Archives

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

• Ever Restless Mount Dukono Erupts May 27, 2026
  The volcano on Indonesia’s Halmahera Island routinely ejects ash, volcanic gases, and volcanic bombs.
• NASA to Announce Artemis III Crew, Provide Mission Progress Update May 26, 2026
  NASA will provide an update on the agency’s Artemis III mission and announce the astronauts assigned to the test flight during a live event at 11 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 9, at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The event will stream on NASA+ and on the agency’s YouTube channel. Learn how to […]
  Jennifer M. Dooren
• NASA Astronauts to Answer Questions from Students in New York May 26, 2026
  Students in New York will hear from NASA astronaut Jessica Meir as she answers their prerecorded science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) questions while aboard the International Space Station. The Earth-to-space call will begin at 11:05 p.m. EDT Thursday, May 28, and will stream live on the agency’s Learn With NASA YouTube channel. This event […]
  Kaitlyn Adams

Sky & Telescope

• NASA's Psyche Sends Back Amazing Images of Mars May 26, 2026
  NASA’s Psyche asteroid mission made a course adjustment via a flyby past Mars en route to its final destination. Here's what it saw. The post NASA's Psyche Sends Back Amazing Images of Mars appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  David Dickinson
• This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 22 – 31 May 22, 2026
  Venus and Jupiter — the Evening Star and the False Evening Star — draw closer together in the western twilight and point down to Mercury. The waxing Moon shows off its rich telescopic detail. The post This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 22 – 31 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  Alan MacRobert
• Nereid Could be Neptune’s Only Original Moon May 22, 2026
  New research suggests that Triton — or a Triton-like object — might have disrupted Neptune's original moon system. Nereid might be the sole survivor. The post Nereid Could be Neptune’s Only Original Moon appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
  Javier Barbuzano

Phil’s Astronomy Blog