Toggle Announcements, Feedback, and News Announcements, Feedback, and News
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Cloudy Nights AnnouncementsNews from the Cloudy Nights team pertaining to the website and forums |
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Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and ReportsA place to discuss the articles posted on Cloudy Nights
Forum moderators:
Dan Crowson,
Dobs O Fun
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Toggle General Astronomy General Astronomy
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Beginners Forum (No Astrophotography)A place for new astronomers to ask visual observing or basic equipment questions and report their findings. |
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General Observing and AstronomyGeneral Observing and Amateur Astronomy topics and questions that do not fit into our other forums. This includes unaided eye observing (satellites, weather, auroras etc) and non equipment topics (LASIK, observing sites, dressing for the cold/hot etc) |
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OutreachThe official forum for the Astronomy Outreach Network. Post questions about Outreach, suggestions or even just publicize your Outreach events. If it has to do with promoting our great hobby, it goes here! |
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Light PollutionWhile CN does not typically allow politics, this is one forum in which the discussion of legislation dealing with this matter is permitted. This is a problem that will eventually affect all of us to one degree or another. |
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Toggle Equipment Discussions Equipment Discussions
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ATM, Optics and DIY ForumAmateur Telescope Making (ATM) and any do it yourself related activities. Ask questions, discuss and post pictures of telescope related projects, optics, telescopes, observing chairs, etc. |
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Binoculars"Best Of Binocular" Library, How to Choose, Equipment Minireviews, Observation Reports, Testing Aspects, Aberrations and Deficiencies, Books, Binocular Mounts, Observing Lists, Exit Pupil vs Eye Pupil, Binocular Vision and more |
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BinoviewersBinoviewer discussion forum |
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Cats & CassesA forum for discussing Cassegrain (Classic Cassegrain, Ritchey-Chrétien, Dall–Kirkham, etc) and Catadioptric telescopes (Schmidt and Maksutov Cassegrains, ACF, Edge HD, etc). |
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Classic TelescopesTelescopes from an era gone by. The place to discuss older telescopes. Antiques, flea market finds, and scopes from grandpa's attic. From the 1780's to the mid-1990's - refractors, reflectors, and early SCT's. Discussing all aspects of restoring, collecting, and observing with older scopes. Discussion of 25-year-old scopes still in production is OK but please don't post newer examples of those, except for actual side-by-side comparisons to demonstrate detail changes. |
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Equipment (No astrophotography)A forum for discussion of visual and general astronomy equipment and accessories; a default location if you your topic does not fit into any of the more specialized equipment forums such as Mounts, Eyepieces, Refractors, etc. |
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EyepiecesA place to discuss our favorite eyepieces and eyepiece accessories, barlows, filters, etc. |
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MountsA Forum to discuss all types of mounts and mount accessories - including computerized, manual, GEM, fork mount, parallactic, alt-az, DSCs, PushTo and GoTo systems. |
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Night Vision AstronomyNight Vision Astronomy is astronomy performed with analog or digital devices capable of producing a real time view of celestial objects. This forum allows discussion of the equipment, its configuration and use, observing reports made using the devices, techniques for image capture, and the sharing of images the observer made to record their observations. |
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ObservatoriesA forum for discussing the ins and outs of current observatories as well as sharing designs, and ideas. Manufacturers and Vendors are invited to attend. |
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ReflectorsA forum for discussing Newtonian type reflecting telescopes (including Schmidt and Maksutov designs as well as Herschelian, Off-Axis, etc). |
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RefractorsA forum for discussing refractor telescopes. |
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Toggle Astrophotography and Sketching Astrophotography and Sketching
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Major & Minor Planetary ImagingThis forum is intended for discussion related to the imaging and processing of anything in the solar system other than our Sun, Moon, and comets. Solar imaging discussion should occur in the target-oriented "Solar Observing & Imaging" forum. Posts about imaging our Moon should go in the target-oriented "Lunar Observing & Imaging" forum. Posts about imaging comets should go in the target-oriented "Comet Observing and Imaging" forum. Aesthetic Deep Sky Object Imaging should generally be discussed in the Beginning or Experienced DSO Imaging Forum |
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Beginning Deep Sky ImagingThis forum is intended for discussion related to beginning Deep Sky Object (DSO) imaging using any type of camera or mount. If you are interested in specialized or more sophisticated DSO techniques or are interested in imaging non-DSO targets please start your topic in a more appropriate forum. |
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Experienced Deep Sky ImagingThis forum is intended for discussion about practice & theory related to prime-focus Deep Sky Object (DSO) imaging through a telescope using any type of camera. If you are a beginner or interested in more specialized types of imaging, please use the appropriate forum. |
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DSLR, Mirrorless & General-Purpose Digital Camera DSO ImagingThis forum is for more advanced discussion about accessories, techniques or approaches to astrophotography with general purpose (not astronomy dedicated) digital cameras. Topics include (but are not limited to): advanced afocal approaches, minimalist & camping rigs, nightscape photography, accessories & modifications. Discussions involving prime focus imaging with general purpose cameras can certainly occur here, but are also welcome in the Beginning or Experienced DSO Imaging Fora. |
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Film AstrophotographyDiscussions about astrophotography using film. |
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Electronically Assisted Astronomy (No Post-Processing)Electronically Assisted Astronomy (EAA) is the use of a camera in lieu of an eyepiece at the telescope to capture and view images in near real time. For the purposes of this forum, near real time images must have a maximum total integration of no more than 60 minutes and cannot be post-processed. The purpose of the EAA Forum is to give members a place to share their observing experiences, talk about the equipment used, and post images captured with EAA devices. |
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SketchingA forum for the discussion of sketching stellar objects, and displaying user drawings. |
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Smart TelescopesA forum for the discussion of all-in-one, computer controlled, astrographs. Such instruments include, but are not limited to, those made by Vaonis, Unistellar, DwarfLab & ZWO. This forum is intended for the discussion of instrument-specific hardware and software. The processing of final images, their use for outreach, or general astronomy topics may be more appropriate in other Cloudy Nights forums. |
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Toggle Observing Observing
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Solar System ObservingA friendly place to discuss planetary & solar system object observing. |
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Lunar Observing and ImagingA forum dedicated to the observation and appreciation of our Moon. Join us in the Lunie Bin and learn about the only world other than the Earth to bear the imprint of human feet. Images and sketches are most welcome. (Please limit the size of image files to 500K.) |
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Deep Sky ObservingA dark place to discuss deep sky observing and observations |
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Double Star ObservingDouble Stars, Rayleigh Limit and Dawes Limit; a place for observers with split personalities. |
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Solar Observing and ImagingHot place to discuss solar observing and imaging topics |
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Solar EclipsesA forum for discussion of all things related to the North American total solar eclipses of 2017 and 2024, as well as any other solar eclipses - events, outreach, equipment, etc.
Forum moderators:
DeepSky Di,
RedLionNJ
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Comet Observing and ImagingA place to discuss all things about comets. Both observing and imaging topics are welcome here. |
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Scientific Amateur AstronomyA forum where amateurs can discuss their contributions to fields such as spectroscopy, photometry, astrometry, interferometry, and radio astronomy. Astronomical objects of interest may include variable and carbon stars, pulsars, supernovae, AGNs, exoplanets, asteroids, and short-lived energetic phenomena such as GRBs. The presentation of quantitative observational measurements, techniques used for acquisition, and relevant ensuing discussion are especially welcome. |
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Toggle Telescope Specific Forums Telescope Specific Forums
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Celestron Computerized TelescopesDiscussion forum for Celestron computerized telescopes and mounts using NexStar and StarSense technologies, including CPC, CPC Deluxe HD, NexStar SE/SLT/Evolution, etc.
Forum moderators:
GUS.K,
Wildetelescope
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Questar ForumA forum for discussing Questar and Quantum telescopes
Forum moderators:
gstrumol,
zombie1210
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Meade Computerized TelescopesA forum to discuss advanced Meade scopes. Among them the ETX, LX90, LX200, LX200 GPS, RCX, and the LX200 ACF series.
Forum moderators:
osbourne one-nil,
Professor2112
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Toggle Speciality Forums Speciality Forums
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Astronomy Clubs, Star Parties, Shows, & ConferencesFor discussion and announcements of astronomy club meetings, star parties, astronomy conferences and other events. |
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Astro Art, Books, Websites & Other MediaA place to share your astronomy artwork (non-photographic) and *non* commercial astronomy websites and discuss astro related books, magazines, charts, movies and TV shows. |
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Astronomy Software & ComputersThis is the place to discuss all things associated with computers & gadgets, both hardware and software (including PDAs, smartphones, tablets, laptops, astronomy programs and apps, Celestron SkyScout and Meade MySky devices, etc.) -- as they relate to astronomy. |
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Science! Astronomy & Space Exploration, and OthersDiscuss all science topics, particularly the sciences relating to Astronomy and Space Exploration. This includes all the natural sciences: Physics, Chemistry, Geology, and Biology. They can include applied sciences such as engineering and construction as well. Wherever the scientific method is used, you can discuss it here. As always, no politics, pseudo-science, crack-pottery, or anti-science. |
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Space RocksThis is the place to discuss meteorites and related subjects - including tektites, impact theories, and parent bodies. Got a question about collecting or caring for your meteorites? Ask it here. |
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Toggle Other Other
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Cloudy Days & MicroscopesThis forum is to discuss birding and other daytime or indoor terrestrial usage of optics, and related equipment; e.g. microscopes.
Forum moderators:
j.gardavsky,
Sean Cunneen
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Toggle Vendor Announcements Vendor Announcements
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Vendor and Group AnnouncementsA place for vendors and non-CN related organizations to post announcements. |
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CNers have asked about a donation box for Cloudy Nights over the years, so here you go. Donation is not required by any means, so please enjoy your stay.
Recent Topics
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Hercules 2025: The upper 100's in the South-East corner
The Ardent - Today, 05:09 PM
Double Star Observing
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Interesting things around Saturn this morning - 6/24/25 - unfortunately my abilities do not do them justice.dcaponeii - Today, 04:35 PM
Major & Minor Planetary Imaging
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