🚀 Space & Astronomy News

 World Space Week (Oct 4–10): Members kicked off the week under dark skies, imaging M31 (Andromeda) and IC 1805 (Heart Nebula). DwarfLab is hosting an International Star Party with co-stacking and co-mosaics.   

 728-Foot Crater Discovered on Moon: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter data revealed a massive new crater created between April and May 2024 by an asteroid/comet the size of a 3- to 6-story building.   

 Triple Supermassive Black Hole Galaxy: Astronomers detected galaxy J0148-4214 hosting three supermassive black holes (80M, 2M, and 600k solar masses) in the early universe.   

 Rare Supernova Alert (SN 2026aaiv): A new Type Ia supernova exploded in galaxy NGC 7331 (45 million light-years away) — catch it now before it fades!   

 Nancy Grace Roman Telescope: Coronagraph testing succeeded using only 10% of course-correction fuel, potentially expanding mission lifespan from 10 to 22 years!   

Additional Space Headlines

 Milky Way's Sgr A East supernova remnant imaged in sharpest detail yet.    Betelgeuse confirmed to have a small companion star.   

 Increased solar activity accelerating orbital space junk re-entry: Increased solar radiation decreases atmospheric density, thereby facilitating easier reentry of space debris.

 SpaceX Starship reaches orbit for the first time.   

 Moon simulations show formation may have taken under 5 hours.   

 Perseid meteor shower predicted to boost in 2028 (hourly zenithal rare of 200–300 predicted): Jupiter boost, occurs in cycles of 12 years.

📷 Astrophotography & Equipment

Software & Workflow Updates

StackingWizard and  AstroWizard: free stacking and editing software available for Windows, Mac and Linux. Both have easy spet-by-step uncluttered interfaces. StackingWizard even has and option to create the SHO (Sulfer II, Hydrogen-alpha and Oxygen III) palette (commonly known as the Hubble Space Telescope palette) using OSC cameras as opposed to monochrome cameras. 

 ALPACA & N.I.N.A. now feature native Seestar support. 

Key Benefits of Alpaca Support

• Full Software Automation: Run fully automated nighttime imaging sequences (such as unparking, slewing, taking dark frames, and parking) without needing your mobile app connected. [1]

• Advanced Sequencing & Mosaics: Use N.I.N.A.'s Advanced

Sequencer to plan multi-target imaging sessions, custom target lists,

and multi-panel large-field mosaics rather than relying on the app's basic spiraling mosaic. [1, 2, 3]

• Dithering Support: Take advantage of firmware updates that enable simulated pulse-guiding and mount dithering in third-party software to eliminate walking noise in stacked images. [1]

• Precise Calibration & Alignment: Access advanced tools like precise plate solving, three-point polar alignment routines, and robust autofocus algorithms. [1, 2, 3]

• Hardware Control: Control auxiliary hardware options directly through the network API, including the dew heater and arm parking positions. [1]

• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Send commands over standard HTTP/JSON across Windows, macOS, and Linux clients without proprietary OS constraints.

 

 DwarfAlp third-party app available for DwarfLab scopes for ALPACA integration.   

Target Planning Tools

 Built-in Sky Atlases (Seestar, DwarfLab, ASIAIR)   

 TonightPlan (https://tonightplan.cosmiccaptures.com/) (web based app)

 Clear Night Coach for Windows & Android (https://clearnightcoach.com/)

New Gear Spotlight

 Seestar S5 Pro released: available from ZWO, Agena Astro, Highpoint Scientific). Has four times the field of view of the Seestar S50. The

Seestar S50 Pro has a higher pixel resolution output than the original S50, but they share a similar level of fine optical detail for small, distant targets. Has a secondary widefield camera like the S30 Pro. 

DwarfLab Draco: (https://www.dwarflab.com/us/pages/draco-smarttelescope#learn-more ). Available for pre-order from DwarfLab directly or from other US vendors).  

Key Specifications for Draco

• Aperture & Optics: 90mm (3.54") aperture, 340mm focal length, fast f/3.8 folded-path optical system [1, 2]

• Telephoto Camera Sensor: 1/1.3-inch 50-megapixel OmniVision (OV50Q40) sensor supporting 2x2 native binning (12MP output) and unbinned planetary modes [1, 2]

• Wide-Angle Camera Sensor: 1/1.55-inch (or 1/1.8-inch variant) 50megapixel OmniVision (OV50E40) sensor for expansive sky/landscape views [1, 2, 3]

• Tracking & Guiding: Built-in guide scope, physical field de-rotation, and support for up to 300-second single-frame exposures in Alt-Az mode [1, 2]

• Cooling & Environmental: Active CMOS sensor cooling (TEC module + fan) which also assists with automated lens dew prevention [1, 2]

• Storage & Power: 128 GB internal storage, 5-hour battery life (10,000 mAh / 77Wh), weighing approximately 5.5 kg (12.1 lbs) [1, 2, 3, 4]

• Available in Standard Edition (built-in astro, dark, and solar/ND filters) and SHO Edition (includes internal narrowband S II + O III and Hα +

O III filters)

  

 DIY Flat Panel Holder project: 3-D printing vs Creation from polyethylene foam packaging material.   

 Tablet screen re-orientation freeware tool for iOS and Android: useful when using the Seestar, DwarfLab or ASI AIR app. 

 

Main Talk: Gadget Night (courtesy of Kalamazoo Astronomical Society)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuBc52-KVVU&t=3223s)