Messier 73
Messier 73 is an asterism formed by four physically unrelated stars located in the southern constellation Aquarius. The four stars that form the Y-shaped asterism only appear close to each other in the sky because…
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Southern Circumpolar Constellations
The circumpolar southern constellations are Carina, Centaurus, and Crux. They can be found circling the south celestial pole and can be seen from southern latitudes at any time of year while remaining invisible for observers in most northern locations….
Scientific Missions: Uranus And Neptune
As it takes between 5 to 10 years for a spacecraft to either flyby or enter orbit around these planets, Uranus and Neptune have not been explored by many spacecraft. We have done a few…
Top 5 Easiest Planetary Nebulae To View
When looking in the sky, there are several easy and well known planetary nebulae (plural of nebula) that are visible from the Pacific Northwest and other Northern Hemisphere observing locations. A planetary nebulae galaxy is…
Messier 72
Messier 72 is a globular star cluster located in the constellation Aquarius, the Water Bearer. Pierre Méchain, a French astronomer and colleague of Charles Messier, discovered the globular cluster M72 in 1780. It was the first of…
Top 5 Easiest Open Clusters To View
When looking in the sky, there are several easy and well known open cluster objects that are visible from the Pacific Northwest and other Northern Hemisphere observing locations. An open cluster is a type of star…
Top 5 Astronomy Objects For All Skill Levels
What are some classic astronomy objects and targets that one can view and photograph that astronomers of all skill levels can rely upon all year round and look forward to? The goal is how one…
Former Constellations: Brief Overview
After spending much time discussing their visibility for amateur astronomers in the Pacific Northwest, it makes sense to discuss constellations that are no longer around in the sky today. Prior to standardization efforts, many of…
Top 6 Easiest Globular Clusters To View
When looking in the sky, there are several easy and well known globular cluster that are visible from the Pacific Northwest and other Northern Hemisphere observing locations. M13 Hercules Globular Cluster When Visible: May to…
Top 4 Easiest Diffuse Nebulae To View
When looking in the sky, there are several easy and well known diffuse nebulae (plural of nebula) that are visible from the Pacific Northwest and other Northern Hemisphere observing locations. A diffuse nebulae is a…