OBSERVATORY LOG DARK-SKY MODE: ON SMARTSCOPETONIGHT.COM
Smart Scope
Tonight

For smart telescope owners — Seestar · Dwarf · Vaonis · Unistellar

The sky is clear. Now what?

Every other site tells you which smart telescope to buy. We tell you what to do with it once it's in the backyard — tonight's targets, the right settings for each scope, and honest answers when you are ready to upgrade.

What to shoot tonight Start here

Observation plan

Tonight’s sky

All monthly guides →
The Lagoon Nebula (M8) imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope

July 2026

What to Shoot Tonight: July 2026 Smart Telescope Targets

July is nebula season. The Milky Way core is up all night, and five of the sky's best emission nebulae are sitting in it. Here's your July observation plan for Seestar and Dwarf.

Target library

Objects worth your photons

Browse targets →
The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) in ultraviolet, imaged by NASA's GALEX observatory

Target · Galaxy

Andromeda Galaxy (M31): Smart Telescope Settings That Actually Work

M31 is the most-attempted and most-botched smart telescope target. It's too big for your field of view and brighter in the middle than the edges. Here's how to frame it, expose it, and stack it — per scope.

Field notes

Latest from the log

The Pleiades star cluster (M45)

Head to Head

Seestar S50 Pro vs Dwarf 3: What We Actually Know So Far

ZWO discontinued the S50 with a Pro on the way; DwarfLab's Dwarf 3 is the reigning portability champion. Here's an honest comparison of confirmed facts, credible leaks, and what to do if you're buying this year.

 The Lagoon Nebula (M8) imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope

Tonight

What to Shoot Tonight: July 2026 Smart Telescope Targets

July is nebula season. The Milky Way core is up all night, and five of the sky's best emission nebulae are sitting in it. Here's your July observation plan for Seestar and Dwarf.

 Infrared view of the Milky Way from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope

Guides

Best Smart Telescopes in 2026: Every Budget from $399 to $4,999

The smart telescope market finally has a real ladder — from the $399 starter scopes to $4,999 observatory-grade rigs. Here's what each price tier actually buys you, and the pick at every rung.

 The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) in ultraviolet, imaged by NASA's GALEX observatory

Target Library

Andromeda Galaxy (M31): Smart Telescope Settings That Actually Work

M31 is the most-attempted and most-botched smart telescope target. It's too big for your field of view and brighter in the middle than the edges. Here's how to frame it, expose it, and stack it — per scope.

 The Orion Nebula (M42), Hubble Space Telescope mosaic

Reviews

Dwarf 3 Review: The Smart Telescope for People Who Travel

At 1.3 kg with a dual-lens design and an 8.3MP sensor, the Dwarf 3 is the most portable serious smart telescope you can buy. After a season of use, here's where it beats the Seestar S50 — and where it doesn't.

 The near side of the Moon imaged by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

Guides

Your First Night with a Smart Telescope: Setup to First Image in 30 Minutes

The box is open, the battery is charged, and the sky is clear. Here's the first-night sequence that gets you from lawn to finished astrophoto in half an hour — plus the three mistakes every new owner makes.