This magical image of the sword of Orion was captured and processed by my friend John Deans when he was in Bancroft, Ontario on February of 2021. All three patches of light from top to bottom are visible to unaided eyes below Orion’s three-starred belt. Binoculars and backyard telescopes will reveal the spectacular details in…
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This composite of images of the total lunar eclipse of April 15, 2014 was captured and processed by Michael Watson. The curved shadow on the moon told the ancients, and us today, that the Earth is a sphere. Hello, Middle of March Stargazers! Here are your Astronomy Skylights for the week of March 9th, 2025…
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This image of the Lunar Straight Wall or Rupes Recta in Mare Nubium was captured by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. While the feature can be seen through binoculars, a backyard telescope will reveal more detail. (Adapted from NASA LRO) Hello, March Stargazers! Here are your Astronomy Skylights for the week of March 2nd, 2025 by…
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This spectacular image of the Seagull Nebula or IC 2177 in northern Canis Major was captured and processed by Mohammed Srour in February, 2024. the reddish colour is ionized interstellar hydrogen located about 1825 light-years from our sun. The wings of the bird span 2.5 degrees, or five times the width of the moon. Mohammad’s…
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This image of Orion was taken by Alan Dyer on January 2, 2020 in the moonlight from a first quarter Moon, with orange Betelgeuse (top left) much dimmer than usual, a little brighter than Bellatrix at right. Enjoy more of Alan’s terrific work at https://www.amazingsky.com/ Hello, mid-February Stargazers! Here are your Astronomy Skylights for the…
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Adrien Klamerius took this image of the Heart (upper left) and Soul (lower right) nebulas in Cassiopeia, also known as IC 1805 and IC 1848, respectively. The Double Cluster as at top centre. The area of sky covers about 10 degrees, or a fist diameter. NASA APOD for Sep 24, 2016. Hello, Lovers of the…
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This wonderful image by Debra Ceravolo captured brilliant Venus while she shone near Saturn after sunset on January 19, 2025. It was taken from her backyard in southern interior, BC. A single shot, 8 second exposure, with 50mm lens on a Canon R6, f/1.8, ISO 800. For more of her gorgeous images, follow Debraceravolo on…
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This amazing image of the young crescent moon, which triggered the Lunar New Year in 2015, was captured by Michael Watson from mid-town Toronto on February 19, 2015 at 6:37 pm EST, when the Moon was a mere 23 hours 48 minutes past its new phase. Such moons are difficult to see it and to…
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This amazing composite image by Detlef Hartmann shows the continued expansion of the Crab Nebula Supernova Remnant (aka Messier 1) in Taurus over 10 years (Sept 29, 2008 through Sept 22, 2017). It spans about 0.1 degrees of the sky. In the heart of the nebula sits a rapidly rotating neutron star that emits radio…
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This terrific image by Sergio Scauso of Villa Maria, Argentina captured Mars just before the moon occulted it on August 9, 2020. NASA APOD for August 15, 2020 Hello, mid-January Stargazers! Here are your Astronomy Skylights for the week of January 12th, 2025 by Chris Vaughan. Feel free to pass this along to your friends…
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