The Cygnus Loop, also known as the Eastern and Western Veil Nebulae, are a gigantic remnant of a supernova in the southern wing of the Swan that spans more than five full moon diameters. It is visible in binoculars under very dark skies every summer. The bright star at right named 52 Cygni that the…
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This is a portrait of the two groups of half-sisters related in mythology as daughters of Atlas: the Hyades, at left, and the blue Pleiades, at right, two nearby open star clusters in Taurus, imaged by Alan Dyer from Quailway Cottage in southwest Arizona, December 15, 2017. The bright, orange star at far left is…
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This terrific image of Jupiter was captured by my friend Claudio Oriani from his home in Richmond Hill, Ontario on September 5, 2023. More of his work can be enjoyed at his website https://www.wondersofthesky.com/about/ Hello, mid-September Stargazers! Here are your Astronomy Skylights for the week of September 10th, 2023 by Chris Vaughan. Feel free to…
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This long exposure image of the Triangulum Galaxy, also known as Messier 33 and NGC 598, was captured by Steve McKinney of Toronto in 2012. His photo covers a thumb’s width of the sky, but it has been rotated by 180 degrees from a binoculars view. Look for the 2.7 million light-years-distant galaxy climbing the…
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Wayne Parker captured this terrific image of the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31) and its small, bright elliptical companions Messier 32 (to the left of the main core) and Messier 110 (to the lower right of the main core) during the annual Starfest Star Party near Mt. forest, Ontario in August, 2022. The image covers about…
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The Double Cluster, imaged here by Volker Wendel, is about 6,800 light-years away from our sun. The area shown spans about one degree, or a thumb’s width, of sky. NASA APOD for December 7, 2007 Hello, Dark-Sky Stargazers! Here are your Astronomy Skylights for the week of November 8th, 2020 by Chris Vaughan. Feel free…
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The beautiful Triangulum Galaxy, also known as Messier 33, dim because it is oriented nearly face-on to Earth, spans 1.5 full moon diameters in the sky. Some people have been able to see it with unaided eyes. At 2.75 million light-years from Earth – that’s the farthest object a human eye can see! This image…
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