In the shops: solar system

Many of us remember our first telescope purchase. Often it was part of a set and came with basic accessories, including a couple of eyepieces, one low power and one higher. These are great in the earl

The new Sightron Infini D50 set caught our eye as a budget, long-focal-ratio achromat in a market dominated by modern, short and fast refractors. Could this grab-and-go kit deliver high-contrast views

£849

The beauty of sky gazing is how simple and adaptable it is. Begin whenever you have some time outside or near a window where you can see the sky, even if it’s just a patch. When you feel emotionally overloaded or flat, try it for a few minutes at a time.

Thursday 2 Dwarf planet Ceres reaches opposition in the constellation of Cetus, shining at mag. +7.6. Find further details on page 47. Friday ▶ 3 Tonight and the night of 17/18 October are good times

Best time to see: 31 October, 05:15 UT Altitude: 58° Location: Gemini Direction: South Features: Complex atmosphere, moons Recommended equipment: 100mm or larger Jupiter skips opposition in 2025. Its