Useful Astronomy Websites
The websites, tools, and communities I actually use — organized by workflow from session planning through processing to sharing results.
Planning & Observation Tools
The best online tools for planning imaging sessions, calculating exposures, and preparing your target list.
The best all-in-one planning tool. Target finder, telescope simulator with real FOV framing, mosaic planner, altitude charts, weather integration, and custom target lists.
The original go-to for FOV calculations and equipment comparisons. Clean interface, reliable data.
Upload any astronomy image and it plate-solves it automatically — identifying exact sky position with object annotations.
Fully functional planetarium in the browser. Great for quick target checks without launching desktop software.
Night AR mode and Milky Way planner make this useful for wide-field and nightscape planning.
Web-Based Processing Tools
Process astrophotography images directly in your browser — no installation required.
Browser-based planetary stacker. Upload SER or video files, analyzes frame quality, stacks and sharpens — entirely in your browser. Open source.
Also useful for processing workflows — plate-solving identifies your field for annotation and catalog matching.
Online signal-to-noise and sub-frame calculators for optimizing exposure times and integration.
Weather & Observing Conditions
Astronomy-specific weather forecasting — cloud cover, seeing, transparency, and light pollution data that standard weather services don't provide.
Best astronomy-specific weather forecast for North America. Hourly cloud, seeing, transparency predictions, and the only service integrating wildfire smoke forecasts.
The original astronomer's forecast. Color-coded strips showing cloud, transparency, seeing for 6,300+ North American locations.
Seven-day hourly forecasts with traffic-light color coding. The best free option for worldwide coverage.
Definitive interactive light pollution map using VIIRS satellite data. Bortle class overlay for any location worldwide.
Alternative light pollution map with year-over-year comparison data from 2006 to 2022.
Detailed seeing forecasts with arcsecond predictions, jet stream data, and bad-layer altitude identification.
Image Hosting & Community Galleries
Where astrophotographers share their work, get feedback, and discover what others are imaging.
The standard platform for sharing astrophotography. Equipment-based search, full technical data per image, IOTD/Top Picks community ratings.
Remote imaging platform with a community gallery. Browse others' work or rent telescope time at dark sites worldwide.
A different space image every day since 1995, with an expert explanation. Regularly features amateur astrophotography.
All of your favorite astro gear in one place.
Shop telescopes, cameras, mounts, and accessories. Shopping through this link supports Mac Observatory at no extra cost to you.
ZWO · Celestron · Askar · Sky-Watcher · William Optics
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Forums & Communities
The places where astronomers gather online to discuss gear, techniques, and the night sky.
The largest and most active amateur astronomy forum. Equipment reviews, technique discussions, classifieds, and an incredibly knowledgeable community.
Active Reddit community where every post must include equipment and processing details — making it one of the most educational places to browse.
Equipment advice community, especially valuable for beginners. The pinned "What Telescope Should I Buy" thread is legendary.
UK-based forum with a friendly, welcoming community. Strong on reviews, imaging advice, and classifieds.
Data, Catalogs & Archives
Professional astronomical databases and sky atlases available to everyone. Essential for target research and identification.
The reference database for astronomical object identification. Over 20 million objects with bibliographic references and cross-identifications.
Interactive sky atlas overlaying catalog data on survey imagery at any wavelength. Web and desktop versions.
23,000+ astronomical catalogs, searchable and cross-matchable. The companion to SIMBAD and Aladin.
Virtual observatory generating images of any sky region across all wavelengths from radio to gamma-ray.
Browse and search deep sky objects with DSS survey imagery. Clean interface for target research.
Comprehensive NGC and IC database with corrected coordinates, identifications, and historical notes.
Equipment Research & Reviews
Research gear before you buy — guides, comparisons, and specs from trusted sources.
Buyer's guides and technical articles. The ZWO camera guide breaks down every sensor spec and helps match cameras to telescopes.
Tutorials on telescope basics, imaging techniques, and equipment fundamentals from a respected dealer.
Camera comparisons, equipment guides, and annual "Top Cameras" roundups with detailed specs tables.
Full specs, manuals, firmware, and comparison tools for all ZWO cameras and accessories.
Camera specs, comparison tools, drivers, and support resources for QHY cameras.
Learning & Tutorials
The best places to learn astrophotography techniques, processing workflows, and equipment use.
Trevor Jones' site — one of the best learning resources for beginner and intermediate astrophotographers. Equipment reviews and processing tutorials.
Jeremy Likness's tutorials on processing workflows and software comparisons. Particularly strong on stacking tool comparisons.
Antoine Grelin's beginner-focused site with camera guides, tutorials, and a free untracked astrophotography course.
Processing tools (standalone + PixInsight scripts) with tutorials on Statistical Stretch, Star Stretch, and gradient removal techniques.
Object Discovery & Citizen Science
Contribute to real science, discover new objects, and participate in the global astronomy community.
The combined backbone of the amateur discovery process. Cross-reference observations against professional catalogs.
Platform hosting dozens of astronomy citizen science projects — Galaxy Zoo, exoplanet finding, supernova hunting, and more.
American Association of Variable Star Observers. Submit your photometry observations to a professional database used by researchers worldwide.
Proof that amateurs can discover new objects. Andrew's first nebula discovery using Nico Carver's methodology on Astrobin.
Space Agencies & Professional Resources
Official space agency portals with image archives, science updates, and educational content.
Astronomy Picture of the Day since 1995. Expert explanations accompany each image, and amateur work is regularly featured.
Searchable archive of NASA imagery across all missions. High-resolution downloads available for free.
ESA's Hubble portal with press releases, science updates, and a deep image archive from decades of observations.
Webb's official image gallery and science updates. The latest and most detailed images of the deep universe.