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All posts of Andrew Fazekas

Messier Marathon Sampler Webinar

A Smart Telescope Tour of the Night Sky What does it take to see some of the most breathtaking sights in the universe—all in a single night? During Global Astronomy Month, I teamed up with Astronomers Without Borders to host a special livestream exploring the greatest hits of the Messier Marathon—a legendary observing challenge featuring 110 deep-sky objects […]
3 months ago

Could You Really See NASA’s Orion Moon Capsule With Binoculars?

For most of us, the idea sounds a little wild. A crewed spacecraft on its way around the Moon… spotted not by a giant observatory, but by everyday skywatchers standing in their backyard with a pair of binoculars. And yet, for a brief slice of NASA’s upcoming Artemis II mission, that may actually be possible. According to […]
4 months ago

Can You See NASA’s Artemis II Orion Capsule With a Backyard Telescope?

For skywatchers, this is one of those rare moments when human spaceflight and backyard astronomy may overlap in a very real way. According to a visibility analysis published by Spaceweather.com, NASA’s Artemis II Orion capsule could become bright enough during a few parts of the mission to be spotted with amateur equipment, and in the very best case, […]
4 months ago

New Sungrazing Comet May Put On a Twilight Show This Spring

Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) is heading for a close pass by the sun, but whether it becomes an easy skywatching target is still far from certain. Skywatchers have a new comet to follow, and it could become one of the more interesting celestial stories of the season. Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) is currently brightening as it […]
4 months ago

Satellite Interference Is Becoming a Serious Threat to the Night Sky

Satellite interference is no longer a minor annoyance for astrophotographers and skywatchers, it’s becoming a major problem. For astrophotographers and casual skywatchers alike, satellite streaks are becoming one of the biggest new headaches in the night sky. What used to be an occasional surprise in a long exposure is now showing up more and more […]
4 months ago

The Moon will dodge asteroid 2024 YR4

New observations from the James Webb Space Telescope have now ruled out any chance of a lunar impact on December 22, 2032. Scientists say the asteroid is now expected to miss the Moon by about 21,200 kilometers, ending earlier concerns that gave it a small 4.3% chance of striking our natural satellite. The updated orbit […]
4 months ago

Moon Meets the Seven Sisters: A Pre-Dawn Sky Treat on November 6

If you’re up before sunrise on November 6, take a few minutes to step outside and look toward the western sky — you’ll be treated to a serene celestial meetup between the nearly full moon and one of the most famous star clusters in the heavens: the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters. In the early morning hours, the 94%-illuminated […]
8 months ago

Stuph File Interview: Sept 2025

Science writer, Andrew Fazekas, The Night Sky Guy, author of National Geographic Backyard Guide to the Night Skyand National Geographic’s Stargazer Atlas: The Ultimate Guide To The Night Sky, is back to talk about among other things, how the “Devil Comet” contains the strongest evidence yet that comets delivered water to Earth; Bennu contains stardust that’s older than the solar […]
9 months ago

Get Ready for Comet SWAN

A brand new comet has been spotted, and it’s officially known as C/2025 R2 (SWAN), and it’s getting brighter by the day. This cosmic wanderer was first discovered by the Solar Wind Anisotropies (SWAN) instrument on a spacecraft called SOHO. It’s already shining at a magnitude of 7, which means you can spot it with […]
10 months ago