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ScopeTrader December 2025Got a new telescope, getting a new telescope, or already have one and just want some solid tips to get back into the groove. This is the issue for you. With the long nights of December settling in, this month's lineup is built to help beginners and longtime observers get more out of every clear night.We open with How to use your new telescope, a practical and friendly guide shaped from the editor's much larger project on helping readers feel confident with their equipment. It walks through the basics with patience and clarity. In Astrophotography, we look back at the Missouri aurora of November 2025, a rare event in the Midwest and a first attempt at capturing an unexpected burst of color close to home. Speaking of, our Cameras section takes a closer look at several new releases including the ASI585MM Air, the ASI4400MC Pro, and the Seestar binoculars, each offering new ways to explore the sky. In Software, we highlight the improvements in Scope Nights 2.6, which brings faster performance and better planning tools, the release of ASCOM Platform 7.1, and a straightforward method for collimating your telescope using an Aline with an iPhone or iPad. The Mounts section features two new harmonic drive options, the EZT Astro MEQ 17EX and the UMi 17X from Proxisky, both designed for smooth tracking in compact setups. In Smart Telescope, we take a first look at the lightweight Dwarf Mini, now open for preorder, and explore the smart telescope head fake, a grounded look at what these systems promise versus what they actually deliver. Our Reflecting Telescope section covers the RASA design, explaining why this fast optical system remains a favorite for deep sky imaging. In Accessories, we introduce the FlatMaster Neo 120, a retractable LED flat field panel designed for clean and consistent calibration frames. And in Observatory, we check on OMI Astro, whose remote telescopes are set for a new astrophotography season and ready for fresh data. A full month, a full sky, and an issue meant to help you enjoy all of it. Get more issues of ScopeTrader
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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
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