Author: Robert Findlay

Hi, I'm Rob, and I’m a keen astronomer. I found astronomy while working in dark rural locations. Initially, I explored the night sky and learnt the constellations before purchasing a pair of binoculars to further my knowledge of the sky. My first telescope was a 200 mm Newtonian reflector on an equatorial mount. I found that this telescope had a steep learning curve but was a rewarding experience. As time progressed, I became interested in astrophotography. This resulted in purchasing a 110 mm refracting telescope and a dedicated monochrome-cooled astronomical camera. This resulted in another very rewarding steep learning curve that far surpassed the experience with my first telescope. I have joined Telescope Guru to share my knowledge of telescopes and astronomy.

The Next Lunar Eclipse: August 27 – 28, 2026

The next lunar eclipse will occur during the night of August 27 to 28, 2026. It will bring one of nature’s most engaging celestial displays to skies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Antarctica: a deep partial lunar eclipse. At greatest eclipse, more than 93% of the Moon’s disc will be plunged into Earth’s umbral […]

The Next Solar Eclipse: August 12, 2026

Solar eclipses have captivated humanity since time immemorial. These celestial events briefly transform daylight, turning day into an eerie twilight. The next solar eclipse occurs on August 12, 2026. It will be a total eclipse. You can read about what a total eclipse is below the details of this event. This post provides details of […]

Observing Guide: May and Jun 2026

Below is your observing guide for the months of May and June 2026. As spring transitions to summer in the northern hemisphere, the nights become shorter but warmer, offering comfortable observing conditions. This guide highlights some of the better targets you should plan to observe. While it doesn’t list all targets, it will give you […]

Observing Guide: March and April 2026

Below is your observing guide for March and April 2026. If this is the first of our observation guides you have visited, you may wish to review our Observing Guides page, as it contains a lot of valuable information. The page details what is presented here and how to get the most out of the […]

Observing Guide: January and February 2026

Below is your observing guide for January and February 2026. As winter peaks in the northern hemisphere, the crisp, clear nights offer excellent stargazing opportunities. During these months, some of the year’s most prominent constellations and celestial objects grace the night sky. This guide highlights some of the better targets you should plan to observe. […]

Dark Matter: The Hidden Mass Shaping the Universe

Galaxy cluster with dark matter and arcs

For many years, it was thought that all the mass of the universe was present in a form that we can detect due to its emission of electromagnetic radiation. Since the 1930s, evidence has mounted that this assumption was incorrect. This change of thought was based on the observations that galaxies in clusters had orbits […]

Supermassive Black Holes and Active Galactic Nuclei

This post explores supermassive black holes (SMBHs). It will discuss the tools that astronomers use to find these objects before exploring their link with active galactic nuclei (AGN). It will be discovered that SMBHs provide the energy source that produces AGN. The phenomena we observe from these objects are described by a unified model based […]

What are Binary Stars?: A Complete Guide for Amateur Astronomers

Look up at the night sky, and you might think each twinkling point of light is a single star, much like our Sun. Interestingly, this is not true. We find that the vast majority of stars are part of binary or multiple-star systems. To put a number on it, 85% of stars are in binary […]

How Far Can a Telescope See

During your observing sessions, you may have wondered how far a telescope can peer into the cosmic depths or how far we can see with only our eyes. I was wondering about this recently and thought I would investigate it and provide information that others might find helpful. Also included in the article is how […]

The Ultimate Guide to Crayford Focusers: Precision Focusing for Your Telescope

Crayford focuser with attached diagonal and eyepieve

Accurate focus is a must for rewarding views of astronomical objects. Crayford focusers have revolutionized this process, offering smooth, accurate focusing that’s become the gold standard in modern telescope design. You should consider a Crayford focuser for your telescope. Understanding the Basics The Crayford focuser, invented by John Wall in 1971 at the Crayford Manor […]