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ScopeTrader June 2025For June's feature, we dive into the story of Tom Osypowski, an amateur astronomer whose innovations have transformed Dobsonian telescope tracking. From building his first Equatorial Platform in 1984 to leading advancements that support modern astrophotography, Tom's journey is a powerful example of how curiosity and hands-on experimentation can drive true progress. His work blends mechanical precision with astronomical passion, offering a blueprint for what's possible when dedication meets design.We also spotlight new gear shaking up the scene, like the ARTEC Astrograph Series by Artesky, delivering performance and design precision for serious imagers. In mounts, the McGill EQ Mode Kit unlocks Equatorial-style tracking for the Seestar S50 and S30, while ScopeBits' new ClickStar Controller promises refined pointing and automation for custom builds. Smart telescopes continue to surge, and we dig into the details, from early specs on the Seestar S30 Pro, to practical tutorials on image processing, to an overview of why these AI-powered scopes are gaining ground. Meanwhile, solar astronomy enters a bold new phase as the world's largest solar telescope captures its first light, hinting at discoveries to come. In the realm of software, we cover everything from free astrophotography tools worth adding to your kit, to an Origin Live View setup guide for Stellarium. TEC's new website launch also marks a modern refresh for one of astronomy's most respected telescope makers. Filter tests and imaging accessories get their moment, too, the SV260 light pollution filter faces real-world skies, the Wanderer ETA M54 brings automatic tilt correction to the field, and PrimaLuceLab's GIOTTO flat field generator earns its spot in the calibration toolkit. We even explore a fluid tripod head option for Seestar users: the TH10, made for portable precision. Our astronomy section strips things back to the basics: why visual observing needs no autofocus, just your eyes and a scope, and what it means when we ask, 'Do galaxies spin?' With MSRAL 2025 registration now open and the Blue Quartz Star Party around the corner, it's the season to gather, learn, and share the sky. Whether you're attending events, upgrading gear, or chasing photons from your backyard, this issue keeps you connected to every wavelength of the hobby. 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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