Latest articles by Jamie Carter
I've chased the 'false dawn' for years — this is the week to find and photograph it
September's new moon opens a dark window for seeing zodiacal light, the ghostly cone of interplanetary dust that rises above the eastern horizon before dawn.
A star is exploding 45 million light-years away — here's how you can see it
The newly discovered Type Ia supernova SN 2026aaiv in NGC 7331 offers amateur astronomers and astrophotographers a rare opportunity to observe and image an exploding star before it fades.
Venus is becoming a thinner crescent — and that's when it finally starts making sense
Venus is sinking into the sunset as it catches up with Earth — and a small telescope now reveals something the naked eye never can: another planet going through phases.
A bright space station will soar over the US this week — and it's not the ISS. Here's how to see it
What's that bright light in the sky? Here's how to see China's Tiangong space station with the naked eye this week.
The night we nearly saw a 'blood moon' (and why I love near-misses in astronomy)
Astronomy is often about being close to extraordinary things without fully experiencing them. Here's why to love partials, grazings, faint objects and other almost-events.
Partial lunar eclipse August 27-28 — A complete guide to the 96% 'blood moon'
A deep partial lunar eclipse on August 27-28, 2026, will be visible in North America and will be the best lunar eclipse anywhere on Earth until New Year's Eve 2028.
My favorite thing in the night sky appears on Aug. 28 — and it proves Earth is a sphere
We'll soon get a chance to see a giant curved shadow in space move slowly across the moon during a very deep partial lunar eclipse. There are few more awesome or enlightening sights.
A beginner’s guide to observing the night sky with a manual telescope
A telescope can help you explore the night sky, but only if you know how to use it.
Can Venus cast a shadow? Here's how to see it for yourself
As Venus gets close to its greatest brilliancy in the evening sky, it’s a good time to test one of astronomy’s less believable claims.
This ZWO astronomy camera is perfect for solar and lunar imaging
Easy to use and with an excellent build quality, the ZWO ASI174MM is a fast, monochrome USB 3.0 camera that’s perfect for solar and lunar imaging.
The total solar eclipse on Aug. 12 will reveal something nobody has ever seen before
A naked-eye view of the sun's outer atmosphere is the reason eclipse chasers travel the world. Here's what it may look like on Aug. 12.
Yes, North America gets a solar eclipse on Aug. 12. Here's where and when to see it
The Aug. 12 eclipse won't rival 2024's Great American Eclipse, but millions across the U.S. and Canada will still see the moon take a bite out of the sun.
Sky-Watcher SolarQuest mount head review
A brilliantly simple grab-and-go solar mount that finds and follows the sun for you, Sky-Watcher’s SolarQuest is perfect for small-scope solar astronomy and solar eclipses.
The UK is about to witness its most spectacular solar eclipse in 11 years. Here's what you need to know
The Aug. 12 eclipse won't bring totality to Britain, but up to 98% of the sun will disappear in one of the U.K.'s most dramatic partial eclipses in decades.
Why you don't need a perfectly clear sky to enjoy the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12
Millions will see a deep partial or total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, but there's no need to fixate on completely clear skies.
How to photograph the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse with a smartphone
Reference This guide will teach you the basics of how to photograph the solar eclipse with your smartphone, including techniques for making adjustments to your composition, exposure and focus.
How to photograph a solar eclipse
Reference Astrophotographer Josh Dury gives his best tips for photographing a solar eclipse.
This Sky-Watcher is an ideal beginner telescope for solar observing
The Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76mm H-alpha is a portable beginner's solar telescope that is easy to use and offers dramatic views of the turbulent surface of the sun.
13 amazing things to see during the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12
The solar corona is the ultimate sight during a total solar eclipse, but there'll be a chance to see much more on Aug. 12, 2026.
Is the Nocs Provisions Lite View spotting scope a good alternative to a traditional telescope?
Review A compact spotting scope delivering detailed views of the moon and bright star clusters.
The Milky Way has a hidden feature you've probably never noticed. Here's how to find it
Summer is the ideal time to look for the Great Rift, a long series of dark dust clouds that appear to split the Milky Way from Cygnus through Sagittarius.
This genuinely pocket-sized smart telescope makes capturing the deep sky and the solar system almost effortless
Review A genuinely pocket-sized smart telescope
ZWO Seestar S30 Pro smart telescope review
Review A compact, automated smart telescope with a higher resolution upgrade
The easiest way to learn the summer night sky starts with these 3 stars
How to use the Summer Triangle stars — Vega, Deneb and Altair — as a key to unlock your understanding of the night sky.
10 places in the US and Canada to see August's partial solar eclipse and Perseid meteor shower in 1 trip
A partial solar eclipse by day and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower by night make Aug. 12, 2026, one of the best nights for skywatching and camping in years, but only for some parts of North America.