Latest news with #CelestronNexStar8SE
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
See Venus, the moon and fiery star Aldebaran form a dawn triangle this weekend
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. One of the brightest and most colorful stars in the sky and the most brilliant planet are on stage in the early morning dawn sky this weekend and will be joined by the moon on Monday morning. The star in question is Aldebaran, a first-magnitude star that shines with a distinct orange hue and marks the right eye of Taurus, the Bull. The brilliant planet is, of course, Venus, which outshines Aldebaran by almost five magnitudes or a light ratio difference of almost 100-fold. At this particular moment in time, both star and planet can be seen roughly one-quarter of the way up from the eastern horizon, roughly 45 minutes before sunrise. Venus, a dazzling morning "star," rises about an hour prior to the first light of dawn and shines low in the east-northeast as dawn brightens. On Monday morning, you'll also see a delicately thin (14 percent illuminated) crescent moon hovering approximately 8 degrees above Venus. Your clenched fist held at arm's length measures roughly 10 degrees in width, so on Monday morning, the slender lunar sliver will appear almost "one fist" above Venus. In a telescope, Venus is a disappointment: just a tiny, gibbous blob, 72 percent illuminated by the sun. It has shrunk and become more nearly round in recent months as it has swung far around to the back side of the sun as seen from Earth. TOP TELESCOPE PICK Want to see Venus, the moon, and Aldebaran together? The Celestron NexStar 8SE is ideal for beginners wanting quality, reliable and quick views of celestial objects. For a more in-depth look at our Celestron NexStar 8SE review. And situated well to the right of both Venus and the moon will be Aldebaran. The trio will appear to form a broad isosceles triangle with Venus marking the vertex angle, while Aldebaran and the moon form the base of the triangle. It will not be a particularly "tight" array, but still should be attractive enough to catch the attention of early risers. With the reappearance of Aldebaran, it is also a gentle reminder that while we are not yet at the midpoint of summer, the colder nights of fall and winter will be looming in the months to come. Aldebaran is crossing the meridian at midnight around Thanksgiving ... and at around 9 p.m. in mid-January. Who knows? By then, some of you might be shoveling snow. So take advantage of this week's opportunity to see not only an out-of-season winter star, but Venus as well, while they both "flirt" with a waning crescent moon. Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, Sky and Telescope and other publications.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Save up to $200 on Celestron NexStar telescopes in these 4th of July deals ahead of Prime Day
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Prime Day doesn't kick off until Tuesday, July 8, but if you don't want to wait until then, these 4th of July deals bring you a chance to save money on your next telescope ahead of the big four-day Prime event next week. We've scoured the web for the best deals ahead of Prime Day, and the entire Celestron NexStar range is on sale right now with savings of up to $200, including our favorite telescope, the Celestron NexStar 8SE. We only recommend products we truly love from brands we know and trust, and we keep track of prices throughout the year, so we can bring you genuine deals. Save $200 on the incredible Celestron NexStar 8SE, making it the cheapest it's been since January. Known as the 'world's most beloved telescope', and for good reason, this powerful 8-inch telescope can automatically locate and track almost any celestial subject quickly and effortlessly, so all you need to do is observe and enjoy. On July 25, Pluto will be shining at its brightest, and although it'll still be very faint, this 8-inch telescope will be your best chance at seeing it. Full review: Celestron NexStar 8SE ★★★★½Featured in: Best telescopesView Deal Save $120 on the 6-inch Celestron NexStar 6SE. While not quite as powerful as the 8SE, it's still an incredible option if you can't stretch your budget but still want breathtaking views of the planets and deep space. This telescope will be ideal to view the conjunction between the moon, Saturn and Neptune in the predawn hours on July 16. Editor's note, July 2: It was slightly cheaper back in April, so we're keeping our eyes on it to see if the price drops even Deal Save $100 on this 5-inch telescope and enjoy views of Saturn's rings, the belts of Jupiter and bright deep space objects like the Orion nebula and Andromeda galaxy. The 5SE is a great middle-ground between the portability of the 4SE and the optical power of the 6SE. The 5SE is a great telescope to view the moon and Mars conjunction on July Deal If you want something more affordable and portable than the rest, the smallest sibling, the Celestron NexStar 4SE, is now $50 off, and is a great alternative for beginners or anyone on a budget but still wants to invest in a great scope. Its 4-inch aperture is great for viewing the moon and nearby planets, and the computerized GoTo will have you viewing in minutes. This telescope will be fantastic for getting detailed views of the full buck moon on July 10. Featured in: Best small telescopes, Best beginner telescopesView Deal We're constantly checking the best prices on our Black Friday deals page for big discounts on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, air purifiers, fitness trackers and more.
