Telescope and Stargazing News: June 2026

June has been a busy fortnight for stargazers: the first full reviews of Celestron’s flagship smart telescope have landed, two big sales events are now on the calendar, and NASA has fixed a launch date for its next major space telescope. Here is what matters if you are buying kit or planning observing sessions in the UK this month.

Celestron Origin Mark II reviews arrive, at £3,211

The first in-depth reviews of the Celestron Origin Mark II “Intelligent Home Observatory” were published in early June, including a hands-on test from BBC Sky at Night Magazine. The Mark II keeps the 6-inch f/2.2 RASA optics but upgrades the camera to Sony’s IMX678 sensor with Starvis 2 technology, and reviewers found it produces crisp deep-sky images within minutes, even under light pollution. At £3,211 it sits firmly at the premium end; testers also noted it is built for galaxies and nebulae rather than the Moon and planets. If that budget sounds steep, our smart telescope comparison covers capable options from around £350.

Amazon Prime Day 2026 confirmed for 23 to 26 June

Amazon has confirmed Prime Day 2026 will run 23 to 26 June, a four-day event and the first June Prime Day since 2021, weeks earlier than the usual July slot. Telescopes, eyepieces and smart scopes regularly see real discounts during the event, so if you are shopping at the entry level it is worth holding off a couple of weeks. Our guide to the best telescopes under £200 is a good starting shortlist to watch for price drops.

Unistellar cuts 15% off its entire smart telescope range

Unistellar launched a sale on 4 June taking 15% off its full smart telescope line-up, including the Odyssey, eVscope 2 and eQuinox 2, with the offer running until 2 July. Unistellar scopes are among the most polished smart telescopes you can buy but rarely get discounted, so a sitewide 15% is notable if you have been waiting on one. Check the UK store pricing before you commit, as headline discounts are sometimes region-specific.

NASA sets 30 August launch date for the Roman Space Telescope

NASA announced in early June that the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will launch on 30 August 2026, months ahead of its previous target, flying on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space Center. Roman will survey patches of sky at least 100 times larger than Hubble can in a single image, hunting dark energy and exoplanets. No back-garden kit required for this one, but expect a flood of spectacular imagery, and renewed public interest in astronomy, from late summer.

Venus meets Jupiter, and a mini planet parade follows

The Royal Observatory Greenwich’s June sky guide highlights a close Venus and Jupiter pairing in the early evening sky on 9 June, with Mercury joining the pair around 12 June for a brief three-planet line-up after sunset. June is also peak season for noctilucent clouds, the silvery wisps that glow low on the northern horizon late on summer nights. Bright planet pairings are an ideal first target if you are new to the hobby: our beginner’s buying guide explains what magnification you actually need for planets.