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.
Category
Planetary Guides
Specific instructions on how to locate, identify, and observe planets within the solar system.
Planetary Guides5
The Nightly Shuffle: Why Jupiter’s Moons Never Stay Put
Decode the rapid orbital mechanics of the Galilean moons and learn a simple sketching technique to track their movement across the Jovian system.
3 Telescope Features That Actually Help You See the Cassini Division in Saturn's Rings
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.
The 15-Minute Window: How to Finally Catch Mercury After Sunset
Master the narrow 15-minute post-sunset window to locate Mercury using a precise scanning technique that bypasses the horizon glare.
The Red Planet Reality Check: Why Your View of Mars Won’t Match the Magazines
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.