Explore Scientific

09/02/2026

SKY SPOTLIGHT: The waning gibbous Moon and the storied Pleiades star cluster with its brilliant blue stars will appear just over 1 degree apart tonight and tomorrow – meaning it’s a great time to see the duo in a pair of binoculars.
 
Also known by the names Messier 45 or the more poetic Seven Sisters, the Pleiades open star cluster has a rich lore that crosses cultures and goes back thousands of years. It is relatively young, having formed within the last 100 million years, and lies relatively close to Earth at about 440 light years away. Found in the Ta**us constellation, it  consists of more than 1,000 confirmed stars, although an average of only six are visible to the naked eye. A dark sky free of light pollution can help a dedicated observer see around a dozen Pleiades stars, but a good pair of binoculars or a low-power telescope can quickly reveal the more elusive members of this legendary cluster.
 
📷 Astrophotographer: Larry Byrge
🔭 Telescope: Explore Scientific ED102 Triplet Refractor
 

09/01/2026

The September 2026 Astronomy Calendar is here!

The Moon has a bounty of meet-ups, the equinox brings balance and “The Little Fox” lurks in the Summer Triangle — there’s lots happening this month in the world of astronomy.

Visit www.explorescientific.com/pages/september-2026-calendar to discover more about what you might see in this month’s night skies and track the Moon phases to plan the best time to observe.

09/01/2026

🚨 SEPTEMBER GIVEAWAY ALERT! 🚨🔭

One lucky winner will receive an incredible Explore Scientific FirstLight 80mm Refractor Telescope, complete with an iEXOS-100 Tracker Mount, Solar Filter, and Power Bank—a prize package valued at $549.97! 🌞✨

Whether you're ready to explore the Moon, observe the Sun with the included solar filter, or take your first steps into astrophotography, this is your chance to take your stargazing experience to the next level.

🌌 ENTER TO WIN and get ready to explore the universe!
Check out our current giveaway and see past winners. Don’t miss your chance to win STEM product prize packages that spark curiosity. Our giveaways are always free to enter. Earn entries by subscribing to our email marketing and following us on social media. https://explorescientific.com/pages/explore-scientific-giveaways

08/31/2026

Small but mighty, pixels are a powerful piece of peering into deep space.🔭👀

Want to claim a tiny part of NASA's next big discovery? Sign up to Adopt a Pixel in the 1st images from the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope!

08/27/2026

“Next Stop: Texas Astronomical Society 🚀🤠”

08/27/2026

This Explore Scientific ED 102 telescope was given to the Apollo 11 astronaut and features a custom badge with a piece of lunar metal inside the astronaut helmet, pretty cool piece of space history ✨🌑

08/26/2026

https://youtu.be/SWcmJjgMEUo

08/26/2026

August is almost over, but there’s still one more event astronomy enthusiasts will want to stay up a little late for — a deep partial lunar eclipse!
 
On August 27th/28th, observers throughout the Western Hemisphere will be treated to this special lunar event during which 93% of the Moon will eventually be blanketed by Earth’s shadow. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth and Moon align in a way that causes the full moon to be shrouded by Earth’s shadow.
 
The partial eclipse begins at 2:33 UTC on August 28 (9:33 p.m. CDT on August 27) and ends at 5:52 UTC (12:52 a.m. CDT on August 28). The moment of greatest eclipse happens at 4:12 UTC (11:12 p.m. CDT on August 27). For more information on the path and timing, visit www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2026-august-28.
 

08/26/2026

IC 5070 — the Pelican Nebula, in Cygnus.

The Pelican and the North America Nebula are the same cloud. What separates them is a dark molecular cloud sitting in front, blocking our line of sight and cutting one glowing region into two shapes we gave names to. Those black lanes running through the frame are it.

The bright rim on the right is the interesting part — an ionization front, where radiation from young stars is eroding cold gas and pushing outward. The dense pillars there are the material stubborn enough to survive it, at least for now. Some hold newborn stars still firing jets.

About 1,800 light-years away, and temporary: in a few million years the pelican won't look like a pelican anymore.

🔭: Explore Scientific: AR102

08/25/2026

Good Day, Explorers!

Here are four quick updates from the Explore Scientific community:

Comet 220P/McNaught has experienced two major outbursts, making it about 20,000 times brighter than usual and visible with binoculars and long-exposure cameras. Details at https://orbitalradar.com/blog/cosmic-gallery-2026-08-24

Explore Scientific’s new Waterproof ED Eyepieces are coming soon! The 72° and 92° series combine expansive fields of view with extra-low-dispersion glass for cleaner color, sharper detail, and improved contrast. Learn more and sign up for updates at https://explorescientific.com.

This Friday, August 28, Scott Roberts will speak at the Texas Astronomical Society General Meeting in Dallas. The program begins at 7:00 p.m. CT at UTD. Everyone is welcome in person; Zoom is available exclusively to TAS members. Details: https://texasastro.org.

Thank you to everyone who made ALCON 2026—and the Astronomical League’s 80th-anniversary celebration—such a memorable week of astronomy, discovery, and friendship! Details at https://www.alcon2026.org/

Keep looking up, keep sharing what you see, and never stop exploring.

ALCON 2026 the nation's premiere amateur astronomy conference hosted by the Cincinnati Astronomical Society and The Astronomical League