Welcome

AstroBackyard

• 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
• 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

NASA Solar System & Beyond

• Ahuachapán and Its Restive Neighbors May 5, 2026
  From a geothermal hotspot to the one-time “Lighthouse of the Pacific,” the heat is on beneath the volcanic landscape of western El Salvador.
• NASA Welcomes Ireland as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory May 4, 2026
  Ireland signed the Artemis Accords Monday during a signing ceremony hosted by NASA, becoming the latest nation to commit to the responsible exploration of space for all humanity. Ireland, a longstanding member of ESA (European Space Agency) and a valued international partner for NASA, now joins all 23 ESA member states as a signatory of […]
  Elizabeth Shaw
• NASA Fosters Development of Lunar Resource-Seeking Technologies May 4, 2026
  To support long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars, NASA and industry are developing technologies that can extract resources such as hydrogen and helium-3 from lunar soil, known as regolith. This capability, known as in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), allows explorers to use what is already available on other planetary bodies, from water ice to minerals. […]
  Loura Hall

Sky & Telescope

• Astronomers Find Atmosphere Around a Pluto-like World May 4, 2026
  Observations — including from an amateur astronomer — show that the Plutino 2002 XV93 has a thin wisp of air around it. The post Astronomers Find Atmosphere Around a Pluto-like World appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  Colin Stuart
• This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 1 – 9 May 1, 2026
  Venus hangs in place in the western twilight while Aldebaran and the Pleiades continue their downward slide behind it. And if Venus is the Evening Star, then bright Jupiter, high to its upper left, counts as the False Evening Star. The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 1 – 9 appeared first on […]
  Alan MacRobert
• Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Has Cold, Ancient Origins April 30, 2026
  The most recent interstellar visitor was crisscrossing our galaxy for some 10 to 12 billion years before it came near the Sun. The post Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Has Cold, Ancient Origins appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  Monica Young

Phil’s Astronomy Blog