
I Thought I Was Watching a Drone Crash: It Was Just Venus Being a Glitch
Learn how to distinguish atmospheric distortion from satellites through a firsthand account of mistaking Venus’s crescent phase for a malfunctioning drone.
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Specific instructions on how to locate, identify, and observe planets within the solar system.
Planetary Guides5

Learn how to distinguish atmospheric distortion from satellites through a firsthand account of mistaking Venus’s crescent phase for a malfunctioning drone.

Decode the rapid orbital mechanics of the Galilean moons and learn a simple sketching technique to track their movement across the Jovian system.

Stop squinting at a blurry orange ball; here are the specific aperture, magnification, and optical quality specs required to resolve the famous gap in Saturn's rings.

Master the narrow 15-minute post-sunset window to locate Mercury using a precise scanning technique that bypasses the horizon glare.

Manage your expectations for the next opposition by understanding the physics behind why Mars remains a small, rusty orb in your eyepiece, and learn to love the subtle details you can actually spot.