Discover the Great Comet of 1811—Napoleon’s Comet that blazed during the New Madrid earthquakes, inspired Tecumseh, and created the legendary 1811 comet wine vintage.
Author Archives: Wayne McGraw
NGC 2627: A Quaint, Open Cluster in Pyxis
Explore NGC 2627, a subtle open star cluster in Pyxis, featuring faint stars, rich history, and intriguing stellar evolution clues.
NGC 4038 and 4039: The Antennae Galaxies
A look at the Antennae Galaxies (NGC 4038/4039): a merging pair in Corvus, starburst activity, and a suburban observation using Seestar S50.
Catching April’s Dawn Comet: C/2025 R3 PanSTARRS
Track Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) in April 2026 skies. Read personal observations and learn when and where to see this rare dawn comet and capture it before perihelion.
Shattered by the Sun: The Great Comet of 1882
Discover the Great Comet of 1882: a brilliant sungrazer that split apart. Explore its impact on astronomy and the early life of observer E.E. Barnard.
Lyrid Meteor Shower: A Trail of Ancient Falling Light
Trace the history of the April Lyrid meteor shower from ancient China to the 1803 Richmond outburst. Discover Comet Thatcher’s trail and tips for stargazing.
Messier 79 (NGC 1904): The Rogue Southern Globular
Messier 79 is a winter globular cluster in Lepus that may have originated outside the Milky Way entirely — a true rogue hiding below Orion’s feet.
Pi Puppis Cluster (Collinder 135): A Bright, Loose Cluster in Puppis
Explore the Pi Puppis Cluster (Collinder 135), a bright, loose star group in Puppis, with tips for finding it and a personal binocular observing story.
The Garden Astronomer 