On November 20, 2025, *Astronomy* magazine hosted a live virtual event, sponsored by Celestron, which featured nine prominent speakers in the field of amateur astronomy.

The multi-hour session, hosted by Brooks Mendenhall, served as a master class in observing, exploring the extensive possibilities within amateur astronomy for a global audience.

Presentations included foundational topics such as telescope overviews, the new generation of smart telescopes, and practical advice on selecting eyepieces, filters, accessories, and observing sites.

Further talks covered what telescopes can reveal about the Moon, deep-sky objects, and planets, concluding with guidance on learning the sky through star atlases.

Hosted by Astronomy’s Content Writer, Brooks Mendenhall, the event was a multi-hour master class in observing.

The talks began with “Telescope Overview” by Lance Lucero, Product Manager for Celestron’s Astronomy Division. You can view it here.

Next up was “The New Generation of Smart Telescopes” by Robert Reeves, a world-renowned lunar imager. You can view it here.

Astrophysicist and Astronomy columnist Molly Wakeling was next up with “Choosing Eyepieces, Filters, and Accessories.” You can view it here.