One-Minute Astronomer - Basic Astronomy and Night Sky Information

Three Sadly-Neglected Star Clusters in Ophiuchus

August 30, 2010

Last week, we examined the odd little asterism called Taurus Poniatowski, an obsolete constellation that’s now part of Ophiuchus. Though this asterism is not in a star-rich region of the Milky Way, it does host a few lovely star clusters. The best among them is called IC4665, a splendid but little-known open cluster that looks stunning in binoculars or a small telescope. Here’s how to see it…

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Posted in Celestial Objects

The “Mad Bull” of the August Sky

August 27, 2010

Even a casual look at the night sky south of Hercules reveals a small group of stars that looks like a mad little bull charging east towards the Milky Way. This horned beast is a striking sight, and, frankly, a little unsettling. But it points the way to some lovely star fields that make a lovely sight in binoculars or a small scope.

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Posted in Celestial Objects

A Look at the Planet… Earth!

August 20, 2010

As backyard stargazers, we spend our time looking up and out towards towards other planets and celestial sights. But today, we have something different… a peek at our own planet from deep space, taken by NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft. As the saying goes, “You are in this picture”!

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Posted in Solar System Observing

The Northern Coalsack

August 16, 2010

We recently toured the Coalsack in the Southern Cross, the most famous of the so-called “dark nebulae”. But northern observers have a “coalsack” of their own. Nestled in the wings of Cygnus, the Swan, the “Northern Coalsack” is easily visible with binoculars or the unaided eye in dark skies. Here’s how to find it…

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Posted in Celestial Objects

A Dying Star in the Dragon’s Den

August 12, 2010

Tonight is the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower, also known as “The Tears of St. Lawrence”. And this year, if you have clear skies, the shower will be fine since the Moon is a dim, slender crescent which sets long before the shower peaks after midnight. So look anywhere in the sky and enjoy the show. But if you’ve seen your fill of meteors and the thick star clouds of the Milky Way, turn your eyes directly overhead to see the famous “Cat’s Eye” nebula in the constellation Draco, the Dragon.