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Observations

Anna Kessler

19 Apr 2025

Saw Jupiter for the first time with just binoculars!

I finally managed to spot Jupiter last night from my balcony with a simple pair of binoculars.

Couldn’t believe how bright it looked - and I think I saw some moons too!

Excited to keep exploring the sky, any tips on what to look for next?

#beginnertips

#diybuild

#milkyway

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Observations

Nia Brooks

06 May 2025

Caught Saturn's rings clearly tonight

I’ve been stargazing for a few months now, but tonight was my first time seeing Saturn’s rings so clearly through my telescope. It honestly took my breath away.

Do they always appear this visible, or was it just perfect weather conditions?

#saturn

#skywatching

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Learn and Explore

Natalie Greene

08 May 2025

Why do some stars appear red or blue? Is it real or an illusion?

So I was observing with my binoculars last night and noticed that Betelgeuse looked really red, while other stars nearby seemed bluish-white.

I always thought stars were basically white dots- is the color just atmospheric distortion, or do stars really come in different colors?

Would love to understand the science behind it.

#starlight

#spacecolors

#beginnerquestions

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Technical Equipment

Tobias Morgan.

19 Apr 2025

Can’t get my telescope to focus, what am I doing wrong?

I just got my first telescope (a SkyWatcher 130/900) and tried pointing it at the Moon last night.

I could see light, but everything looked blurry, no matter how much I adjusted the focus knob.

Do I need an extra eyepiece? Or am I missing something basic?

#beginnertips

#focusIssue

#telescope

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MEETUPS

Mishel Kessler

30 May 2025

Anyone from Austin, TX joining the local star party this weekend?

Hey all! I saw there’s a public star party happening at Pedernales Falls State Park this Saturday night, hosted by the Austin Astronomical Society.

I’m thinking of going, but it would be great to know if anyone else from the community will be there. I’ve never been to a meetup like this before — should I bring my own gear? Or just come to observe?

Would love to connect with fellow sky lovers in the area 🌌

#skygazing

#personalmoment

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Learn and Explore

Sophie Miller

06 May 2025

What’s the easiest way to tell a star from a planet?

I always get confused when looking at bright points in the sky — how can I know if I’m seeing a star or a planet? I’ve heard that planets don’t “twinkle” as much, is that true?

Would love an easy trick or visual example!

#starvsplanet

#beginnertips

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Technical Equipment

Bob Jones

19 Apr 2025

Power issues with my mount - help?

My GoTo mount started acting up during a session last night. It kept losing power every few minutes even though the battery was fully charged.

Could it be a wiring issue or just a bad battery pack? Anyone else had a similar issue?

#beginnertips

#equipment

#astrogear

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CITIZEN SCIENCE

Tobias Sullivan

05 June 2025

Joined a light pollution tracking project — surprisingly rewarding

Last week I joined a citizen science initiative called Globe at Night, where you log star visibility from your location to help build maps of global light pollution.

At first I wasn’t sure how much of a difference one person could make, but it’s honestly been eye-opening. I’ve started to notice how drastically sky visibility changes based on small changes in lighting — even turning off one porch light helped me spot more stars.

It’s also a great excuse to go outside every night and feel like you’re part of something bigger.

#community

#lightpollution

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Community