Category: Skywatching Kit

I have been waiting to get my hands on a pair of Unistellar Envision smart binoculars since they were announced in 2024. Our editor-in-chief tried an early demo of them last year and said that they felt like something out of Star Trek. He was, of course, referencing the red augmented reality (AR) overlay in the Envisions that can identify night sky targets and landmarks, as well as displaying navigational tools. These are the first pair of smart binoculars that can identify targets in the night sky, such as planets, stars and deep space objects.

The build is solid and while they aren't the most lightweight binoculars, the body is hiding that extra technology that enables the AR overlay in the right hand lens. Each pair ships with a soft carry case, a padded neck strap, a USB-C cable and rubber caps for the eyepieces and lenses.

I would highly recommend setting these binoculars up in the daytime, as you definitely need a few minutes to get used to the controls and to perform the diopter adjustment. After powering on, all I had to do was connect the model to the Unistellar app, which recognised the device easily and then watch the onboarding videos. Unistellar also recommends performing a 360-degree calibration before your first use to help ensure the best performance.

You need to have location services set to "always" for the Unistellar app so that it can work out your exact location and give you an accurate reading on the augmented reality (AR) display for locations of night sky targets and landmarks.

I haven't had chance to use the night mode on these binoculars yet, thanks to cloudy skies, but I did use the topographical identification and was impressed with the ease of identifying landmarks around my local area. Besides the night and daytime modes, there is also a navigation mode which displays your cardinal direction alongside degrees of your azimuth and elevation angles.

I had a chance to try out the target lock feature on a geographical landmark with a friend and they found the target easily via the indicator on the AR display. The issue with swapping between two people is that the diopter adjustment only be accurate for one person and I can imagine that constantly changing it during field observation would be annoying. My friend also had to adjust the focus wheel to get the AR overlay sharp enough to read but it was a minor inconvenience.

The controls are intuitive and easy to use once you are used to the placement on the top panel. On the left you have the "next" button for advancing a guided tour to the next target, the "target lock" button and the "mode" button for cycling through the different display modes. On the right is the calibration button for adjusting the augmented reality (AR) display against your real-world view and the power button, which doubles up as a switch to turn the AR display on and off.

I'm looking forward to putting the Unistellar Envisions through their paces as I spend more time with them and get some clear skies to try them out on some stars. I think that these are going to be a great tool for learning my way around the night sky, as well as being invaluable when trying to teach others about constellations and targets. With extra functionality expected in future software updates and a plan to allow third-party app development in 2027, I am excited about the possibilities of the exciting new world of smart binoculars.

The Pococo Galaxy Star Projector has firmly established itself as a fan-favorite home planetarium, backed by almost 3,000 Amazon reviews and a stellar 62% five-star rating. Its standout performance easily earned it a permanent spot on our buyer's guide to the best star projectors as the best value choice on the market. This early Black Friday deal is offering 24% saving off the retail price, with a $25 discount.

You can get the Pococo Galaxy Star Projector, on sale for just $79.99 on Amazon.

If you're looking for an early Christmas gift, then the Pococo Galaxy Star Projector is currently at its best price of the year and is worth picking up now, as this deal is marked as a limited-time offer.

• We've got you covered with reviews and rankings of the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

With an impressive $25 discount, the Pococo Galaxy Star Projector hits a genuine sweet spot for both casual stargazers and detail-obsessed space fans, easily doubling as ambient mood lighting for unwinding, studying or meditation.

During testing, its no-fuss operation proved to be a real highlight. The interface is stripped back to just three intuitive buttons dedicated to power, rotation, and an auto-shutoff sleep timer.

Cord-free convenience is another massive win; the integrated battery charges via standard USB-C, letting you easily shift the projector from a bedside table to a shelf without tethering it to a wall socket. Eco-conscious buyers will also appreciate the thoughtful chassis construction, which incorporates recycled plastics.

Unlike cheap novelty lasers, the Pococo relies on swappable, scientifically accurate optical discs to cast high-fidelity snapshots of the cosmos across your walls and ceiling.

You get two discs included in the box to get you started immediately, with optional themed expansion packs available for roughly $53. However, if you wish to add to your disc collection straight away, the Pococo Expansion Packs are also currently 20% off on Amazon. That takes these six disc sets down to just $43.19, from the usual $53.99. Expansion packs include a series of packages, including the Moon and stars, fixed stars and nebulas and also the immersive planets.

Key Specs: Dimensions: 6.2 x 4.7 x 4.7-inches (157 x 120 x 120mm), weight: 1.7 lbs (771g), max. size of projection: 39 x 39 ft (12 x 12m), rechargeable battery.

Product launched: September 2022.

Price history: With a launch price of $120, the price has dipped over time and sat around the $99 mark, only dipping for sale events, like Black Friday. However, the current $79.99 price is one of the lowest prices we've seen.

Review consensus: The Pococo Star Projector ticked all the boxes for us as an overall excellent projector, and we think it's a worthwhile competitor to more expensive rivals. It has a similar functionality to the best in guide Homestar Flux, and we think its imagery is just as good. Add the fact that the Pococo Galaxy Star Projector is rechargeable, and with its current discount, it's arguably better.

Space: ★★★★

Featured in guides: Best star projectors

Buy if: You don't want to drop too much money and want a star projector that combines soothing lights with detailed imagery of planets, constellations and nebulas.

Don't buy if: You're looking for the best money can buy; the Homestar Flux Home Planetarium Star Projector is our best in guide, currently priced at $259 on Amazon.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

Black Friday is still weeks away but we've spotted this early telescope deal on a Celestron telescope designed with beginners in mind.

The Celestron Travel Scope 70 is a great entry-level telescope that delivers better views of the moon, planets and some deep-sky objects. It's also suitable for children while you decide if you want to drop serious money on a bigger telescope further down the line.

You can buy the Celestron Travel Scope 70, on sale right now for $90 on Amazon.

• Check out our Black Friday page, where we bring you the best deals of Black Friday 2026, including early telescope deals.
• We've also got you covered with reviews and rankings of the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, drones, Lego, streaming and more.

Moving from stargazing with the naked eye to using specialist optics, like binoculars and telescopes, is a wonderful experience. You get to see those wonderful objects in the sky up-close and in much more detail. The problem? A lot of the best telescopes cost eye-watering prices or are so big that you have to sacrifice floor space in your home. You might want one of those models and are still figuring out which one to buy. What to do in the meantime?

Grabbing a small budget model like the Celestron Travel Scope 70 won't dent your bank account and will provide you with better views of the moon, planets and stars without requiring its own observatory. We reviewed the Celestron Moon Mission Travel Scope 70 and gave it three and a half stars for its portability, affordability and the great views of the moon it delivered.

It is especially ideal for beginner astronomers or children and a great starting telescope to nurture a lifelong hobby and interest in the night sky. It won't give you the most HD views but it is great for getting a better view of the moon, Jupiter and some star clusters.

With Black Friday arriving Nov. 27, we are expecting prices to drop across a range of skywatching gear, technology and Lego, so stay tuned to our Black Friday page for the best prices on gear we have experience with.

Key features: 70mm aperture, fully coated optics, a carry bag, a collapsible, full-height tripod, 10mm and 20mm eyepieces, a finderscope and Celestron's Starry Night Software Basic Edition.

Price history: This scope dipped to $81 during Amazon's June Prime Day event, but this is the cheapest it has been since then.

Price Comparison: Amazon: $90 | B&H Photo: $90 | Best Buy: $90

Review consensus: This is a great beginner-friendly telescope and comes with a couple of eyepieces to get new users on their skywatching journey. It has a strong review consensus on Amazon that praises the ease of assembly and portability of the model.

✅ Buy it if: You are a total beginner or just need something light that can be taken away on a trip.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want something that has more room to grow with you as you get more experience stargazing. Our best telescopes guide has other options that are more expensive, but many of them offer more room to grow after you have learned the basics.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

Budget primes can be, surprisingly, excellent choices for photographers shooting all subjects. It’s all too easy to get carried away with the best specs, such as a large maximum aperture and impressive optical design often seen in more expensive options. But affordable lenses like the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 II FE (APO) have the potential to impress and delight in equal measure.

The 35mm f/1.8 is a compact and lightweight lens offering a reasonably fast maximum aperture, making it a prime candidate for astrophotography. It’s also the same size and almost the same weight as the Viltrox AF 55mm f/1.8 FE (APO), another lens that could potentially grace your camera bag.

With a highly attractive price tag of just $399 / £385, and mount options for Nikon Z and Sony FE, many astrophotographers will be wondering if this is a lens worth considering. It features 13 elements in 10 groups, as well as featuring an apochromatic (APO) design for reducing chromatic aberration as much as possible. As much as possible is key here because not all lenses are as successful as the manufacturer claims, although that’s not a comment on the 35mm f/1.8. Read on to discover if this could be one of the best lenses for astrophotography.

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 II EVO FE (APO) lens review

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 II EVO FE (APO): Performance

• Sharp images for the price
• Sweet spot at f/8-f/11, not ideal for astro
• Some astigmatism at the edges of the frame

For a budget lens, the 35mm f/1.8 produces great, yet not perfect, image quality. On the plus side, images are nice and sharp, particularly in the centre, even when shooting wide open at f/1.8. At this aperture setting, though, there is some astigmatism at the left edges of the frame. This is where stars appear as crosses. This is a surprise since it’s an APO lens, and, equally surprising, it’s isolated, but it is something you have to consider.

You do have to zoom into the image to see it, so it may not be a dealbreaker. Photos shot at f/1.8 are sharpest in the centre, with some fall-off towards the edges, with the corners exhibiting the least sharpness. There’s also the strongest vignetting at f/1.8. At the time of writing, there’s no Adobe Lightroom lens profile for the lens, but you can manually remove the vignetting and even create a preset of your own.

The vignette disappears as soon as f/4, with a gradual increase in sharpness across the frame between f/2.8 and f/5.6. f/8 and f/11 appear identical in terms of sharpness and occupy the sweet spot, while diffraction is clearly at work when you stop down to f/16. In reality, it’s unlikely you’d shoot beyond f/11 with this lens, even if you were shooting landscapes.

Overall, image quality is impressive despite not being perfect and stopping down to f/2.8 when shooting astro does provide greater clarity across the frame. This is, as you know, at the expense of having to shoot at a slightly higher ISO setting to compensate.

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 II EVO FE (APO): Design

• Compact and lightweight
• Manual aperture ring
• Weather sealed

While f/1.8 lenses may not have the speed and light-gathering capabilities of faster f/1.4 and f/1.2 lenses, they’re considerably smaller and lighter. The lens only has a 58mm filter thread, so if you use any night filters, they will be at the less expensive end of the price scale.

For some photographers, the slight speed reduction of f/1.8 is a worthy compromise, and at 3.33 x 4.37 in / 69 x 76 mm with a weight of 12.52 oz / 355 g, the 35mm f/1.8 is beautifully compact and balances well with camera bodies.

Build quality is excellent, and it’s fair to say the lens belies its budget price tag. The metal build alongside the manual aperture ring gives the 35mm f/1.8 a much more premium look and feel.

The aperture ring can also be set to A for in-body aperture adjustments, as well as offering the ability to switch the aperture click on and off. The latter is most popular with videographers. There’s also a customizable Fn button on the side.

The lens is weather-sealed against light rain and dust, with a rubber gasket on the lens mount. The front element also features a water and smudge-resistant coating, which is certainly useful for outdoor photography. Plus, there’s a minimum focusing distance of just 13.4 in / 34 cm, which is useful for daylight photography but of no consequence for astrophotography.

The 35mm f/1.8 is made up of 13 elements in 10 groups, and as previously mentioned, features an APO design, which is intended to eliminate chromatic aberration in high-contrast scenes.

The elements include two extra-low dispersion (ED), three high refractive index (HR) and one ultra aspherical (UA). The UA lens is claimed to be Viltrox’s LAB Series quality, which matches the Viltrox flagship line-up.

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 II EVO FE (APO): Functionality

• Smooth manual focus
• Internal focusing
• Stepping motor-powered AF

When it comes to features, prime lenses are always pretty basic, with few features to shout about. The 35mm f/1.8 is certainly no exception, but its build quality and overall design hold up alongside its image quality and reasonably fast maximum aperture. It does, however, have a few points worth mentioning.

One feature that many Viltrox lenses have, including the 35mm f/1.8, is a USB-C Port on the lens mount. This allows you to use a smartphone app or a desktop app to quickly and easily update firmware. This is so much easier than having to download a file to your memory card and installing lens updates via the camera, which is how most native lenses have to be updated.

The manual aperture ring features click and clickless operation via a switch on the side, so you can easily see what aperture you’re using at a glance. The focusing ring is smooth and offers comfortable resistance, making manual focus a breeze. It’s also wide enough to rotate using gloves, although, being a compact lens, it’s narrower than what you’d expect on a larger and faster prime lens.

Autofocus (AF) is reasonably fast and silent, being powered by an stepping motor (STM). The AF performance seemed to improve after the firmware update that was installed via the desktop app before testing fully commenced.

This functionality isn’t, of course, relevant to astrophotography, but it’s still a useful point to mention in case you intend to use the lens with autofocus in the day. Focusing is also internal, so the front element doesn’t rotate during focusing like cheap and cheerful kit lenses.

How we tested the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 II EVO FE (APO)

The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 FE (APO) was tested with the Sony A7R V, which offers an unforgivingly high resolution. The lens was tested at night with a focus on astrophotography, and in daylight to assess sharpness, distortion and general functionality for an all-round approach to testing.

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 II EVO FE (APO): User reviews

Online reviews echo one another, praising the AF 35mm f/1.8 for its sharpness and cost. Users appreciate that while it’s certainly not in the league of Sony’s premium G Master lenses, it represents great value for money. Some reviewers mention great build quality and looking good when paired with their Sony camera.

Should you buy the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 FE (APO)?

Prime lenses can be expensive, especially if you’re looking at those with an f/1.4 or f/1.2 maximum aperture. The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 FE (APO) is a budget option in the Viltrox line-up, but with decent overall performance alongside impressive image quality for the price, this is a great 35mm lens for those on a budget. It’s also compact and lightweight, which could be useful if you often head out shooting with several lenses in your kit bag.

Just going back to image quality, images are sharp, but when shooting astrophotography at f/1.8, there was some astigmatism at the left edges of the frame. This is where stars appear as crosses. You can only really see this when you zoom in to 100%, but it’s worth bearing in mind if you’re looking for the closest to optical perfection you can find.

When a weather-sealed prime lens with a manual aperture ring costs just $399 / £385, you can’t help but take notice. Build quality is excellent and the lens undoubtedly looks and feels like it would be more expensive than it is.

Considering all of this and the image quality, the lens is fairly priced and is still at the release price, so it could become more affordable in the future. Just like other Viltrox lenses, in the box you get the lens, a lens hood, front and rear lens caps and a soft lens case.

If this lens isn't for you

The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE is part of Viltrox’s flagship lens series and offers a much faster maximum aperture, as the name suggests. It’s also more expensive, larger and heavier.

If you’d like a wider lens, the Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G is a fantastic option offering exceptional image quality alongside a compact build and light weight. A potential must-have for Sony users.

If you’d like to go wider still, the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is an absolute beast of a lens, offering an ultra-wide light-gathering field of view alongside a fast f/1.4 maximum aperture.

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As you know, prime lenses come in a wide range of sizes and focal lengths, and every once in a while, one comes along and seems to grab you by the scruff of your neck. One such lens is the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE, which is an impressive and useful lens for astrophotography thanks to its wide-angle field of view and fast maximum aperture.

This lens is one of the wider prime lenses that are available and could be one of the best third-party lenses for astrophotography. With a price of just $464 (£533), this is one of the most cost-effective wide-angle primes, but rather than being a second-rate lens, its build quality and image quality are fantastic. It’s not the best, but it’s undoubtedly a lens you would enjoy.

Image quality is excellent overall, with no need for lens corrections, except for vignette removal when shooting wide open. With near-perfect sharpness and minimal distortion and aberrations straight out of the camera, perhaps the weight of the lens is a small price to pay.

The lens is made up of 15 elements in 12 groups and is built like a tank, with an all-metal body. It is pretty heavy, though, weighing in at 19.4 oz (550 g) despite its relatively compact size. Attach this lens to one of the best Sony cameras and you will have a formidable combination. The 16mm f/1.8 is also available in the Nikon Z-mount.

Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE lens review

Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE: Performance

• Great image quality
• Impressively sharp at f/1.8
• Excellent corner sharpness

With a focal length of 16mm and a maximum aperture of f/1.8, this is clearly a great lens for astrophotography from a technical point of view. The light-gathering capabilities are excellent, to say the least, and during testing it was possible to shoot at a range of ISO levels with a moonless sky. Even ISO 800 was often high enough for a correct exposure.

The image quality produced by the 16mm f/1.8 is great, with excellent levels of sharpness across the frame. What’s most important here is that even corner sharpness is fantastic when wide open at f/1.8. This is the aperture setting where vignetting is at its strongest, but it reduces drastically when you stop down to f/2.8 and is completely gone by the time you stop down to f/4.

Luckily, though, there is a lens profile in Adobe Camera Raw and Adobe Lightroom that completely removes vignetting. There’s also only minimal chromatic aberration and a tiny amount of barrel distortion, which is impressive given the wide field of view produced by the lens.

As mentioned before, sharpness is great wide open and improves incrementally as you stop down up to the sweet spot of the lens, which is f/8. Sharpness drops slightly at f/11, and it’s at f/16 where diffraction begins to soften the image overall. This increases further when you stop down to f/22.

These latter apertures aren’t relevant to astrophotography; the medium ones aren’t either but the sharpness produced at f/1.8 and f/2.8 is exactly what you want.

Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE: Design

• Weather-sealed build
• Compact yet heavy
• Great handling

The 16mm f/1.8 lens is something of an oddity in one respect: it’s both compact and heavy considering its size, although this comes down to its optical construction. The lens weighs 19.4 oz (550 g) with a size of just 3.35 x 4.06 in (85.2 x 103 mm). It does, however, balance well with Sony A-series cameras.

The 16mm f/1.8 is made up of 15 elements in 12 groups, including four ED glass and three aspherical lenses. The optical construction is designed to deliver sharpness, detail and high contrast with minimal distortion. It’s fair to say it achieves these. Of course, you will experience some perspective distortion when tilting the lens up to capture more of the night sky when there are ground elements in the foreground.

Unlike some wide-angle lenses, the front element isn’t bulbous, and it features an HD nano multilayer coating with a water-resistant and antifouling coating. The filter thread is also just 77mm, so you can easily attach screw-in and square filters if you use them for your astrophotography.

The minimum focusing distance of the lens is 10.6 inches (27 cm), which is great for landscape photographers but less important for astrophotographers.

Build quality is impressive thanks to an all-metal body and weather-sealing. This gives the lens a premium look, and it feels robust in the hand. There’s also a useful digital color screen that displays lens information.

When it comes to controls, there are possibly a few more on this lens than you might find on the average prime. There’s a manual focusing ring that’s wide enough for use when wearing gloves, a manual aperture ring that can be set to stepped and stepless operation using a switch on one side of the lens, two customizable Fn buttons and an AF/MF switch.

Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE: Functionality

• Small color digital screen
• Customizable Fn buttons
• 105.6-degree field of view

The Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE is a full-frame lens offering a generous 105.6-degree field of view, allowing you to capture more of the night sky. This lens naturally works with all Sony FE bodies, and if you shoot APS-C, it will give you an equivalent focal length of 24mm. This means if you currently own an APS-C camera but plan to upgrade to full-frame, this lens could comfortably join you on that journey.

As prime lenses go, this one has a few more bells and whistles than most, so there are a few more things to talk about than usual. Focusing is internal, so the front element doesn’t rotate or extend outwards, which is great when using filters.

For astrophotography, manual focus is the only way to go, but this lens also has autofocus for when you’re shooting other subjects. The autofocus isn't the fastest we’ve seen, taking about 0.25 seconds to lock onto subjects when the lens is wide open, or 0.5 seconds when stopped down. This is driven by an SMT stepping motor, which is quiet but audible.

One feature that you don’t see on many lenses is a small color digital screen on the top of the lens. This shows the focus distance, aperture setting and the active Fn control. Is it a gimmick? A bit. Is it useful? Yes. For astrophotography, the screen is definitely useful because it’s illuminated.

As with most Viltrox lenses, there’s also a USB-C port on the lens mount so it can be powered. This allows you to connect the lens to the Viltrox Lens app via Bluetooth to update firmware and customize the Fn buttons and the digital screen’s welcome screen. This makes firmware updates incredibly easy, which is a great feature to have.

Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE: User reviews

In online reviews, users consistently highlight the lens's value and image quality. Build quality comes up time and time again, thanks to the all-metal build.

Many users report that overall, the lens offers much more than you’d expect for the price and even more than some more expensive lenses.

How we tested the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE

The Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE was tested in combination with the Sony A7R V, which offers an unforgivingly high resolution. The lens was tested at night with a focus on astrophotography, and in daylight to assess sharpness, distortion and general functionality for an all-round approach to testing.

Should you buy the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE?

Since there are only a few alternatives to the Viltrox AF 16mm f/1.8 FE, and given that it offers excellent value for money, this is absolutely a lens worth considering if you need a wide-angle prime.

Furthermore, you’ll struggle to find a similar alternative with the same balance of overall build quality and price. Image quality is excellent, even in the corners and edges of the frame when shooting wide open with minimal distortion.

The two customizable Fn buttons and the illuminated color screen that provides useful lens information are extremely helpful when shooting in the dark.

With a price of $464 (£533) and given its build quality, image quality and overall handling, this lens represents excellent value for money. And while it may be a full-frame lens, APS-C users can still enjoy a 24mm equivalent focal length, so it’s a useful lens for astrophotography whichever format you shoot with.

This is a professional-quality lens with a mid-range price tag, and like other Viltrox lenses, you get the lens, a lens hood, front and rear lens caps and a soft lens case in the box.

If this lens isn't for you

The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE is a slightly less wide Viltrox lens with a much faster aperture and is part of the company’s flagship LAB series.

The Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G is a fantastic wide-angle prime offering excellent image quality in a compact and lightweight form factor.

The Sigma 14mm f/1.4 DG DN Art is something of a beast, both in terms of specs and its size. With a 14mm focal length and f/1.4 maximum aperture, it’s perfect for astrophotography.

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The best stargazing apps can take your observation of the night sky to the next level, whether that's using augmented reality (AR mode) to identify stars or looking up the next lunar eclipse.

However, the bright light emitted by smartphone screens can prevent your eyes from adjusting to the dark. If you're using one of the best telescopes, you'll want to preserve your night vision even more. Fortunately, there are ways to all but eliminate this problem.

Why are bright screens bad for stargazing?

When you step out into the dark, it can take up to 20-30 minutes for your vision to adjust. The rod cells in your eyes build up a chemical known as rhodopsin, which gives you night vision.

However, bright light bleaches that chemical, negatively impacting your night vision. So when you look through a telescope, binoculars or just turn your eyes to the night sky after peering at a bright phone screen, it'll be harder for you to pick out fainter objects such as galaxies and nebulas.

One way of fixing this problem is simply to put your phone away and wait another 20-30 minutes. But if you're using a stargazing app to help you navigate the night skies, that's not really an option.

The good news is that, between individual stargazing apps and your phone's own built-in features, you can minimize the impact of your smartphone's screen light.

How to block white light in stargazing apps

Many of the best stargazing apps will let you enable a red light filter or similar, though this option may not always be present in the free version. Here's how to do that in three of our favorite stargazing apps:

SkyView: Tap the screen, tap the horizontal lines, tap on Settings, then Display, then Night Mode and Red.

Star Walk 2: Tap the horizontal lines, tap on Settings, then tap the button next to Night Mode.

Sky Tonight: Tap the horizontal lines, tap on Settings, then Tools, then Night Mode.

All these modes will minimize the amount of white light coming from the app. However, be aware that this is only within the app. Once you go back to your phone's main menu, it will be at full color. With the red screen naturally looking darker, you may have turned up the brightness on your phone, so making the switch away from the app will be quite the shock.

If you want to dim your whole phone or put it into red light mode, here's how to do that on Android or iPhone.

How to block white light on Android phones

On Android, there are several ways to minimize the impact of bright light, depending on the model and make of phone you have.

One near-universal option is to dim your smartphone. Swipe down the notification panel from the top of the screen and you'll see a brightness slider. Slide this to the left to dim your phone.

We'd also recommend disabling adaptive brightness in the Display section of your phone's settings. You may also have an Extra Dim option in the Accessibility menu — just don't dim the screen to the point of not being able to see it at all!

Some Android phones, such as recent Samsung and Google Pixel models, also offer a Red Filter. On some, you'll find this in Accessibility, then Vision Enhancements, then Color Filter. You can then choose the color you want and also tweak the opacity.

All the above options will let you continue to use your smartphone for stargazing, while minimizing its negative impact on your night vision.

How to block white light on Apple iPhones

As with Android phones, iPhones have a built-in option to dim the screen brightness. In this case, you swipe down from the top of the screen and look for the vertical brightness slider, represented by a sun icon. Reduce the slider as much as you're comfortable with, dimming the screen while still keeping it visible.

Beyond that, recent iPhones also offer the ability to apply a color filter, again via their Accessibility options. Here's how to do that.

First, tap on the Settings icon, then pick Accessibility. Select Display & Text Size and go to Color Filters. Tap the Color Filter button. Then, pick Color Tint and move the Hue and Intensity sliders all the way to the right.

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Want to educate young children about the wonders of the cosmos? Depending on the time of year, your location and the weather, your hopes to see the night sky in real life might not be as easy as heading into the backyard and peering up. That's why one of the best star projectors might be the solution.

That's why we've picked out six star projectors that actually deliver scientifically accurate images, from projections of the northern hemisphere to breathtaking pictures from the Hubble Space Telescope.

Any one of these will turn your home into a private planetarium. Each comes with several swappable images, and you can purchase additional slides/discs for the Homestar and Pococo models. If you're seeking to stimulate a child's interest in space and STEM or just take your friends on a journey through space, these are the scientifically accurate projectors to purchase.

Whether you are a seasoned astronomer or a newcomer to the hobby, the best stargazing apps have the potential to seriously enhance your skywatching experience. But it's easy to overlook just how useful these portable programs can be.

That's why we've put together this guide to getting the best use out of stargazing apps, from identifying stars and constellations through to seeking out dark sky sites and beyond. You will wonder how you ever managed without them.

So read on and get ready to take your stargazing to the next level. And if you're wondering how else technology can take the work out of skywatching, we've also rounded up the best smart telescopes.

Using stargazing apps

Before we explore specific uses, there are a few things you need to know about using the best stargazing apps on your Apple or Android device.

Firstly, while some apps support offline use, you'll typically need a mobile or Wi-Fi signal with data to make the most of these apps.

Also, some apps lock certain features behind a paywall. Pay for Stellarium Plus, for example, and you get an additional 2 million deep sky objects, the ability to connect to certain telescopes and more.

Finally, while many stargazing apps are relatively intuitive, we'd recommend you familiarize yourself with them at home before taking them out into the field.

Identifying stars in the field

One of the most common and convenient uses for stargazing apps is identifying stars, constellations and more, just by pointing your phone's camera at them.

It really is that simple. Take Sky Tonight, which we think is the best stargazing app for AR (augmented reality). Launch the app, grant it camera access and turn it towards the object you want to identify. The name will appear on screen and you can also tap to learn more about it, whether it's a star, constellation, planet or nebula.

Conversely, you can also use the app to find specific objects in the sky. Want to view Uranus at opposition this Nov. 25 but aren't sure where to look? Search for it in Sky Tonight and the app will point you to it.

Identifiying stars from photographs

Being able to identify night sky objects in the field is a real boon, but what if you've already taken a photograph and want to identify which stars were visible?

That's where apps like Sky Walk 2 come in. If possible, you should return to the location where the photograph was taken, but if that's not possible, you can input GPS co-ordinates and Sky Walk 2 will show you the view from that location.

Next, using the clock icon and slider, alter the date to the exact time you took the photograph (or as near as possible). You will then be shown the night sky as it was at the time. You can now tap on the star or stars you want to identify and Sky Walk 2 will tell you the name.

Sky Walk 2 isn't the only app to offer such a facility, but in Sky Walk 2's case this feature is present in the free version of the app.

Finding dark sky sites

It's a sad fact that light pollution has made it harder for astronomers to study the night sky. While the planets in our solar system are still visible, sky glow obscures more distant objects, such as fainter stars.

You could travel to a dark sky reserve but, with the aid of one of several stargazing apps, it is also possible to find dark sky sites closer to home.

Apps like Sky Safari and the simply named Light Pollution Map will show you the light pollution levels locally and globally, estimated on the Bortle scale. The latter app colors the map, with pink the most light pollution and black the least.

In just a few seconds you can find out how light polluted your local area is, and use the map to find a location nearby where the sky is dark, or at least darker.

Planning a stargazing trip

Are you planning a stargazing trip? Then you'll be happy to hear there's an app for that. There are several, in fact, but Sky Safari has all you need to plan your next outing. You can create observation lists, find out when and where objects are visible, and while it won't book your tickets for you, it comes close.

Our reviewer Jamie Carter used the app to plan his observations of conjunctions, specific moon views and astrophotography opportunities. Coupled with its light pollution map, it will be a huge help in putting together an itinerary for your skywatching trip.

Troubleshooting stargazing apps

Hopefully you'll have a smooth experience, but if you're having issues, here are a few things to try.

• Take your phone out of its case. Magnetic clasps can interfere with internal sensors.
• Make sure location services are enabled. Many apps use GPS to show you the correct view.
• Check your phone's clock. If your clock is not set accurately, apps may display an incorrect sky
• Swoop your phone in a figure eight motion. This can help calibrate your phone's "compass".
• Make sure you have a signal, and that data is enabled. Unless the app has an offline mode you will still need a connection. Signal may be poor at dark sky sites.
• Check each app's permissions. Location aside, Augmented Reality (AR) stargazing apps will need camera access.

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Vaonis has just announced its new generation of smart telescope technology, known as Atlas. Less of a single smart telescope and more of a new optical system, Atlas was designed with interchangeability and adaptability in mind. Its new SkyDock system allows two optical tubes to be connected and the telescope has live night sky monitoring to predict available observations.

You can preorder the Vaonis Atlas with a single Atlas 80 module for $3,990, or $5,490 for the twin at Adorama. But it'll also soon be available at B&H and other retailers.

Currently, there is only one optical tube, the Atlas 80, but Vaonis is planning to release add-on modules designed for looking at different night sky objects, including for planetary observation. We think this is an exciting step for smart telescope technology and is, essentially, the start of modular astronomy for amateur stargazers, allowing them to choose optics that suit their observation interests. The Vaonis Atlas with two Atlas 80 modules will be available for preorder for $5,490.

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The world of smart technology in stargazing optics is constantly pushing forward but it tends to move in waves in terms of actual "new" technology. Obviously, smart telescopes improve as new releases come out, usually with higher resolution and an upgraded optical design, but they are still just improvements on a base model. For years, Vaonis has improved and developed their Vespera models, but the announcement of the Atlas reveals a potential new direction for the company.

The Atlas system is the first-ever modular smart telescope system for Vaonis, with a base dock system fitted with two ports for connecting two imaging modules (an optical tube with a sensor). The Atlas 80 imaging module is an optical tube with a 3.15-in (80 mm) aperture and a Sony IMX585 8.3MP sensor, designed for imaging deep-space objects such as galaxies, nebulas and star clusters. Attaching identical imaging modules allows you to image targets quicker and with more detail, but the most intriguing part of this whole release is not actually available yet.

Vaonis has promised to expand the Atlas ecosystem after launch, including a backpack, filters, an equatorial wedge and most importantly, new imaging modules. The next planned imaging module is for planetary observation, which could be a game changer. If you have used a smart telescope for planetary observation, you will know that they produce grainy blobs when compared to their stunning deep space imagery. Vaonis might not just be introducing modularity for smart telescopes; they might also be introducing the ability to get a good photo of a planet with one.

Atlas pre-orders open today and are available from BH Photo and Video and Adorama. The special preorder pricing is available until Nov. 15, with the First shipments expected in March 2027. This release includes the SkyDock along with either one Atlas 80 or two Atlas 80 imaging modules.

Key features: Modular design, Atlas 80 imaging module with 3.15-in (80 mm) apochromatic quadruplet lens, 360 mm focal length, f/4.5 focal ratio and a Sony IMX585 8.3-megapixel sensor, app-controlled, automatic pointing and imaging (Go-To function), 16.1-in (41 cm) height when closed (excluding tripod), 14.3 lb (6.5 kg) weight, up to 6 hours of battery life.

Product launched: Oct 2026

Price comparison for Vaonis Atlas with single optical tube: B&H PhotoVideo: Likely starting at $3,990 | Adorama: Starting at $3,990

✅ Buy it if: You want to invest in a smart telescope but are interested in getting the best photographs of a wide range of night sky targets, including deep-space objects and planets.

❌ Don't buy it if: You don't care about interchangeability or adaptability from your smart telescope and are mainly interested in using it to photograph deep-sky objects.

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Light pollution is the astronomer's biggest enemy, especially if you're gazing into deep space. And while some of the best telescopes can make a difference, there's no way to eliminate it. That's why, if you want to observe the cosmos without obstruction, you need to seek out darker skies, get a smart telescope or combine the two.

You don't have to book a flight to a dark sky reserve; just traveling away from suburbia can be enough. That's where portable telescopes come in. Set one up in a field, for example, and you'll get a vastly improved view of the cosmos. Galaxies, nebulas and other deep space objects become more detailed when they're not washed out by skyglow.

We've picked out six telescopes you can take on the road: Some, such as the DwarfLab Dwarf Mini, are small enough you could even put them in a backpack and hop on your bicycle.

All but one are smart telescopes, meaning that when you do get to your desired location, you can pick from a list of stellar sights to home in on. And while they may be portable, they're powerful with it.

So, beat light pollution and say hello to stunning views of the night sky.