Just south of the famous Orion Nebula lies the overlooked and puzzling little object NGC 1999. This tiny reflection nebula shines by the reflected light of newborn stars within, and it surrounds a surprisingly empty hole in space.
The showpiece of the constellation Orion is the Great Orion Nebula, which bejewels the sword of the great celestial hunter. But Orion harbors dozens more deep-sky objects in its great star factory. Let’s look at one today… the fine young open star cluster NGC 2169, which takes on the unmistakable shape of the prime number “37″.
One of the most notable asterisms in the sky gained its fame just 30 years ago. Called Kemble’s Cascade after the Franciscan friar from the Canadian prairies named Lucien Kemble, this group tumbles gracefully through the far-northern sky just east of Cassiopeia, ending at the open cluster NGC 1502. This is a perfect target for quick observation by northern observers on a cold winter’s night. Here’s how to see this asterism for yourself…
