Don't Go?
Learn how to determine the dark sky above your head!
Posts by Will Montgomery
An engineer's honest NexStar 5SE review: superb Schmidt-Cassegrain optics and true GoTo, but a serious battery appetite. Specs, the 5SE vs 6SE question, power fixes, and who should buy it.
Refractor vs Reflector vs Compound Telescope: Which Should You Buy?
Refractor, reflector, or compound telescope? An engineer compares all three optical designs by cost, maintenance, and best use, with a decision table and the achromat, apochromat, SCT, and Mak...
Celestron StarSense Explorer Review: Push-To That Actually Helps
An engineer's review of the Celestron StarSense Explorer: how the phone-guided push-to system works, the LT vs DX lineup, why the DX 130AZ is the value pick, and honest pros and cons.
Smart Telescope vs Traditional: Which Should Your First Telescope Be?
Smart telescope or traditional for your first telescope? An engineer breaks down the real difference, pros and cons, a decision table by use case, and honest price comparisons.
The best telescopes for apartments and small spaces in 2026: compact, closet-storable picks by an engineer, with storage and vibration tips and the scopes to avoid.
Real astronomy from an apartment or balcony: which direction your balcony should face, what you can see, beating vibration and light pollution, and the best small-space telescopes.