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ScopeTrader January 2026The January 2026 issue of ScopeTrader Astronomy Magazine takes a close and practical look at one of the more anticipated releases in recent months, the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro smart telescope.This issue is built around real world use, honest impressions, and astrophotos captured in the field, not marketing renders or spec sheet hype. If you are considering upgrading from an original Seestar, stepping into astronomy for the first time, or refining a portable imaging setup as a seasoned observer or astrophotographer, this is an issue you will want on your desk. We share hands on astrophotos taken with the Seestar S30 Pro and break down where it fits in todays smart telescope landscape. You will also find practical buying recommendations and pro tips aimed at helping readers decide if a smart telescope belongs in their workflow, travel kit, or outreach setup. Beyond smart telescopes, this issue tackles astrophotography burnout and how to rediscover motivation under the night sky. We explore portable astrophotography observatories that raise the bar for imaging efficiency and comfort. On the software side, we cover the latest DeepSkyStacker release with a focus on improved field reliability. Mount coverage includes a setup and safety guide for the MLAstro SAL 33 harmonic mount, a hands on look at the ClearSky ST 17 R harmonic mount, and an overview of a strain wave gear star tracker in the iOptron HST MiniTracker. We also highlight the launch of a new online astronomy store from OMI Astro. January 2026 sets the tone for a year focused on smarter gear, practical knowledge, and time spent under the stars. 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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