Subscribers, please Login to read now. Don't have a subscription to the best Astronomy gear & news magazine on the planet? Get instant access to this issue with your subscription. |
ScopeTrader December 2024The December 2024 issue offers an exciting lineup of articles, reviews, and features for astronomy enthusiasts!The cover story, What Was the Star of Bethlehem?, by Dr. Richard Hammar, is a thought-provoking exploration of this ancient mystery, combining historical accounts with astronomical analysis. This must-read article stands out as a centerpiece of the issue. In the telescopes section, the TEC 140 F9.6 Fluorite Doublet is announced, showcasing its innovative design and optics. Reviews include the SkyWatcher HAC1 125 telescope paired with the AstroStation ASIAir alternative and a comparison of smart telescopes Seestar S30 vs. Seestar S50. Astrophotographers will appreciate insights into the Svbony SV550 and updates to the Seestar S50's mosaic mode. There's also a fascinating study on how dust particle accumulation affects imaging. Camera enthusiasts will enjoy reviews of the ATR2600C from ToupTek Astro and the QHY miniCAM8, which brings advanced cooling and compact performance. In the mounts category, highlights include the Proxisky UMi 20S strain wave gear equatorial mount and a DIY harmonic mount for budget-conscious astrophotographers. Solar observers can read about Sky-Watcher's Heliostar 76mm H-Alpha solar telescope, while binocular fans will find specs on the Sky Rover Optics 12x56 and 15x56 APO models. For refractor users, the Askar SQA106 and William Optics RedCat 91 WIFD are covered in detail. In software, the ASCOM Platform 7.0 Update 2 and OpenLiveStacker's beta-testing call are featured. Accessories like Astro-Smart's CDA-R dew controllers and Rouz Astro's carbon fiber dew shields are also reviewed. From NASA's exploration of moons with oceans to string theory updates, the astronomy section rounds out this packed issue, ensuring there's something for everyone passionate about the cosmos. Get more issues of ScopeTrader
|
Latest Video
AM7 Mount Replaces CGX-L
Recent Topics
Astronomy Picture of the Day
2026-04-07
IC 4592: The Blue Horsehead Reflection Nebula
Image Credit: Rabeea Alkuwari
Do you see the horse's head? What you are seeing is not the famous Horsehead nebula toward Orion, but rather a fainter nebula that only takes on a familiar form with deeper imaging. The main part of the here-imaged molecular cloud complex is reflection nebula IC 4592. Reflection nebulas are made up of very fine dust that normally appears dark but can look quite blue when reflecting the visible light of energetic nearby stars. In this case, the source of much of the reflected light is a star at the eye of the horse. That star is part of Nu Scorpii, one of the brighter star systems toward the constellation of the Scorpion (Scorpius). A second reflection nebula dubbed IC 4601 is visible surrounding two stars just below the image center. The featured picture was taken from Sawda Natheel in Qatar. Jigsaw Nebula: Astronomy Puzzle of the Day
Featured Stories
Seeing color clearly with color science tools
Thursday, March 26, 2026
_uo0fbvpz.jpg "Galaxies previously unseen discovered with help from physicist")
Galaxies previously unseen discovered with help from physicist
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
ASCOM Platform 7.1 Update 2 Released
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Astro Weather Station by Astro-Smart launches
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Planet and moon image stacking gets easier with LuckyStackWorker 7
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
AstroFiler 1.2 Calibration Automation Update
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
DeepSkyStacker new release focuses on field reliability
Friday, December 12, 2025
Stay Updated
Sign up for our newsletter for the headlines delivered to youSuccessFull SignUp
Get More Astronomy News →