In preparation for the eclipse on 12 August 2026, which will not be total in Belgium but will still reach 89.5%, I needed to update my two smart telescopes: my Seestar S30, which I consider a little marvel, and my Unistellar eQuinox 2, which gives me a fright every time an update comes along.

An update with a little too much suspense

A fright, yes, because I belong to several astronomy WhatsApp groups and a number of my fellow observers have run into serious difficulties. Some reached the point where the internal module of their telescope had to be replaced… Suffice it to say that I never launch an eQuinox 2 update with a completely light heart.

But so far, so good: both updates went smoothly, and I am ready for 12 August with both smart telescopes.

One last test under the stars

Once the updates were complete, I obviously had to check that everything was working properly. So I took advantage of the night of 8–9 August to send the eQuinox 2 travelling between nebulae and galaxies.

The Fireworks Galaxy, NGC 6946, followed by M110, also served as testing grounds. And M33, the Triangulum Galaxy, provided the opening image for this article.

The Seestar S30 joins the dance

The little Seestar S30 was not left idle, of course. I pointed it towards NGC 7000, the North America Nebula, for an acquisition lasting just under 49 minutes. Once again, this little marvel reminded me why I appreciate it so much: set it up quickly, choose a target, and the journey begins.

The images shown here have received no post-processing from me. The only processing applied is performed automatically by each telescope, using its own algorithms and built-in artificial intelligence.

Ready for 12 August

Both instruments are therefore up to date, tested and ready. All that remains is to prepare the solar filters, keep an eye on the Belgian weather — always astronomy’s true final boss — and wait for the Moon to cover 89.5% of the Sun.

See you on 12 August, provided the clouds agree to give us a window onto the spectacle.