up, it probably felt like you were seeing the night sky. A few bright stars,  maybe a familiar constellation or two, and that’s it.  For most people, that is the night sky they know, but it’s only a small fraction of what’s actually there. Over time,... […]
  Ashley Northcotte
• My Astrophotography Processing Workflow in PixInsight & Photoshop April 2, 2026
  In this guide, I’m going to walk you through my current astrophotography processing workflow from start to finish. The biggest thing I want you to take away isn’t just what tools to use, but when to use them. If you’re looking for a PixInsight processing tutorial that is actually easy to follow, this guide will... […]
  Trevor Jones
• The Best Weather Apps for Astronomy March 12, 2026
  A good weather app can save you a lot of frustration when you’re planning a night under the stars. The best weather apps for astronomy go beyond a basic clear-or-cloudy forecast, helping you check things like cloud cover, seeing, transparency, wind, humidity, and even smoke before you drag all your gear outside. If you spend... […]
  Trevor Jones

NASA Solar System & Beyond

• Fiery Fall Color in Southern Chile April 28, 2026
  The beech forests of southern Patagonia put on vibrant autumn displays.
• NASA’s X-59 Gets Freedom 250 Logo April 27, 2026
  NASA’s X-59 is helping the nation celebrate the 250th anniversary of its independence with an update to its livery – its official paint job and insignia. The one-of-a-kind research aircraft is the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst mission to demonstrate technology to fly supersonic, or faster than the speed of sound, without generating loud sonic booms. […]
  Monika Luabeya
• NASA’s Perseverance, Curiosity Panoramas Capture Two Sides of Mars April 27, 2026
  NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers have captured two 360-degree landscapes that highlight how the missions are revealing details of the Red Planet’s formation, watery past, and potential for life. Located 2,345 miles (3,775 kilometers) apart from each other on Mars — about the distance from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. — both rovers are exploring […]
  Naomi Hartono

Sky & Telescope

• Voyager 1 Shuts Down Another Instrument April 27, 2026
  Voyager 1, one of NASA’s longest continuously running interplanetary missions, had another instrument turned off last week, in an effort to keep the spacecraft operational. On April 17th, controllers turned […] The post Voyager 1 Shuts Down Another Instrument appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  David Dickinson
• How Tilted Orbits Impact Supermassive Black Hole Collisions April 27, 2026
  What factors impact how long it takes for a supermassive black hole binary to merge? The post How Tilted Orbits Impact Supermassive Black Hole Collisions appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  AAS Nova
• This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 24 – May 3 April 24, 2026
  The Moon occults Regulus in twilight or bright afternoon for most of North America. Venus lines up between Aldebaran and the Pleiades. Sirius nears its heliacal setting. The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, April 24 – May 3 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  Alan MacRobert

Phil’s Astronomy Blog