Struve 1664 is a double star in the constellation Virgo, residing near the famous Messier 104. The binary has a little more to offer than most. Two stars near the pair round out a stellar arrangement or asterism that looks like a hockey stick or Jaws.
Author Archives: Wayne McGraw
Messier 58 (NGC 4579): Messier’s Most Distant Object
Messier 58 (M58) is barred spiral galaxy in the Virgo constellation. It shows as a faint patch of light in moderate scopes from suburban backyards.
Messier 59 (NGC 4621): A Large Elliptical Galaxy in Virgo
Messier 59 (M59) is an elliptical galaxy in the Virgo constellation. It shows as a faint patch of light in moderate scopes from suburban backyards.
88 Leonis (Struve 1547): A Fairly Wide Binary in Leo
88 Leonis, also cataloged a Struve STF 1547, is a fairly bright binary star in the constellation Leo. This double star is a popular target in spring skies due to its brightness and wider 15.3 arc seconds of separation.
49 Leonis (TX Leo): A Tight Binary and Variable Star in Leo
49 Leonis, also cataloged as TX Leonis or Struve 1450, is a variable and binary star in the constellation Leo. It is a tight binary target.
Astronomy Books and Resources
A curated collection of favorite astronomy books, guides, and mobile apps for the backyard observer.
Lowell Observatory
Trace a lifetime of stargazing at Lowell Observatory in Arizona, from Clyde Tombaugh’s discovery of Pluto to the legacy of Robert Burnham Jr.
Messier 44 (NGC 2632): A Swarm of Bees in Cancer
From Ptolemy describing M44 as a “nebulous mass in the breast of cancer” to Chinese astronomers calling it a “cloud of pollen,” the Beehive has held the attention of skywatchers over the ages. Also known Messier 44, Praesepe, and NGC 2632.
The Garden Astronomer 