Alpha Piscium, a 151-light-year binary in Pisces, offers a challenging split for telescopes. Best viewed in late autumn for skilled observers.
Author Archives: Wayne McGraw
55 Eridani: A Double Star Floats in a Heavenly River
While this double star system is unremarkable, it’s interesting that the secondary star is a variable one.
Iota Orionis: A Runaway Star in Orion’s Sword
This multiple star is not only one of the hottest in the Orion constellation but a “runaway” star. This was my last observation of 2021.
Sigma Orionis: An Attractive Quartet of Stars in Orion
Some consider Sigma Orionis one of the best multiple star systems to view. It makes its home just underneath the belt of Orion near the famous Horsehead Nebula.
Mintaka: A Blazing Hot Star System in Orion’s Belt
Mintaka, a hot bluish-white star in Orion’s Belt, shines 190,000 times brighter than the Sun and is easily seen in the winter sky with the naked eye.
Miram (Eta Persei): A Gold and Sapphire Binary on Winter Nights
Miram is a night sky gem and one of the prettiest binary stars in our galaxy. Make your way to the constellation Perseus on a winter night to enjoy the pair.
NGC 6866: One of Caroline’s Bright Clusters in Cygnus
NGC 6866 is a rich cluster with close to 100 stars, making it a good target for backyard astronomers. Caroline Hershel discovered the cluster in the summer of 1783.
Messier 73 (NGC 6994): A Pattern of Four Stars Once Mired in Debate
This small pattern of four stars created substantial debate for years, but now we know it’s a simple asterism that looks like a spaceship from Asteroids!
The Garden Astronomer 