Sky & Telescope November 2025 Magazine

Ring Galaxies, the Rise of Smart Telescopes, and the Life Cycle of Stars

In the November 2025 issue of Sky & Telescope, come along on an observing journey through the life cycle of stars. We begin by seeking out stellar nurseries, traveling across the sky from one life stage to the next, until we land on some of the oldest stars visible in amateur scopes. Next, we’re aiming our telescopes for a bullseye, a bullseye galaxy that is. Join us as we explore these eye-catching ring galaxies. Whether you’re interested in stars or galaxies, there’s plenty to see and capture with your new smart scope. These new-fangled devices are quickly becoming a smart investment for outreach astronomers and beginners alike, so let’s find out how they came about in the last couple years. And finally, as dawn breaks over the observing field and we begin to pack up our scopes . . . just kidding, who would want to stop when there’s still so much to see? Break out those solar filters, and let’s catch some rays while we learn about the solar cycle and how astronomers are trying to predict what the Sun will do next.