Planetary Observing

If there’s one concept that separates frustrated beginners from satisfied planetary observers, it’s seeing — the steadiness of the atmosphere…

Coloured eyepiece filters are the most misunderstood accessory in planetary observing. Beginners either ignore them entirely, or buy a giant…

Venus is the brightest point of light in the night sky after the Moon — the dazzling “evening star” or…

Mars is the planet that humbles people. After the easy rewards of Jupiter’s belts and Saturn’s rings, the new observer…

“What magnification do I need for planets?” is the question I get more than any other, and the honest answer…

There is a moment, the first time someone sees Saturn through a telescope, when they pull back from the eyepiece…

Jupiter is the planet I send every new observer to first, because it’s the one that pays off fastest. Even…

Ask ten beginners what they want to see through their first telescope and nine of them say “the planets.” Then…