All articles tagged with #telescopes
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a $4 billion infrared observatory built to probe dark energy and exoplanets, has been moved to Florida for final assembly and testing ahead of its planned launch, marking a major milestone for next-generation space astronomy.
An asteroid the size of a blue whale will pass about 56,500 miles from Earth tonight (roughly 24% of the Earth–Moon distance), but it wasn’t discovered until roughly a week ago because key radar facilities are down after Arecibo’s collapse and ongoing Goldstone repairs; only about 1% of Earth-skimming asteroids this size get flagged, even as surveys like Vera Rubin Observatory discover thousands of new objects, highlighting gaps in our planetary defense.
Vaonis has unveiled two new smart telescopes, the Vespera III and Vespera Pro 2, featuring sharper optics and upgraded sensors to improve color contrast, reduce chromatic aberration, and deliver edge-to-edge sharpness for astrophotography. The Vespera III uses a Sony IMX585 8.5MP sensor with a 50 mm aperture and offers up to 11 hours of battery and 115 GB of internal storage; the Pro 2 packs a higher‑resolution Sony IMX676 12.5MP sensor with 225 GB storage. Both models share a 245 mm focal length, include a tall aluminum tripod, add a humidity sensor with an anti‑fog system, and upgrade to USB‑C for faster file transfers. They are priced at $2,490 and $2,990 and are available now from BH Photo & Video and other retailers, continuing Vaonis’ push toward automated alignment, tracking and smartphone-based imaging for enthusiasts and beginners.
ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer fires four lasers into the Tarantula Nebula to create artificial guide stars, helping compensate for Earth's atmosphere with adaptive optics and sharpen distant space images; the Tarantula Nebula sits about 160,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, and this highlights laser guide star technology as a growing tool in astronomy.
Canada is proposing the POET mission, a microsatellite survey targeting ultracool dwarfs (the galaxy’s smallest, dimmest stars) to detect Earth-sized exoplanets (1–2.5 R⊕) via transits. By focusing on about 100–300 nearby stars from a larger catalog and using a 20 cm telescope across multiple wavelengths, POET aims for a one-year observing campaign that could deliver higher sensitivity than earlier missions and enable atmospheric studies and biosignature checks on newly found worlds.
Live Science’s April 2026 stargazing gear guide suggests the best cameras, binoculars, and telescopes to enjoy this month’s sky events, including the Full Pink Moon, the Lyrid meteor shower, and two bright comets (C/2026 A1 MAPS and C/2025 R3 PanSTARRS). It highlights a dark-sky window around the new moon on April 17 for deep-sky observing and astro-photography, and offers practical gear picks and tips for lunar, planetary, and galaxy observing.
Live Science highlights a spring galaxy season with seven top deep-sky targets to observe: Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) with its companion NGC 5195; Bode’s Galaxy (M81) and the Cigar Galaxy (M82); Pinwheel Galaxy (M101); the Leo Triplet (M65, M66, NGC 3628); the Whale and Hockey Stick (NGC 4631 and NGC 4656); Markarian’s Chain in the Virgo/Coma region; and the Sombrero Galaxy (M104). The piece notes this is a prime time for galaxy hunting, recommends using a GoTo or smart telescope to ease finding faint targets, and mentions the Messier Marathon as a spring observing challenge, with dark skies and a bit of patience yielding dramatic views even from modest gear.
Live Science highlights early deals in Amazon's Spring Sale 2026 for stargazing gear, including telescopes, binoculars and astrophotography cameras, with notable discounts on models like Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ, NexStar Evolution 9.25, SkyMaster binoculars and Sony A7R V; the sale runs March 25–31, 2026, with editors tracking deals across retailers.
Space.com’s premium skywatching gear guide for 2026 highlights high-end, automation-rich equipment—from image-stabilized binoculars (Canon 18x50 IS UD; Fujifilm TS-L 16x40; Canon 10x42 L IS WP) to smart telescopes (Unistellar Envision, eVscope 2, Odyssey Pro, Vaonis Vespera Pro, Celestron Origin Mark II) and GoTo mounts (Celestron StarSense DX 130AZ, Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi, Benro Polaris Astro)—emphasizing how better optics and software let you find, capture, and share celestial targets, albeit at premium prices.
Jupiter will be at its brightest and most spectacular in 2026 during opposition on January 10, when it appears larger and brighter in the night sky, especially in the constellation Gemini, offering a great opportunity for observation with telescopes and the naked eye.
This article suggests that during Christmas, individuals should consider self-gifting high-quality outdoor and astronomy gear like binoculars, telescopes, and cameras, emphasizing the importance of choosing items that suit personal needs and preferences for long-term enjoyment.
Comet 3I/ATLAS, discovered in July 2025, reached its closest point to Earth last night and is now moving away. It can be viewed via a live webcast or with backyard telescopes, though it appears as a tiny star-like point at magnitude 11. The comet offers a rare opportunity to observe an interstellar object, with additional images released by NASA from the Europa Clipper spacecraft.
The article highlights the top 10 stargazing deals available during Prime Day, featuring tested and highly rated products like telescopes, binoculars, and star projectors, curated by experts including Kimberley Lane, an experienced astrophotography enthusiast.
Michigan's largest annual star party, hosted by the Great Lakes Association of Astronomy Clubs, will take place at Island Lake Recreation Area, featuring over 50 telescopes, expert speakers including Brother Guy Consolmagno, and activities aimed at engaging all ages in astronomy and STEM education.
Scientists have developed a new protocol using the Gran Telescopio de Canarias to identify supernovae within hours of explosion, enabling detailed early observations that can reveal crucial information about the star's structure and explosion mechanics. This method involves specific criteria to distinguish young supernovae from other transient objects, and the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory will further enhance early detection capabilities, potentially allowing routine observation of supernovae within 24 hours of explosion.