In 1926, Clyde Tombaugh, a young farmer, constructed his first telescope mirror, initiating his passion for astronomy. Despite early setbacks, he eventually discovered Pluto in 1930, transforming his life and legacy in astronomy.
Author Archives: Wayne McGraw
Eclipse of 1878 in the Wild West
Explore the 1878 total solar eclipse across the American frontier, featuring Thomas Edison’s tasimeter, Maria Mitchell in Denver, and the hunt for Vulcan.
Supernova SN 2026aaiv in the NGC 7331 Galaxy in Pegasus
Learn about the supernova SN 2026aaiv disovered on September 1, 2026, in the galaxy NGC 7331 (Caldwell 30) in the constellation Pegasus.
The Great Comet of 1680: From a Pirate’s Journal to Newton’s Desk
A buccaneer, a calendar-maker, and rival astronomers all watched the same comet in 1680—and it took Newton years to admit they were right.
Biela’s Comet: The Comet That Died Twice
Discover the captivating history of Biela’s Comet, the periodic comet that split in two, vanished, and birthed the spectacular Andromedid meteor shower.
Omega¹ and Omega² Scorpii: Attractive Optical Double Star
Explore Omega¹ and Omega² Scorpii, a beautiful naked-eye optical double star in Scorpius that’s easy to enjoy with binoculars on summer nights.
NGC 925: Triangulum’s Lawless Galaxy
Explore Triangulum’s rule-breaking NGC 925 (the Amatha Galaxy). See how this lopsided barred spiral defies physics to birth new stars at its edges.
The Great January Comet of 1910: Daylight Comet Steals Halley’s Year
Before Halley’s Comet arrived, a dazzling visitor lit the sky. Explore the story of the Great January Comet of 1910, the famous Daylight Comet.