#amateurastronomy — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #amateurastronomy, aggregated by home.social.
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The Sky Observer's Guide, a nice booklet with lovely illustrations published in 1959, was one my very first amateur astronomy books. I read the Italian edition in the 1970s and, although I long lost access to it, now I can browse the book and feel the old excitement again.
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The clouds called dibs on the sky tonight, 4/15... Our observatory will be socked in, so the stars are taking a well-deserved night off! No worries — the universe will still be there next week. Come find us at our next WAS Weekly Wednesday Star Party!
was-ct.org
#Astronomy #StarParty #Westport #Connecticut #Stargazing #WAS #NightSky #CloudedOut #AmateurAstronomy #WestportObservatory
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The clouds called dibs on the sky tonight, 4/15... Our observatory will be socked in, so the stars are taking a well-deserved night off! No worries — the universe will still be there next week. Come find us at our next WAS Weekly Wednesday Star Party!
was-ct.org
#Astronomy #StarParty #Westport #Connecticut #Stargazing #WAS #NightSky #CloudedOut #AmateurAstronomy #WestportObservatory
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The clouds called dibs on the sky tonight, 4/15... Our observatory will be socked in, so the stars are taking a well-deserved night off! No worries — the universe will still be there next week. Come find us at our next WAS Weekly Wednesday Star Party!
was-ct.org
#Astronomy #StarParty #Westport #Connecticut #Stargazing #WAS #NightSky #CloudedOut #AmateurAstronomy #WestportObservatory
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The clouds called dibs on the sky tonight, 4/15... Our observatory will be socked in, so the stars are taking a well-deserved night off! No worries — the universe will still be there next week. Come find us at our next WAS Weekly Wednesday Star Party!
was-ct.org
#Astronomy #StarParty #Westport #Connecticut #Stargazing #WAS #NightSky #CloudedOut #AmateurAstronomy #WestportObservatory
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The clouds called dibs on the sky tonight, 4/15... Our observatory will be socked in, so the stars are taking a well-deserved night off! No worries — the universe will still be there next week. Come find us at our next WAS Weekly Wednesday Star Party!
was-ct.org
#Astronomy #StarParty #Westport #Connecticut #Stargazing #WAS #NightSky #CloudedOut #AmateurAstronomy #WestportObservatory
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Almost 50 Years On, Voyager 1 Is Still Transmitting From Interstellar Space – And Amateur Astronomers From The Netherlands Just Picked Up Its Signals » TwistedSifter
NASA In today’s age of space travel, in which mu…
#Netherlands #Nederland #NL #Europe #Europa #EU #amateurastronomy #amsat #astronomy #dwingelooradiotelescope #heliosphere #interstellarspace #jupiter #nasa #saturn #Science #singletopic #space #top #transmissions #voyager1 #voyagermission
https://www.europesays.com/netherlands/2071/ -
🌥️ Star Party Update – March 4th
The Westport Observatory is socked in with clouds again tonight, so we're calling off this week's WAS Weekly Wednesday Star Party. Mother Nature had other plans!
We hope the skies cooperate next week — clear skies and great views are worth the wait.
See you next Wednesday! https://was-ct.org/#WestportObservatory #WAS #StarParty #Astronomy #CloudedOut #ClearSkies #Stargazing #AmateurAstronomy #WestportCT #WeeklyStarParty
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🌥️ Star Party Update – March 4th
The Westport Observatory is socked in with clouds again tonight, so we're calling off this week's WAS Weekly Wednesday Star Party. Mother Nature had other plans!
We hope the skies cooperate next week — clear skies and great views are worth the wait.
See you next Wednesday! https://was-ct.org/#WestportObservatory #WAS #StarParty #Astronomy #CloudedOut #ClearSkies #Stargazing #AmateurAstronomy #WestportCT #WeeklyStarParty
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🌥️ Star Party Update – March 4th
The Westport Observatory is socked in with clouds again tonight, so we're calling off this week's WAS Weekly Wednesday Star Party. Mother Nature had other plans!
We hope the skies cooperate next week — clear skies and great views are worth the wait.
See you next Wednesday! https://was-ct.org/#WestportObservatory #WAS #StarParty #Astronomy #CloudedOut #ClearSkies #Stargazing #AmateurAstronomy #WestportCT #WeeklyStarParty
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🌥️ Star Party Update – March 4th
The Westport Observatory is socked in with clouds again tonight, so we're calling off this week's WAS Weekly Wednesday Star Party. Mother Nature had other plans!
We hope the skies cooperate next week — clear skies and great views are worth the wait.
See you next Wednesday! https://was-ct.org/#WestportObservatory #WAS #StarParty #Astronomy #CloudedOut #ClearSkies #Stargazing #AmateurAstronomy #WestportCT #WeeklyStarParty
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🌥️ Star Party Update – March 4th
The Westport Observatory is socked in with clouds again tonight, so we're calling off this week's WAS Weekly Wednesday Star Party. Mother Nature had other plans!
We hope the skies cooperate next week — clear skies and great views are worth the wait.
See you next Wednesday! https://was-ct.org/#WestportObservatory #WAS #StarParty #Astronomy #CloudedOut #ClearSkies #Stargazing #AmateurAstronomy #WestportCT #WeeklyStarParty
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Marty! Set the DeLorean for 1986! I just bought a Meade LX3 mount and re-forked my Meade 2080 LX3 OTA onto it. This rig was the hottest thing back in '86! I even have the hand controller, Dec motor and polar alignment scope / finder. I even have a Telrad mounted on this beauty! Looking forward to getting some clear skies... maybe... someday?
#Astronomy #AmateurAstronomy #Telescope #Meade #SchmidtCassegrain #SCT #ForkMount #Astrophotography #RetroTelescoping #80s #GenX
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Marty! Set the DeLorean for 1986! I just bought a Meade LX3 mount and re-forked my Meade 2080 LX3 OTA onto it. This rig was the hottest thing back in '86! I even have the hand controller, Dec motor and polar alignment scope / finder. I even have a Telrad mounted on this beauty! Looking forward to getting some clear skies... maybe... someday?
#Astronomy #AmateurAstronomy #Telescope #Meade #SchmidtCassegrain #SCT #ForkMount #Astrophotography #RetroTelescoping #80s #GenX
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Marty! Set the DeLorean for 1986! I just bought a Meade LX3 mount and re-forked my Meade 2080 LX3 OTA onto it. This rig was the hottest thing back in '86! I even have the hand controller, Dec motor and polar alignment scope / finder. I even have a Telrad mounted on this beauty! Looking forward to getting some clear skies... maybe... someday?
#Astronomy #AmateurAstronomy #Telescope #Meade #SchmidtCassegrain #SCT #ForkMount #Astrophotography #RetroTelescoping #80s #GenX
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Marty! Set the DeLorean for 1986! I just bought a Meade LX3 mount and re-forked my Meade 2080 LX3 OTA onto it. This rig was the hottest thing back in '86! I even have the hand controller, Dec motor and polar alignment scope / finder. I even have a Telrad mounted on this beauty! Looking forward to getting some clear skies... maybe... someday?
#Astronomy #AmateurAstronomy #Telescope #Meade #SchmidtCassegrain #SCT #ForkMount #Astrophotography #RetroTelescoping #80s #GenX
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Marty! Set the DeLorean for 1986! I just bought a Meade LX3 mount and re-forked my Meade 2080 LX3 OTA onto it. This rig was the hottest thing back in '86! I even have the hand controller, Dec motor and polar alignment scope / finder. I even have a Telrad mounted on this beauty! Looking forward to getting some clear skies... maybe... someday?
#Astronomy #AmateurAstronomy #Telescope #Meade #SchmidtCassegrain #SCT #ForkMount #Astrophotography #RetroTelescoping #80s #GenX
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For our 30th anniversary, we went to a smaller town called Fredericksburg, TX for a 3 day weekend and enjoyed German food and some dark skies. I took pictures of the Heart Nebula, appropriate for such an event, and the M74 galaxy.
Heart Nebula
AT90CFT @ 432mm FL
Canon SL1 (unmod)
ISO800
180s x 10Messier 74 the Phantom Galaxy
AT90CFT @ 432mm FL
Canon SL1 (unmod)
ISO800
180s x 21 -
The January 2026 Field of View is out now from the Westport Astronomical Society—and it’s packed with member astrophotography, WAS updates, K1WAS radio fun, science news, and the usual cosmic shenanigans.
Grab a hot drink, click the link, and dive in:
👉 https://mailchi.mp/was-ct/fov_january-2026Clear skies. Cold nights. Good reads.
#FieldOfView #WAS #WestportAstronomicalSociety #WestportObservatory #AmateurAstronomy #Astrodon #Astrophotography -
🎁🔭 Did you get a telescope for the holidays? Congrats—you now own a precision optical instrument and a chance to get confused fast. Before you point it at a streetlight and give up, read this Sky & Telescope guide on setup, alignment, and what to look at first:
https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-resources/stargazing-basics/how-to-start-out-with-your-new-telescope/Then skip the trial-and-error and join the Westport Astronomical Society to learn with a group of experienced amateur astronomers.
https://was-ct.org/membership-signup/ -
Saturn’s Rings Are Ghosting Us This Weekend
Stargazers with backyard telescopes may notice something amiss in the night sky this weekend as a rare planetary…
#NewsBeep #News #Space #Amateurastronomy #CA #Canada #opticalillusions #saturn #Science #stargazing
https://www.newsbeep.com/ca/299276/ -
https://www.europesays.com/ie/192985/ Saturn’s Rings Are Ghosting Us This Weekend #AmateurAstronomy #Éire #IE #Ireland #OpticalIllusions #Saturn #Science #Space #stargazing
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Saturn’s Rings Are Ghosting Us This Weekend
Stargazers with backyard telescopes may notice something amiss in the night sky this weekend as a rare planetary…
#NewsBeep #News #Space #Amateurastronomy #AU #Australia #opticalillusions #saturn #Science #stargazing
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/299722/ -
Saturn’s Rings Are Ghosting Us This Weekend
Stargazers with backyard telescopes may notice something amiss in the night sky this weekend as a rare planetary…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Space #amateurastronomy #opticalillusions #Saturn #Science #stargazing
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/305580/ -
Saturn’s Rings Are Ghosting Us This Weekend
Stargazers with backyard telescopes may notice something amiss in the night sky this weekend as a rare planetary…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Space #amateurastronomy #opticalillusions #Saturn #Science #stargazing
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/305580/ -
Hmm, this nebula doesn't have a name, I'm thinking Stitch Nebula in honor of Lilo & Stitch. Or maybe the Jerboa Nebula? It's right next to the Bubble nebula, which gets all the press. The bright spot in the middle doesn't even have a designation in the World Wide Telescope, or Aladin? Going to try to get some data with #iTelescope tonight on T14.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stitch_(Lilo_%26_Stitch)
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Ah there are a few background galaxies in this area I managed to get. Nothing to write home about, but comparing the full view to Aladin, probably about a dozen. These are the "best" haha, I can see 2 easy ones, one hard one, and one very tiny speck. All from suburban Austin with a 90mm diameter telescope and 12 year old DSLR.
#astronomy #amateurAstronomy #astrophotography -
NGC 7293 the Helix Nebula
49 x 90s
AT90CFT with .8 reducer at 432mm
Canon SL1, unmodified
HAE43EC, unguided.This nebula is about 6 times wider and 3 times closer than the Snowglobe, so it actually has a nice size at 432mm. They're fairly equivalent in age, so I would guess the Helix had the larger progenitor star, but Wikipedia didn't mention it. Would definitely be worth doing again from a dark sky site.
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NGC 6781, the Snowglobe Nebula
20 x 90s
AT90CFT with .8 reducer at 432mm
Canon SL1, unmodded
HAE43EC, unguidedA little dull with no background galaxies visible! But the darker patches of sky are Milky Way dust clouds.
Just a little snowglobe, sitting all alone out there.
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👽🚀 Interstellar visitor alert! Amateur astronomers have captured rare images of comet 3I/ATLAS, revealing a bizarre sunward-pointing blue tail 🛸🌌
The faint, fast-moving comet looks like a glowing tadpole in an Aug. 28th animation by Gerald Rhemann & Michael Jäger.
🔗 Full story: Spaceweather.com
#CometAtlas #3IATLAS #AmateurAstronomy #SpaceWeather #Astrophotography
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The August edition of our Field of View newsletter is here!
Catch up on all things WAS: upcoming talks, member astrophotography, star parties, and observatory news.
Read it here: https://mailchi.mp/was-ct/fov_august_2025
#WestportObservatory #WestportCT #Astronomy #AmateurAstronomy #AstronomyNews #astrophotography #StarParty #FieldOfView #Astrodon
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🚨 August 19th at 8:00 PM! 🚨
Join us LIVE in the classroom (or online via YouTube & Zoom) for: Tales from the Pink Clubhouse: Bob Meadows’ 2025 Stellafane Report!Hear firsthand stories, highlights, and surprises from the ultimate telescope maker’s convention!
📍 Westport Observatory Classroom
📺 Streaming live on YouTube and a Webinar on Zoom
🔗 https://was-ct.org/events/bob_meadows_2025/#WestportObservatory #Stellafane #AmateurAstronomy #StarParty
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Lunchtime daystar imaging.
I still have no idea how to use CCDCiel or Siril, I wish someone could teach me how, I think I got it working once and then it refused to work again. I hate using default OS camera software with autoexposure.
Anyway, there's some cute starspots up there right now.
☀️ 🔭
#astrodon #astronomy #astrophotography #solarphotography #amateurastronomy
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Sh2-157 Lobster Claw from the 2024 Fall Bootleg Astronomy Star Party. More details in Telescopius or Astrobin. Thanks for looking, Clear Skies!
TSOptics 60
SW EQ6R Pro
ZWO 533MC Pro
Optolong L-Ult
75x300s#astrophotography #astrophoto #astrodon #astropics #spacephotography #amateurastrophotography #backyardastronomy #deepskyphotography #amateurastronomy #deepspaceobject #deepskyastrophotography #backyardastrophotography #deepsky #nightsky
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Clearing out some more editing backlog. Here's the Tulip Nebula from the Spring 2024 Bootleg Astronomy Star Party. More details on Telescopius and Astrobin. Thanks for looking and Clear Skies!
TS-90
ZWO Optical 533 MC Pro
SW EQ6R Pro
Optolong L-Enh
40x180#astrophotography #astrophoto #astrodon #astropics #spacephotography #amateurastrophotography #backyardastronomy #deepskyphotography #amateurastronomy #deepspaceobject #deepskyastrophotography #backyardastrophotography #deepsky #nightsky
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🕳️💥 OMG, the universe might be in a black hole! Someone tell James Webb Telescope it’s not a mirror. 🚀🪞 Meanwhile, amateur astronomers are still using paper towel rolls to look at the moon. 🌌🔭
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/james-webb-space-telescope/is-our-universe-trapped-inside-a-black-hole-this-james-webb-space-telescope-discovery-might-blow-your-mind #universeblackhole #JamesWebbTelescope #amateurastronomy #moonwatching #spaceexploration #HackerNews #ngated -
Die #Venus mit schöner Phase, aufgenommen am Wochenende.
Half Venus captured 3 days ago.
https://www.astropage.eu/wp-content/gallery/venus/venus20250117_lab.jpg
#Planet #Astrofotografie #Astrophotography #Planetaryimaging #Planetenfotografie #Amateurastronomy #Amateurastronomie #Astrofoto
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Betelgeuse
As an amateur astronomer, I eventually ran into the name Betelgeuse. Only about 50 stars have proper names (rather than unique tags) and this was one of them. I tripped over this name when I first encountered it. Was it Bettell – geese? Bettell goose? I gave up and moved on.
When the movie Beetle Juice first came out, I actually made the connection. But I wasn’t sure so I also asked a professional astronomer how to pronounce it. They proved my guess was right when they said it’s Beetle Juice. Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse!
Well I was just wondering how on earth astronomers managed to stay out of Beetle Juice’s clutches, when they said Betelgeuse like it was no big thing. Sometimes three times. Is there a way that Beetle Juice can somehow sense the spelling of the name, too, although they are speaking and there is no phonetic difference?
Then I looked up this site and found that Beetle Juice can be banished if you say his name 3 times after he has shown up. So all those astronomers willy nilly saying Betelgeuse 3 times just have to say it three more times.
Since they’re wrapped up in their work, they might not even notice him when Beetle Juice first shows up. And in the meantime they’ve likely said Betelgeuse three more times.
But I’m a tad more paranoid than your average professional astronomer. As such I counted how many times I wrote Beetle Juice or Betelgeuse. Since for generally being free of mayhem, it must be in multiples of six. I write Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse, to leave on a good footing.
#amateurAstronomy #banishes #BeetleJuice #Betelgeuse #mayhem #movie #onlyAbout50StarsHaveProperNames #phoneticDifference #professionalAstronomer #sayingBeetleJuiceThreeTimes #summons
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I have web-published the first installment of interesting lunar nearside features for small telescopes that I call "Beyond the 'Lunar 100'". These are sometimes challenging to spot but worth the hunt. They also illustrate lots of different lunar geologic phenomena.
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Testing the ToupTek motor focuser on my new Tecnosky 102 f/11 ED refractor while waiting for better weather.
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Ein neues #Mond-Mosaik.
A new mosaic image of the #Moon.
https://www.astropage.eu/wp-content/gallery/mond/mondmosaik20241208_lab.jpg#Stacking #Tutorial:
https://www.astropage.eu/tutorials/mondfotografie/mit-planetencam/#Mosaik erstellen:
https://www.astropage.eu/tutorials/mondfotografie/mond-mosaik-erstellen/#Astrofotografie #Astrophotography #Amateurastronomy #Amateurastronomie #Mondfotografie #Krater #Lunarimaging #Astrofoto #Astroimage
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Ein neues #Mond-Mosaik.
A new mosaic image of the #Moon.
https://www.astropage.eu/wp-content/gallery/mond/mondmosaik20241208_lab.jpg#Stacking #Tutorial:
https://www.astropage.eu/tutorials/mondfotografie/mit-planetencam/#Mosaik erstellen:
https://www.astropage.eu/tutorials/mondfotografie/mond-mosaik-erstellen/#Astrofotografie #Astrophotography #Amateurastronomy #Amateurastronomie #Mondfotografie #Krater #Lunarimaging #Astrofoto #Astroimage
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Ein neues #Mond-Mosaik.
A new mosaic image of the #Moon.
https://www.astropage.eu/wp-content/gallery/mond/mondmosaik20241208_lab.jpg#Stacking #Tutorial:
https://www.astropage.eu/tutorials/mondfotografie/mit-planetencam/#Mosaik erstellen:
https://www.astropage.eu/tutorials/mondfotografie/mond-mosaik-erstellen/#Astrofotografie #Astrophotography #Amateurastronomy #Amateurastronomie #Mondfotografie #Krater #Lunarimaging #Astrofoto #Astroimage
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Ein neues #Mond-Mosaik.
A new mosaic image of the #Moon.
https://www.astropage.eu/wp-content/gallery/mond/mondmosaik20241208_lab.jpg#Stacking #Tutorial:
https://www.astropage.eu/tutorials/mondfotografie/mit-planetencam/#Mosaik erstellen:
https://www.astropage.eu/tutorials/mondfotografie/mond-mosaik-erstellen/#Astrofotografie #Astrophotography #Amateurastronomy #Amateurastronomie #Mondfotografie #Krater #Lunarimaging #Astrofoto #Astroimage
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Ein neues #Mond-Mosaik.
A new mosaic image of the #Moon.
https://www.astropage.eu/wp-content/gallery/mond/mondmosaik20241208_lab.jpg#Stacking #Tutorial:
https://www.astropage.eu/tutorials/mondfotografie/mit-planetencam/#Mosaik erstellen:
https://www.astropage.eu/tutorials/mondfotografie/mond-mosaik-erstellen/#Astrofotografie #Astrophotography #Amateurastronomy #Amateurastronomie #Mondfotografie #Krater #Lunarimaging #Astrofoto #Astroimage