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Night Sky Photography for Beginners

An introduction to full-sky astrophotography using a digital camera.

The next generation of space explorers
Astronomy for Beginners

An introduction to backyard astronomy for amateur stargazers.

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How to Pick the Perfect Beginner Telescope

Picking out your first telescope can be overwhelming. This easy-to-follow guide will help you find an affordable telescope that you'll actually use.

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What's up for the week of 20 September

With all the hype around possible life on Venus, it’s worth getting up early to see the planet for yourself in the pre-dawn eastern sky. After dusk, you can also see Jupiter and Saturn fairly close together in the eastern evening sky, with Mars rising a little later.

Current sky chart, northern hemisphere
Current sky chart, northern hemisphere This chart shows constellations, planets, and bright stars visible an hour after sunset from the northern hemisphere for the week of 20 September 2020. Minneapolis, Minnesota (45 degrees north) is used as a reference city. Stellarium
Current sky chart, southern hemisphere
Current sky chart, southern hemisphere This chart shows constellations, planets, and bright stars visible an hour after sunset from the southern hemisphere for the week of 20 September 2020. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (23 degrees south) is used as a reference city. Stellarium

Need an interactive sky chart?
Check out Stellarium for web, desktop, Apple, or Android. 

What's next

22 September: September Equinox

8 and 9 October: Draconid Meteor Shower

21 and 22 October: Orionid Meteor Shower

17 and 18 November: Leonid Meteor Shower

Galilean moons
Space is vast. There's a lot of exploring to do.

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