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.
Author Archives: Wayne McGraw
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.
Caldwell 74: The Eight-Burst Nebula in Vela
Discover the Eight-Burst Nebula (Caldwell 74), a southern planetary nebula in Vela with a hidden white dwarf at its heart.
Monkey Head Nebula (NGC 2174): Orion’s Hidden Face
Explore the Monkey Head Nebula (NGC 2174) in Orion—its glowing red gas, newborn stars, discovery history, and tips for observing this hidden winter deep-sky object.
The Great Comet of 1861: When Earth Grazed a Comet’s Tail
The Great Comet of 1861 stunned the world as Earth passed through its tail. Discover how a farmer-astronomer and Civil War witnesses saw history.
The Garden Astronomer 