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Astronomy
Astronomy
June 11, 2025
New astronomy products to kick off your summer observing
As June brings us the summer solstice, these new products will help you get the most from warmer nights spent at the telescope.
Astronomy
June 10, 2025
Pismis-Moreno 1: An oddball open star cluster
Here's an oddball open star cluster you've likely never seen: Pismis-Moreno 1 in Cepheus, which lies embedded in Sharpless 2–140.
Astronomy
June 10, 2025
Observing Basics
Having trouble finding your way around the sky? Curious what that celestial object is? Here's what you need to know to get outside and start...
Astronomy
June 9, 2025
Lowell Observatory faces big challenges
Following a multimillion-dollar expansion program in recent times, sudden harsh science cuts are challenging America’s Observatory.
Astronomy
June 9, 2025
This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher: The Rho Ophiuchi Region
You’ll find marvelous nebulae, clusters, and bright stars all over this part of the sky.
Astronomy
June 9, 2025
Deep-Sky Objects
Deep-sky objects are celestial objects that exist outside our solar system. Three major types of deep-sky objects are nebulae, star clusters...
Astronomy
June 8, 2025
The Sun
The Sun seems unchanging, but solar flares, prominences, and sunspots often pop up and disappear. Safely observing the Sun can be both fun a...
Astronomy
June 6, 2025
Lowell Discovery Telescope: Observing with a 4-meter telescope
A fortunate dozen spent a night with the 4.3-meter Lowell Discovery Telescope, happy to be gazing at some great deep-sky objects.
Astronomy
June 5, 2025
NGC 6946 – An Intermediate Spiral Known as the Fireworks Galaxy
Explore NGC 6946, the Fireworks Galaxy — an active starburst galaxy on the Cepheus-Cygnus border known for its high rate of supernovae.
Astronomy
June 5, 2025
Michael’s Miscellany: Observing tips
Here are a few things to consider before you put your eye to an eyepiece.
Astronomy
June 2, 2025
Deep-Sky Dreams: Open cluster NGC 225
NGC 225 in Cassiopeia is an open cluster that is sometimes called the Sailboat Cluster or the Halloween Cat.
Astronomy
June 2, 2025
Farewell, Mr. Eclipse: Fred Espenak dies at 71
NASA astrophysicist and Earth’s premiere authority on solar eclipses, Fred Espenak, died June 1, 2025.
Astronomy
June 2, 2025
This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher: Venus in the Morning Sky
See the third-brightest celestial object as it dazzles before dawn.
Astronomy
June 1, 2025
Telescopes and Equipment
Whether you're looking for a new telescope, eyepiece, binoculars, or anything else you need to up your observing game, we've got you covered...
Astronomy
May 30, 2025
Open Cluster NGC 7789
Located in Cassiopeia, open cluster NGC7789, or "Caroline's Rose," is one of the richest clusters you'll observe in the northern sky.
Astronomy
May 30, 2025
Michael’s Miscellany: Universal Time
The time we now use around the world is called Universal time, or UT. It was formalized a century ago — here's how it works.
Astronomy
May 29, 2025
The Owl Cluster in Cassiopeia
The Owl Cluster is an open cluster in Cassiopeia that has the appearance of a bird in flight — at least to one magazine editor.
Astronomy
May 29, 2025
Review: DwarfLab’s DWARF 3 Smart Telescope
DwarfLab’s updated smart scope has a larger lens, an equatorial option, and an enhanced sensor.
Astronomy
May 28, 2025
Deep-Sky Dreams: Sharpless 2–157
Sharpless 2–157 is rarely observed by amateur astronomers. It is sometimes called the Lobster Claw Nebula due to its distinctive shape.
Astronomy
May 28, 2025
Voyage to an asteroid and a comet
The Tianwen-2 spacecraft will study both of these solar system bodies up close.
Astronomy
May 27, 2025
Deep-Sky Dreams: The Bubble Nebula
NGC 7635, also called the Bubble Nebula, is an emission nebula lit from within by the hot, young star SAO 20575.
Astronomy
May 24, 2025
How close are we to 'The Martian'? A planetary scientist checks in
A decade after the release of "The Martian" and a decade out from the world it envisions, how close is reality to fiction?
Astronomy
May 23, 2025
Deep-Sky Dreams: Kemble's Cascade
Kemble's Cascade is an asterism in Camelopardalis in which a line of colorful stars appears to terminate with the small open cluster NGC 150...
Astronomy
May 23, 2025
Asteroids hitting the Moon may have spiked its magnetic field
A combination of a dynamo-generated magnetic field and massive impacts could explain the highly magnetized rocks in some lunar regions.
Astronomy
May 23, 2025
Does our solar system have a new dwarf planet?
The recently discovered object has a diameter about one-third that of Pluto.
Astronomy
May 22, 2025
Deep-Sky Dreams: Face-on spiral IC 342
Also known as the enigmatic "hidden galaxy," IC 342 is a big barred spiral with low surface brightness in the constellation Camelopardalis.
Astronomy
May 22, 2025
Michael’s Miscellany: Mosquitoes
Here’s how to deal with this problem when you’re observing.
Astronomy
May 21, 2025
Michael’s Miscellany: Virgo’s finest galaxies
This spring, point your telescope at these 15 star cities.
Astronomy
May 21, 2025
Stellar gifts for Dad: 10 astronomy essentials for Father’s Day
These practical telescope accessories make great gifts — and they’re all priced to keep your budget intact.
Astronomy
May 20, 2025
The Moon’s two different faces
Our satellite is a little off-balance. GRAIL data show a mass asymmetry of a few percent between its near and far sides.
Astronomy
May 19, 2025
Deep-Sky Dreams: Peculiar galaxy NGC 520
NGC 520 is a bright and highly distorted galaxy in the constellation Pisces, discovered by William Herschel in 1784.
Astronomy
May 19, 2025
The Tarantula Nebula casts a wide web
The Hubble Space Telescope image of the Tarantula Nebula's outskirts shows colorful stars, billowing gas clouds, and thick dust.
Astronomy
May 19, 2025
Astrophotography
Photographing the night sky can be an intimidating task. But by following a few simple tips, you can start capturing your own stunning astro...
Astronomy
May 16, 2025
Deep-Sky Dreams: Coddington’s Nebula
Calling this object a “nebula” is a bit of a misnomer, but galaxy IC 2574 does feature impressively large star-forming regions.
Astronomy
May 15, 2025
The Kutch region of India is a nightscape photographer’s dream
This region in the western part of India offers a combination of unique landscapes and dark skies.
Astronomy
May 15, 2025
Explore explosive supernovae from your backyard
The ephemeral remnants left behind by exploding stars are some of the most extraordinary objects visible to astronomers here on Earth.
Astronomy
May 14, 2025
Deep-Sky Dreams: A great redshift controversy
The galaxy NGC 4319 and the quasar Markarian 205 were linked in the mind of famed astronomer Halton Arp.
Astronomy
May 14, 2025
Astronomers have discovered the Big Wheel — here's why it's significant
This enormous disk object formed soon after the Big Bang, challenging what we know about how galaxies grow.
Astronomy
May 14, 2025
Michael’s Miscellany: Coordinates
Astronomers developed a system "attached" to the sky.
Astronomy
May 13, 2025
Deep-Sky Dreams: The Cat’s Eye Nebula
NGC 6543, also called the Cat's Eye Nebula, is a planetary nebula in Draco with a high surface brightness.
Astronomy
May 12, 2025
Deep-Sky Dreams
Dwarf galaxies are numerous but hard to observe — this one orbits our own Milky Way.
Astronomy
May 12, 2025
Deep-Sky Dreams
Dwarf galaxies are numerous but hard to observe — this one orbits our own Milky Way.
Astronomy
May 12, 2025
Is dew point or relative humidity more important for good astronomical seeing?
It really depends on the higher levels of our atmosphere, but a lower dew point is a better starting point for good observing.
Astronomy
May 12, 2025
Spacecraft can ‘brake’ in space using drag
An aerospace engineer explains why NASA, Space Force and other agencies are using or testing aerobraking for more fuel-efficient spacecraft.
Astronomy
May 12, 2025
This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher: The Owl Nebula
This expanding cloud of gas shows what the Sun will become in 6 billion years.
Astronomy
May 12, 2025
These five famous stars in the sky host exoplanets
These stars are bright and easy to observe from your backyard — and all of them host planets of their own.
Astronomy
May 9, 2025
Michael’s Miscellany: Leo the Great
This constellation carries the same name as the new pope.
Astronomy
May 8, 2025
Deep-Sky Dreams: Gyulbudaghian’s Nebula
This strange nebula, which sports a very long name, was discovered in 1977 and has changed dramatically over time.
Astronomy
May 8, 2025
Michael’s Miscellany: Dark adaption
Your eye is an amazing device.
Astronomy
May 8, 2025