Space Guides

Introduction: The North Star The stars truly are a magical presence, shining brightly in the sky every night. No matter where you live, you’ll be able to see the twinkling lights on a clear night’s sky. As we get older, we might start to wonder what we’re actually seeing as

If you were to ask someone to name the brightest star in the night sky, the majority of people would reply with “the North Star!” It’s understandable that most people believe this to be the case, as it sure does stand out at night. However, the North Star, or ‘Polaris’,

On July 20th, 1969, an American astronaut named Neil Armstrong took one giant leap for mankind and became the first person to walk on the surface of the moon. The world watched in amazement as NASA’s Apollo 11 rocket thrust into the atmosphere. Over 53 million households made up of

If you are into astronomy, then you will have heard of looking at the moon, stars, constellations, and all celestial objects. Constellations have long been used by humans in order to navigate across the globe, long before there were navigational tools or Google Maps! Because constellations happen within the night

Andromeda is a constellation in the Northern sky. It is home to the Andromeda galaxy, which is the nearest comparably-sized galaxy to ours. The Andromeda galaxy is also called M31, Messier 31, or the Great Spiral Galaxy. It is one of the most faraway objects in the night sky the

What is the Little Dipper? The little dipper is an asterism, better known as a popularly know pattern of stars, which are a part of the larger constellation named ‘Ursa Minor’ or ‘The Little Bear’. Ursa Minor is majorly made up by the Little Dipper, as the handle is seen

Orion’s Belt is perhaps the most famous of the constellations. Even if you know next to nothing about stars and their constellations, you will have heard of Orion’s Belt. You might even know a little about its story and how it looks.Orion’s Belt is a very simple constellation, so it’s

Saturn is by far one of the mystifying planets in the solar system, and in order to view this ringed planet in all its glory, you need a telescope that’s up to the job.   As the sixth planet from the sun and the second-largest in the solar system, Saturn

Are you a space fanatic? Don’t you just love those documentaries about space and the universe? Perhaps you are looking to buy a telescope to see what it can show you of the Universe beyond Earth. Or, perhaps you already have a telescope and you are curious to see what

If you’re passionate about astronomy and photography, you may be interested in combining the two, something known as Astrophotography: where people photograph objects and events of the night sky.  While astronomy has been practiced for decades, astrophotography is more of a modern phenomenon. However, as both cameras and telescopes continue

Polar alignment means that you line up the telescope’s axis mount with the motion of the sky. This allows you to track the movement of objects in the night sky more accurately.  This is done by aligning the mount with either the north or south celestial pole. You will need

Keeping your telescope in good condition is essential for ensuring you get the best quality images of the night sky, and for prolonging the lifespan of your telescope.  In particular, your telescope mirror will be exposed to dust particles, and these have silica in them that is very abrasive and

The magnification of a telescope is the ratio by which the telescope is used to enlarge the object you are looking at. Generally speaking, the maximum magnification a telescope is capable of is the aperture in inches multiplied by 50 (or the aperture in millimeters multiplied by 2).This changes depending

How far you can see through a telescope largely depends on the telescope’s specifications. For example, the model, lens, and quality of the telescope. Surprisingly, the naked eye can see the Andromeda Galaxy, which is 2.5 million light-years away. In reality, this Galaxy has a diameter of approximately 220,000 light-years

Have you ever wondered how far away the stars are? Or how constellations work? Have you ever looked up into the sky and wished you could see the moon and the stars up close for yourself? You can do all of this and more with a telescope! What is a

Stargazing is without a doubt one of the most relaxing hobbies you can have. There is something so relaxing about sitting there and looking at the universe that exists outside of the world that we live in. It is a great way to detach yourself from the stresses of everyday

The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest human-made object to fly in outer space and, at the right time, it can be seen from anywhere around the world. This massive space station hovers 250 miles above the surface of the earth, traveling at a speed of around 17,500 mph.