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25 dark skies astronomy news items found

Seestar S30 Pro review: Upgrade or not

Anyone else love the classic rock sound of the band Journey? As a musician and singer myself, in my opinion, Steve Perry and his vocals on Don't Stop Believing are just plain incredible, and for a long time they felt untouchable. Then there is Deen Castronovo. Most people know him as Journeys drummer, but fewer have actually heard him sing. The first time you do, it...

The astronomical observatories in Chile

High in the Chilean Andes, beneath some of the darkest skies on Earth, world-leading observatories are reshaping our understanding of the universe - each in their own unique way. I had the amazing opportunity travel to Chile as an ACEAP Ambassador. The Astronomical Observatories in Chile (above) The Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassador Program (ACEAP) is a colla...

Texas Star Party 2026

Registration for the 2026 Texas Star Party is open, and if you have been waiting for a clean excuse to get your gear under genuinely dark skies, this is it. Texas Star Party 2026 runs May 10 through May 17, 2026 at Prude Ranch in Fort Davis, Texas, and you can register at texasstarparty.org while picking lodging and add on options. I have watched a lot of events over...

Seestar S30 Pro is here and we have astrophotos to share

Anyone else love the classic rock sound of the band Journey? As a musician and singer myself, in my opinion, Steve Perry and his vocals on Don't Stop Believing are just plain incredible, and for a long time they felt untouchable. Then there is Deen Castronovo. Most people know him as Journeys drummer, but fewer have actually heard him sing. The first time you do, it...

Star tracker with a strain wave gear in Optron HST MiniTracker

iOptron has introduced a new strain wave gear approach to sky tracking with the HST MiniTracker. Just as jet engines revolutionized aviation by packing far more power into a compact form, strain wave gears have transformed modern astronomy - first in high-end GOTO mounts, and now, finally, in ultra-portable sky trackers as well. The HST MiniTracker is designed with this...

Pleiades star cluster meets Supermoon in the night sky

You can observe a unique celestial pairing as the Pleiades star cluster aligns closely with the full Moon, commonly referred to as a supermoon. This alignment offers a distinctive visual contrast between the bright lunar surface and the faint blue stars of the cluster. The event provides a natural opportunity for both amateur and professional astronomers to observe and ...

Astronomy in November 2025

This month offers a bit of everything: a once-in-a-lifetime interstellar visitor passing through, a brilliant supermoon lighting up the sky, two bright comets fading out after their October glory, planets dancing in interesting ways, and even a couple of meteor showers (plus the promise of the auroras glimmering for those far north). It&rsq...

43rd annual Deep South Star Gaze event

The Deep South Star Gaze, one of the oldest continuous star parties in the United States, is preparing for its 43rd consecutive gathering. Since its first event in 1983, the star gaze has brought together amateur astronomers and enthusiasts for a week of dark skies, shared observations, and community. It has not missed a year, making it the nation’s longest-runnin...

Reflect Orbital satellites could roast the night sky!

Are you kidding me? As if the ever-growing wall of light pollution from every city, streetlight, and LED billboard wasn’t already bad enough, now we’ve got a startup that wants to beam sunlight back down to Earth at night. Reflect Orbital - backed by Sequoia Capital and Baiju Bhatt, no less - wants to fill the sky with thousands of satellites th...

Under One Sky 2025 DarkSky event details

Under One Sky 2025 is DarkSky International’s annual global conference focused on light pollution, night sky preservation, and the impact of artificial lighting on ecosystems and human health. The event will take place virtually over 24 continuous hours on November 7–8, providing access to participants across time zones. Structured around regional session...

Australians urged to sign petition EN7346 on light pollution

Australia has some of the best skies in the world. Astronomers there have long enjoyed views that many others can only dream of. Yet those skies are not guaranteed. Artificial light at night, what the experts call ALAN, is steadily spreading across cities, towns, and countrysides. It does more than hide the Milky Way. It strains our health, confuses wildlife, wastes ene...

Starfront Observatories installs Custom 24-Inch F3 telescope

Starfront Observatories in Rockwood, Texas has installed its largest telescope yet. A custom-built 24 inch f/3 Newtonian astrograph now rides atop a wedge-mounted PlaneWave L-600, marking a significant leap forward in the observatory’s growing array of customer hosted telescopes. This instrument was handcrafted in Italy by Marco Guidi of Doc Telescopes, a name tha...

Under One Sky 2025 information and registration

Under One Sky is a 24-hour virtual conference hosted by DarkSky, the organization leading the fight against light pollution worldwide. The event brings together advocates, scientists, students, and people who care about preserving dark skies. Taking place entirely online, it follows the path of night across the globe, linking people from many time zones into one continu...

Peach State Star Gaze 2025

The Peach State Star Gaze (PSSG) is one of the longest-running annual star parties in the southeastern United States. Set to return for its 31st year, the 2025 event will be held from October 19 through October 26 at the familiar grounds of Deerlick Astronomy Village in Georgia. Organized by the Atlanta Astronomy Club, this event offers amateur astronomers a week-long o...

Houdini 12 coma-correcting eyepiece

Following the successful debut of the Houdini 20, Houdini Telescopes has announced the next in its series of high-performance coma-correcting eyepieces: the Houdini 12 mm 86° Coma-Correcting Eyepiece. Designed to deliver exceptional sharpness, immersive fields of view, and unmatched coma correction in Newtonian reflectors, the Houdini 12 is already shaping up to be ...

Sky-Watcher HAC125DX Mini astrograph

There’s something about a small telescope that reminds me of a pocketknife in some ways. It may not look like much at first, but if it’s well built and purpose driven, it can surprise you with just how capable it really is. The Sky Watcher HAC125DX Mini astrograph falls into that category. It’s compact enough to carry under one arm and subtle enough no...

$400 telescope shootoff

Let’s be honest - astrophotography isn’t exactly known as a “cheap” hobby. But for a lot of folks, especially those just getting started, there's a hard limit on what they can spend. Maybe it’s $400. That’s it. That’s the telescope budget. And in a world where eyepieces can cost that much alone, you’ve got to make it c...

Star party planning tips

Attending a star party for the first time can be exhilarating, humbling, and, at times, downright uncomfortable. While the thrill of dark skies and celestial wonders is the main draw, many attendees, especially those new to the experience, quickly realize that poor planning can turn a magical night into a freezing, sleep-deprived ordeal. Fortunately, shared wisdom from ...

2025 Bootleg Star Party

Each year, under the sweeping canopy of the cosmos, astronomers, astrophotographers, and skywatchers gather to celebrate one of the Midwest’s most anticipated amateur astronomy gatherings, The Bootleg Star Party. Known for its pirate-themed bravado and serious devotion to stargazing, the 2025 edition promises to be another unforgettable chapter in this storied tra...

2025 Fall Staunton River Star Party

The 2025 Fall Staunton River Star Party offers registration options covering the full week (Monday noon to Sunday noon) or the weekend only (Thursday morning to Sunday morning). Registration fees include access to the star party, observing privileges on the field, and camping privileges. 2025 Fall Staunton River Star Party Registration Details Participants ca...

2025 Stellafane Convention

The Stellafane Convention is one of the most cherished gatherings in the amateur astronomy community, and the 2025 edition promises to be no exception. Known as “The Original Star Party,” Stellafane is celebrating its 89th Convention of Amateur Telescope Makers on Breezy Hill in Springfield, Vermont, from Thursday, July 24th through Sunday, July 27th, 2025. ...

Grand Canyon Astronomer in residence: Call for proposals

The Grand Canyon Astronomy Residence Program offers a unique opportunity for astronomy professionals, educators, and night sky enthusiasts to live and work at Grand Canyon National Park. Located on the South Rim in Arizona, the program invites selected residents to engage the public through astronomy-based programs while promoting education, conservation, and appreciati...

Adirondack Astronomy Retreat 2025

The 2025 David H. Levy Adirondack Astronomy Retreat will take place from July 20 to July 27, 2025, in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. This annual event brings together amateur and professional astronomers for a week of dark-sky observing, shared learning, and time outdoors. Founded by David and Wendee Levy, the retreat offers attendees the chance to observe under ...

Nahatlatch Valley Star Party

The upcoming Nahatlatch Valley Star Party in British Columbia is one of the most popular gatherings for amateur astronomers in western Canada. It is a dedicated astronomy event where participants bring their own telescopes and equipment, connect with others who share an interest in astronomy, and spend several nights under exceptionally dark skies. Designed for serious ...

UK StarParty Dalby Forest StarFest 2025

There’s something magical about standing under a truly dark sky, far from city lights, where the Milky Way stretches across the heavens like a glowing river and the stars seem close enough to touch. For over two decades, StarFest in Dalby Forest has been the place where that magic becomes reality for UK astronomers. Whether you're a seasoned observer hauling a...