Sean Walker

The Royal Observatory Greenwich has announced the winners of the 16th annual Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest. The overall winner is Ryan Imperio for his annular eclipse composite, showing the progression of Baily’s beads during the 2023 annular eclipse. Baily’s beads form as the Moon either enters or exits an eclipse.

The parent company of Orion and Meade telescope manufacturers has shut its California offices. Stay tuned for updates. Rumors are swirling after two former giants in the astronomy industry closed their doors earlier this week. Optronic Technologies, Inc., better known to backyard astronomers as the parent company of both Orion Telescopes & Binoculars, and Meade Instruments, has shut its offices and storefront in Watsonville, California.

FEATURE ARTICLES In Search of the New Intrepid amateurs have found hundreds of uncataloged nebulae. You can get in on the action, too. By Sean Walker When Stars Collide Astronomers have caught a handful of binary stars merging. Many stars may someday suffer the same dramatic fate. By Morgan MacLeod Seeking Star Pairs Cast your gaze skyward to admire some inspiring naked-eye stellar duos.