AR3590 moving across the Sun’s surface Keeping a close eye on the Sun’s surface! AR3590 captured with the Seestar – Gerald Grech The Sun captured with the Seestar – Gerald Grech Over the past few days, I have had the opportunity to closely observe the ever-changing surface of the sun through the ZWO Seestar S50. The activity on the Sun’s surface is making news and social media everywhere. I am keeping a close eye on it daily and as I see the drama unfolding, all the hype centres around the sunspot designated AR3590. Size comparison of Earth to the Sunspot – Graphic: Gerald Grech This one h ..read more

Zeroing a thermal scope guarantees that your shot will land where you are aiming. It is essential hunters enter the field, prepared with their scopes zeroed, to get the most accurate results. Keep reading to learn how to zero a thermal rifle scope. What is Zeroing Zeroing is the process of calibrating your scope so that the Point of Aim (POA) matches up with the Point of Impact (POI). The distance at which you are zeroing can vary, but most thermal scope on the market come with multiple zero profiles. This allows you to zero for multiple distances. Selecting a Target There are various tar ..read more

Celestron Origin – Photo Credit: Celestron The Future of Astrophotography The Celestron Origin – a revolutionary smart home observatory that reshapes astrophotography. This ingenious telescope captures breathtaking glimpses of elusive deep-sky objects and transmits them to your handheld device. Within seconds, you will find that you are seeing breathtaking images take form on your handheld device. Astrophotography has suddenly come into the realm of the beginner. In some cases, this telescope offers significantly better results than other telescopes. Celestron Origin Smart Telescope Photo c ..read more

Whether you are looking for a gift for someone dear to you or treating yourself to some of the best telescopes on the market for observing the moon, planets or galaxies and nebulas, this is the guide for you. Below is a table of the best telescopes recommended in every category listed! Table of Content: Best Children’s Telescope Best Beginner’s Telescope Best Budget Tracking Telescope Best Budget Planetary Visual Telescope Best Smart Telescope Best Travel-Friendly Planets Telescope Best GoTo/Computerised Telescope Best Eyepieces How to clean your telescope How to use the finderscope Summary o ..read more

IC434 Horsehead Nebula – Detail using a filter shows incredible detail Image: ZWO If you have a telescope and want to enhance your night-time observations, there are tools and techniques you can use. One approach involves using Astronomy filters, which are important accessories that can isolate specific wavelengths of light. This helps to reveal fainter deep-sky objects with greater clarity. Additionally, there are planetary filters available in various colours to assist in observing planets. For instance, using a #12 yellow filter enhances the view of Mars by improving the contrast between li ..read more

Introduction For archery enthusiasts, precision is key. Whether you’re a competitive archer or a bowhunter, having the right equipment can make all the difference in hitting your mark. One indispensable tool in your arsenal is a spotting scope. In this blog, we’ll delve into the importance of choosing the right spotting scope for archery, discussing key features and considerations to help you make an informed decision. The Role of a Spotting Scope in Archery Before we dive into selecting the ideal spotting scope, let’s understand its role in archery. A spotting scope is essentially a high-pow ..read more

(Captured by the James Webb Telescope) Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, M. Barlow (University College London), N. Cox (ACRI-ST), R. Wesson (Cardiff University) The James Webb Space Telescope recently captured some stunning photos of the Ring Nebula, which, to be honest, looks like a Heavenly donut having an identity crisis. This object boasts inner shades of blue and green, a detailed ring transitioning from orange to pink, and a smattering of distinct filament elements in its inner region. It’s as if the universe decided to flaunt its artistic side. Picture this: A star, feeling a tad dramatic as ..read more

Residents of Melbourne were woken up by a loud ‘boom’ around midnight last night. Was it a Meteor Over Melbourne? A loud ‘boom’ woke up Residents in Victoria last night around 12am. If you were lucky enough to be outside at the time, you would’ve seen the spectacle that caused it burning up in the night sky. But what caused it? According to experts, the ‘meteor’ wasn’t actually a meteor or a comet, and was probably just space junk that entered our atmosphere above Melbourne. Professor Alan Duffy, an Astronomer at Swinburne University, told 3AW that the space junk burnt up for 30 to 40 seconds ..read more

Check out the Solar System’s most beautiful planet at its closest distance to Earth The vastness of the Universe, let alone the Solar System has always fascinated me. From the constellations to the distant planets, there’s something magical about gazing up at the night sky. Among the celestial wonders, Saturn holds a special place in my heart. As a 5-year-old it was the first object I saw through my Father’s telescope. Its mesmerising rings and its moons have captured the imagination of generations, and witnessing Saturn in Opposition is an experience like no other. A Brief Encounter with Satu ..read more

On the 31st of August, 2023, we’ll experience a Blue Moon in Australia. But no – it won’t actually be blue. So what really is a Blue Moon? What is a Blue Moon? Contrary to popular belief, a ‘Blue Moon’ doesn’t actually mean the moon turns blue. The accurate, astronomical definition of a Blue Moon by NASA is the third full moon in a season of four full moons. This is known as the traditional definition of a Blue Moon. But I’m sure you’ve heard a Blue Moon be described as ‘the second full moon observed within a single calendar month’. Interestingly, this second definition is actually a common m ..read more