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AstroBackyard

• Askar SQA130 Review: Is This the Ultimate Backyard Astrograph? June 29, 2026
  Last updated: June 29, 2026. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. The Askar SQA130 is the largest telescope in Askar’s SQA (super quintuplet astrograph) series, and one I was especially excited to test. As a refractor fan, getting to test one with a healthy 130mm... […]
  Trevor Jones
• 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

NASA Solar System & Beyond

Sky & Telescope

• NASA Announces Four New Lunar Lander Missions for 2028 July 1, 2026
  NASA has awarded contracts to three aerospace companies for four lunar landers to launch in 2028. The post NASA Announces Four New Lunar Lander Missions for 2028 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  David Dickinson
• July Podcast: Spotlight on Spica July 1, 2026
  This month’s episode highlights the bright star Spica, now prominent high in the southwest after evening twilight. It’s leading the parade of constellations, along with the brilliant planet Venus, that will grace the Northern Hemisphere’s summer skies. You'll also get to know other brights stars in Spica’s vicinity, along with excellent tips on how to […]
  J. Kelly Beatty
• Vera C. Rubin Observatory Begins Its Long-Awaited All-Sky Survey June 30, 2026
  The telescope should spot billions of astronomical objects in the next 10 years. The post Vera C. Rubin Observatory Begins Its Long-Awaited All-Sky Survey appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  Hannah Richter

Phil’s Astronomy Blog