Author Archives: Wayne McGraw

Graffias (Beta Scorpii): A White and Baby Blue Pair in Scorpius

Learn about the pretty double star Graffias (Beta Scorpii) in the constellation Scorpius viewed on summer nights and popular with astronomers. The star also known as Acrab is viewed with the naked eye and a moderate telescope resolves a double star of blue and white. The star is also designated by the following names: 8 Sco, Elacrab, HD 144217, HIP 78820, HR 5984, Bet1 Sco, Grafias, SAO 159682

NGC 2419: The Intergalactic Wanderer in Lynx

NGC 2419, known as The Intergalactic Wanderer, captivates with its extraordinary isolation, sitting 300,000 light-years from the Milky Way yet still bound to it. This magnificent cluster, containing hundreds of thousands of stars, may even be remnants of a lost dwarf galaxy, a testament to the universe’s boundless beauty and mystery.

23 Ursae Majoris: A Stellar Duo in The Great Bear

Ursa Major is a familiar sight in the northern night sky, home to the easily recognizable Big Dipper. While the stars of the Dipper often steal the show, the constellation is filled with other fascinating celestial objects, including one of my favorite galaxies, M51. Amongst all these significant objects is the binary star system 23ContinueContinue reading “23 Ursae Majoris: A Stellar Duo in The Great Bear”

NGC 2451: A Stinging Scorpion Down South in Puppis

NGC 2451, a star cluster in the Puppis constellation, shines brightly during late autumn and winter. With around 40 stars, including the prominent C Puppis, it’s visible with binoculars. The cluster is an optical illusion of two separate groups. First noted by Hodierna in the 17th century, NGC 2451 offers a captivating viewing experience.

Messier 33 (NGC 598): The Triangulum Galaxy—A Pinwheel in the Sky

Discover the breathtaking beauty of Messier 33, the Triangulum Galaxy! As one of the closest galactic neighbors to the Milky Way, Messier 33 known as the Triangulum Galaxy dazzles with its stunning spiral structure. See what it looks like in a telescope and when photographed with a Seestar S50. Also known as M33, Pinwheel Galaxy, NGCs 588, 592, 595, and NGC 603

The Helix Nebula: The “Eye of God” Looks Back at You

In late summer and autumn, the constellation Aquarius, known as the Water Bearer, is prominent in the southern skies of the Northern Hemisphere. Among its features is the Helix Nebula, one of the closest planetary nebulae to Earth. It’s also known as NGC 7293, Caldwell 63, Arp 336.