This Week In Astronomy

Summer is Globular Season! Globular star clusters are densely packed balls of stars that are concentrated towards the center of the Milky Way. June skies offer some of the finest globular cluster viewing opportunities. In the constellation Hercules, look for M92 and the “Great Cluster” M13. In Scorpio, look for M4 and M80. The constellation … Read More

This Week In Astronomy

Summertime Star Party Take advantage of the New Moon on June 24th and Saturn’s great position in the night sky and plan a summer star party! Not only will the dark skies of the moonless night provide great opportunities to see fainter objects more clearly, but the warm June weather will make it easy to … Read More

This Week In Astronomy

Swirling Spirals Around 10pm in mid-June, two glorious, face-on spiral galaxies M51 and M101 will both be in a great position for viewing and imaging. Look for M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy, to the southwest of the star Alkaid at the end of the Big Dipper’s “handle”. Scan the sky to the northeast of Alkaid to … Read More

This Week In Astronomy

Five Glittering Globulars Five picture-perfect examples of globular star clusters will be visible in May skies. Check out M3 in the constellation Boötes. M13, the “Great Cluster in Hercules” will be visible near the zenith. M5 can be found in Serpens, and M92 in the northern section of Hercules. Be sure to track down M4 … Read More

This Week In Astronomy

Four Big Planetary Nebulas Catch nice views of four relatively large planetary nebulas in May skies. See the “Ghost of Jupiter,” NGC 3242 in Hydra; M97, “the Owl Nebula” in the Big Dipper; NGC 4361 in Corvus, and the famous “Ring Nebula”, M57 in Lyra just a few degrees from bright star Vega. Mercury Before … Read More

This Week In Astronomy

Jupiter High in the Sky Gigantic Jupiter will be well-placed for telescopic study throughout the month of May. Look for the bright planet well above the eastern horizon. Check in on Jupiter often to see its four brightest moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto) change positions night to night as they dance around the gas … Read More

This Week In Astronomy

May 6, 7 – Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower. The Eta Aquarids is an above average shower, capable of producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. In the Northern Hemisphere, the rate can reach about 30 meteors per hour. The shower runs annually from April 19 to May 28. It peaks this year … Read More

This Week In Astronomy

April’s Deep Sky Challenge: Leo Galaxy Cluster You’ll want a big reflector telescope and dark, clear skies to go after this month’s challenge object; the compact galaxy cluster Hickson 44, also named the Leo Quartet, or Galaxy Cluster NGC 3190, after its brightest member. This grouping of distant galaxies is located less than halfway between … Read More

This Week In Astronomy

International Dark Sky Week From Saturday April 22nd through Friday April 28th, celebrate International Dark Sky Week by keeping your outdoor lights turned off after sunset to reduce light pollution. Endorsed by the International Dark-Sky Association and the American Astronomical Society, International Dark Sky Week presents an opportunity to appreciate the beautiful night sky without … Read More

This Week In Astronomy

Spring Brings Galaxy Season! April skies provide stargazers with ample opportunities to observe far-off galaxies. With the Virgo Galaxy Cluster and bright galaxies in the Big Dipper and Coma Berenices well-positioned in the sky, April evenings are truly a gift for galaxy hounds. Check out a few of our favorite galaxies: M101, M51, and M106 … Read More

This Week In Astronomy

Jupiter at Opposition Gigantic Jupiter reaches opposition on April 7th, making it the best night of the year to explore the gas giant planet. While Jupiter can be detected in almost any size telescope, the most rewarding views of the gas giant planet and its four brightest moons can be found in larger refractor and … Read More

This Week In Astronomy

New Moon, Dark Skies Take advantage of the dark skies provided by the New Moon on March 28th to scope out the many star clusters, galaxies and other deep-sky gems March has to offer. Celestial Triangle On March 29th immediately following sunset, the brand-new crescent Moon and planets Mars and Mercury will form a large … Read More

This Week In Astronomy

Orion Continues to Shine Constellation Orion is still well-placed in March skies for telescopic study. Check out bright nebula M42, also called the Orion Nebula, which is visible as the middle “star” of Orion’s “sword” just south of the three recognizable stars of Orion’s belt. After March, Orion will get lower and lower in the … Read More

Mars and Saturn in July!

The Moon and the Red Planet. On July 6th, grab a telescope or pair of 50mm or larger astronomy binoculars to see the Moon positioned close to Mars in the sky. The Moon and the Ringed Planet. Just a couple days later on July 8th, you can enjoy a close pairing in the sky between … Read More

Saturn in June

Throughout the month of June, the ringed planet Saturn will be an attractive target for stargazers, so get out there and take a look!

4 Big Planetary Nebulas in May!

Look for 4 big planetary nebulae to be viewable within the month of May. NGC 3242, M97 “The Owl Nebula”, NGC 4361, and the famous M57 “The Ring Nebula”.

Last call for the ‘Gas Giant’ Jupiter

The ‘Gas Giant’ Jupiter is making its’ way toward the horizon and will soon be out of view. Don’t forget to include Jupiter in your stargazing parties while you can still see it! April is also a good time to see some of the most popular galaxies, including but not limited to, M51, M101 and … Read More

Big and Bright Mars

On the morning of the TOTAL lunar eclipse, the Red Planet, Mars, lies relatively close to Earth and shines at magnitude -1.4. It will not shine this bright or be this large in appearance again until 2016. So, if you have a telescope set up for the eclipse, you’ll have plenty of time to steal … Read More

Mars in March

In mid to late March, the red planet Mars will get brighter and bigger in the night sky. ———————— March is still a good time to see the constellation of Orion and M42, the Orion Nebula. After March, the constellation will get lower and lower in the west, making it harder to see as the … Read More

The Cigar Galaxy

Pull out your stargazing equipment and see if you can catch some awesome views of M81 and Messier 82 AKA “The Cigar Galaxy”

The Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)

The Pleiades star cluster is an awesome target for naked-eye stargazing, but it’s even more breathtaking through a pair of powerful binoculars!

The “Witch Head” Nebula

Just West of the blue/white star Rigel, lies what is known as the “Witch Head” nebula. Bring out your most powerful stargazing gear and see if you can spot this magnificent creation in the heavens.

Messier 79

See if you can’t catch a glimpse of Messier 79. Classified as a globular cluster, M79 is a rare Winter cluster located just South of Orion, in the constellation Lepus AKA “The Hare”.

Messier 78

M78 is located to the upper left of the left-most star in Orion’s belt. Pop on an Oxygen III filter and see if you can see this faint emission nebula.

“Orion” in January

Go outside with your equipment and see if you can catch some awesome views of the “Great Orion” Nebula this month!

Quadrantid Meteor Shower 2014

Tonight, January 2nd and tomorrow night January 3rd, should be the peak of this year’s Quadrantid meteor shower. Go out and see if you can’t spot a few! On Sunday, January 5th, the planet Jupiter will be at opposition with the Sun. This means that the large gas giant will rise in the East as … Read More