• 1. Overview
• 2. Saturn - The Basics
• 3. The Rings of Saturn
• 4. Saturn's Moons
• 5. Saturn Observing Tips
• 6. The Best Telescopes for Observing Saturn
• 7. Eyepieces and Accessories for Observing Saturn
• 8. Summary

1. Overview

Many casual observers get hooked on amateur astronomy after a first look at Saturn through a telescope. To most observers, Saturn is an incredibly beautiful sight. The color, the proportions, the apparent 3D perspective of this grand icy world make it arguably the finest sight accessible with a small telescope, and many stargazers look forward to its frequent oppositions when the planet makes its closest approach to Earth. This article helps you understand what to see on and around the planet Saturn, and it gives you some tips for choosing and using the best equipment to see this ringed planet.

2. Saturn – The Basics

• 1. Overview - The Need for Autoguiding
• 2. Options for Autoguiding
• 3. Aperture and Focal Length of a Guide Scope
• 4. Mounting a Guide Scope
• 5. Some Recommended Guide Scopes
• 6. Cameras for Autoguiding with a Guide Scope
• 7. Putting It All Together
• 8. Summary

1. Overview - The Need for Autoguiding

A good equatorial mount is a must-have for astrophotography. But even the best equatorial mount will have some mechanical imperfections, resulting in tracking errors that lead to slightly elongated star images.In many mounts, the predictable periodic error in the right ascension motion can be manually corrected to some degree. However, imperfections in the gears, slight deviations in perpendicularity between the RA and declination axes, and mechanical play in the bearings can all contribute to additional errors that lead to elongated stars and smeared

• 1. Overview
• 2. Jupiter in a Nutshell
• 3. What to See on the Face of Jupiter
• 4. The Moons of Jupiter
• 5. Jupiter Observing Tips
• 6. The Best Telescopes for Observing Jupiter
• 7. Eyepieces and Accessories for Observing Jupiter
• 8. Optical Filters for Observing Jupiter
• 9. Summary

1. Overview

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and perhaps the most fascinating to observe with a telescope. It's brighter than any star and only outshone by the Moon, the planet Venus and, very rarely, by Mars and Mercury. Jupiter's churning and fast-moving atmosphere reveals many interesting and colorful features in a small telescope, which is why the planet is a favorite target of new and experienced stargazers. This guide will help you understand what to look for on the face of the planet Jupiter through

• 1. Overview
• 2. Solar Eclipse Basics
• 3. The Total Solar Eclipse of August 21, 2017
• 4. When and Where to see the August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse
• 5. The Weather Prospects for the Eclipse
• 6. Finding a Place or Event to See the 2017 Eclipse
• 7. How to Safely Observe a Total Solar Eclipse
• 8. Solar Filters for Safely Observing a Solar Eclipse Without a Telescope
• 9. Solar Filters for Safely Observing a Solar Eclipse With Binoculars or a Telescope
• 10. How Can I Take a Photograph of the Total Solar Eclipse?
• 11. Additional Resources - Books and Websites

1. Overview

On August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse will pass from west to east across the lower continental United States for the first time since 1918. More than 300 million people live within a day's drive of the narrow path of this eclipse, so it may be the most watched astronomical event in history. This guide shows you when and

Last year, Tele Vue introduced the first set of focal lengths (7mm, 11mm, and 18.2mm) of their new DeLite eyepieces (You can read William Paolini's exclusive review of those eyepieces here ). Recently, they released their much anticipated second series of focal lengths for the DeLite eyepieces in 5mm, 9mm, and 15mm. In this review, Bill Paolini, author of the book "Choosing and Using Astronomical Eyepieces", reviews these new eyepieces and puts them through their paces. He compares them to other premium eyepiece brands during observations of deep-sky objects, the Moon, and planets through a variety of telescopes. His verdict on these new focal lengths of Tele Vue's DeLite eyepieces? Read below to find out...

• 1. Overview
• 2. Build Quality and Form Factor
• 3. Observational Testing
  • 3.1. Observational Testing: Moon
  • 3.2. Observational Testing: Stars, Rich Star Fields, Open Clusters,

• 1. Equipment
• 2. Observing
• 3. Conclusions

1. Equipment

The Lederman Optical Array LOA-21 eyepieces are a new ground breaking achievement in eyepiece technology that fundamentally changes amateur visual astronomy. The unique aspect of the new technology incorporated into these eyepieces is their ability to convey multiple distinctly visible layers of depth to the view! They transform the typical flat field rendering of a star field or deep space object viewed through a conventional eyepiece into one where the observer can see actual levels of depth, just as they can see with every day normal vision. Celestial views now burst into three dimensions. And depending on how you position the target or adjust the eyepiece’s rotation in the binoviewer, the target can be manipulated to the foreground, background, or any one of several levels in between. All the familiar celestial targets

The total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 is fast approaching. This event, the first coast-to-coast solar eclipse across the continental U.S. since 1918, will take place in a narrow band from Oregon to South Carolina. More than 300 million people live within a day's drive of the path of totality, and perhaps 30 million will travel to see the eclipse. To help you see this event for yourself, and to make sure you get the most out of the experience, Agena AstroProducts assembled this helpful checklist to make sure you know what to plan for and expect before, during, and after the eclipse.

Advanced Preparation for the Eclipse

• ☐ Select the best location for seeing the total eclipse based on accessibility and weather prospects
• ☐ Select an alternate location and a route to that location
• ☐ Book accommodations close to your primary observing

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Filter Specifications and Test Setup
• 3. Filter Comparisons
• 4. Retail price in US: Price comparison of 36mm unmounted set of LRGB filters
• 5. Conclusion

1. Introduction

I was recently contacted by Optolong, a filter manufacturer in China, who asked me to test their filters. They sent me a set of 36mm unmounted LRGB and a set of 36mm Narrowband Filters (H-Alpha 7nm, OIII and SII 12nm). I was impressed when they arrived; nice packaging and presentation in a similar plastic case to the Baader.

I limited my comparison for LRGB only which was carried out on the 15th and 16th August with similar average seeing conditions. The narrow band filters are not the final version that will be used for comparison. At the time they were only manufacturing them in 12nm pass band. The Baader equivalent is 7nm, which is more the industry standard. Subsequently,

• 1. Equipment
• 2. Observing
• 3. Conclusions

1. Equipment

White light solar viewing is a very rewarding pursuit that allows one to utilize their night time astronomical equipment with minimal additional investment. I have usually focused my solar observing using hydrogen alpha, but once I saw all the details a good white light solar setup could provide I then became hooked and now enjoy white light much more than hydrogen alpha solar viewing. My standard setup for white light solar viewing has been a Takahashi TSA-102 Apo with binoviewer. Over the objective I use a standard full aperture glass solar filter, the type typically sold by Orion and others. I have heard from others that the solar Mylar film can provide better performance but I have always been skeptical about these claims.

Since I wanted to get a solar filter for my new Lunt 152-ED Apo to up the game in my white light