Welcome

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

• Fighting Fire With Fire June 5, 2026
  In fire-prone ecosystems in Australia’s Northern Territory, prescribed burns are lit to minimize the severity of fires later in the season.
• NASA Hosts 2026 Review on Advanced Composite Manufacturing June 4, 2026
  NASA’s Hi-Rate Composite Aircraft Manufacturing (HiCAM) project brought together its full team of Advanced Composites Consortium partners for a 2026 spring review at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.   The meeting took place May 5-7, bringing together about 150 people from the consortium, a 22-member public-private partnership.   The review gave NASA and industry partners a chance to look at recent progress and […]
  Joseph Atkinson
• NASA-Funded Study Shows Wildfire Smoke’s Hidden Ozone Toll June 4, 2026
  Over the last decade, wildfires have worsened ground-level ozone pollution across much of the contiguous United States, creating unhealthy air far from active flames.

Sky & Telescope

• This Week's Sky at a Glance, June 5 – 14 June 5, 2026
  Bright Venus and Jupiter pass through conjunction in twilight this week, while Mercury, Pollux, and Castor watch them from nearby. The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, June 5 – 14 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  Alan MacRobert
• Auroras May Dance Over the U.S. Thursday Night, June 4-5 June 5, 2026
  Multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs) could spark a significant auroral display over North America Thursday night. The post Auroras May Dance Over the U.S. Thursday Night, June 4-5 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  Bob King
• Venus, Jupiter Converge in Stunning June 9th Dusk Conjunction June 3, 2026
  A beautiful conjunction is coming, and all you need are your eyes to enjoy it. The post Venus, Jupiter Converge in Stunning June 9th Dusk Conjunction appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  Bob King

Phil’s Astronomy Blog