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The largest of all of the planets in the solar system, Jupiter shines brightly in the sky despite its distance.  Venus is the only planet constantly brighter than the gas giant, though at times Mars will give it a run for its money.  Part of this has to do with its size and composition, but […]

A year on Earth is approximately 365 days. Why is that considered a year? Well, 365 days is about how long it takes for Earth to orbit all the way around the Sun one time. All of the other planets in our solar system also orbit the Sun. So, how long is a year on

Jupiter presently has 79 known moons, out of which 53 have been named and the rest are awaiting their official names. Most of the moons of Jupiter are small, with about 60 of them being less than 6.2 miles in diameter. The number of moons changes fairly frequently as the telescope technology improves, with the

Your Newtonian reflector will give great images of stars and planets — but only as long as you keep it well tuned. The “tuning” of a telescope is known as collimation (also known as alignment). However, this supposed disadvantage can be reduced to a minor task if lining up the optical elements is approached logically

Ask amateur telescope users what’s the most beautiful thing in the sky, and lots of them will say Saturn. In fact many say their first sight of it was what turned them on to astronomy. Saturn looks starlike to the eye alone, but it shines steadily, as planets tend to do, and it has a

Saturn, second largest planet of the solar system in mass and size and the sixth nearest planet in distance to the Sun. In the night sky Saturn is easily visible to the unaided eye as a non-twinkling point of light.  When viewed through even a small telescope, the planet encircled by its magnificent rings is

The moon is the easiest celestial object to find in the night sky — when it’s there. Earth’s only natural satellite hovers above us bright and round until it seemingly disappears for a few nights.  The brightest and largest object in our night sky, the Moon makes Earth a more livable planet by moderating our

Your own backyard will do just fine. Then, as you gain experience, escape from city lights into the darkness of the countryside. While you can enjoy a good view from almost anywhere, not all spots are well-suited for stargazing. In fact, a mediocre vantage point can make it hard if not impossible to identify some

At night time, there are millions of tiny sparkling lights in the sky, some are stars and some others are planets.It is essential to know the key differences between Stars and Planets as they are both celestial bodies located in outer space.But how is it possible for someone looking at them to differentiate between two

“What kind of telescope should I buy?” “How much should I spend on my first telescope?” “What are the differences between Dobsonians and Newtonians; reflectors and refractors?” If these are the questions that you have been asking yourself lately then Congratulations! You have landed at the right place. These are some of the most common

The universe is certainly a fascinating place to study. Scientists have discovered ice-spewing volcanoes on Pluto, while Mars is home to a truly “grand” canyon the size of the United States. There may even be a giant, undiscovered planet lurking somewhere beyond Neptune. Beyond our solar system lie innumerable stars, planets, black holes, and many

If you’re keen to get into Astronomy, you’re participating in one of the oldest human traditions. Countless wonders await you on any clear night. The first step in astronomy for beginners is simply to look up and ask, “What’s that?” Begin gazing at the stars from your backyard, and you’ll be taking the first step

To begin looking for objects in the heavens, you’ll need to know where north, south, east and west are. Make a note of where the sun rises (east) and sets (west), use Google maps or use the compass on your phone.  Key Takeaways: Download a free astronomy app like Stellarium to your phone & computer.