Tag: Mirfak OB Association

Venus is Globular, Jupiter Reaches Opposition, Mars Reverses near the Bees, a Picturesque Moon Occults Saturn, and we Peruse Perseus!

This image of the Fossil Footprint Nebula NGC 1491 in Perseus was captured by Adam Block at Mount Lemmon Observatory in Arizona. This image is nearly one degree wide, or about one finger’s width. (Wikipedia) Happy December, Stargazers! Here are your Astronomy Skylights for the week of December 1st, 2024 by Chris Vaughan. Feel free…
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Bright Planets Bracket the Night, and Moonless Evenings Offer Stargazing Sights and a Messier Marathon Opportunity

This image by Martin Gembec of the Czech Republic shows the rich starfield of the Alpha-Persei Moving Group stars surrounding Mirfak (above centre), the brightest star in Perseus (the Hero). The photograph spans about 3.5 degrees of the sky, nearly filling the view in binoculars. Mirfak is the very bright star shining about halfway up…
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Morning Venus Crosses Scorpius’ Claws, the Long Nights Moon for Yule, Spotty Jupiter, and a Christmas Critter!

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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An Evening Moon for Viewing, a Christmas Constellation and Asterism, and All Planets After Sunset!

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate! This wonderful object, known as the Christmas Tree Cluster or NGC 2264, is located in the constellation of Monoceros (the Unicorn), which occupies the winter sky between Orion and Gemini. The red glows are hydrogen gas being energized by the clump of hot, young stars recently born in the…
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Max Mercury and Plenty of Planets, an Absent Moon Allows More Meteors and a Perseus Perusal, and Splaining the Solstice!

When the very bright “dog star” star Sirius (aka Alpha Canis Majoris) climbs high enough to clear the treetops around 10 pm local time on Christmas, its intense light and flashes of festive colour are bound to catch your eye, and just might fill you with Holiday spirit! Happy Hanukkah and Winter Solstice, Stargazers! Here…
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A Lonely Evening Jupiter Misses Mars and Venus Partying at Dawn, and Moonless Evenings Invite Peeks at Perfect Perseus!

This image of the Fossil Footprint Nebula NGC 1491 in Perseus was captured by Adam Block at Mount Lemmon Observatory in Arizona. This image is nearly one degree wide, or about finger’s width. Wikipedia Hello, Stargazers! Here are your Astronomy Skylights for the week of January 23rd, 2022 by Chris Vaughan. Feel free to pass…
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