Messier 19
The stars in globular clusters orbit about a common center of gravity, so these clusters are usually spherical. Some globular clusters, like Messier 19, have a slightly elongated shape. This cluster is only 6,500 light-years…
General
November 30 – Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
As mentioned in the lunar eclipses article, a penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth’s partial shadow, or penumbra. During this type of eclipse the Moon will darken slightly but not…
Model Rockets
Many people are interested in model rockets, but what are they exactly? How do they vary and how did model rockets become so popular? A model rocket is a small rocket designed to reach low altitudes and be recovered by a…
Messier 18
It looks like Messier 18 might very well be a binary cluster that is paired with NGC 6618. NGC 6618 located inside Messier 17. Messier 18 is a relatively dim open star cluster located in…
Laser Pointer Laws In The Pacific Northwest
Aside from being the typical cat toy and teaching aid, the laser pointer could be a helpful astronomy aid for some. It is common for some to use laser pointers to show different constellations and…
The Rings Of Saturn
The rings of Saturn are arguably one of the most recognizable features of a planet in the entire solar system, other than Jupiter’s Great Red Spot. Amateur astronomers are amazed at the first time that…
Messier 17 Omega Nebula
Messier 17 is the star-forming nebula that is more famously known by its nicknames as the Omega Nebula, Swan Nebula, Checkmark Nebula, or Horseshoe Nebula. Located in the Sagittarius constellation, M17 is a very beautiful nebula…
COVID-19: How Amateur Astronomy Clubs Are Responding
How have amateur astronomy clubs in the PNW adapted to COVID-19? Which clubs are providing remote meetings? Which of these clubs are posting these videos online and which clubs are making these meetings open to…
Sky Quality Meter
A sky quality meter, abbreviated as SQM, is an instrument used to measure the luminance of the night sky. In the case of astronomy, the It is used, typically by amateur astronomers, to quantify the…
55th Anniversary Of France’s First Satellite
On November 26th, 1965, the French Space Program, today known as CNES, launch its first satellite, named Asterix 1 from Hammaguir, Algeria. By launching Asterix 1, France became the third nation in history to launch…