40 and 41 Draconis form a double star system in the constellation Draco. Since they have fairly bright magnitudes and good separation, most observers with small telescopes should be able to split this pair. I suggest first-time observers first study their pale-yellow color. Some observers have noted they are a cream color. Then, slew yourContinueContinue reading “41 Draconis: Creamy-Looking Double Star in Draco”
Author Archives: Wayne McGraw
NGC 6210: The Turtle-Looking Planetary Nebula
NGC 6210 is a dim planetary nebula in Hercules, 6,600 light-years away. A subtle telescope target best seen from dark-sky locations near M13.
Struve 1825: A Close Orange and Yellow Double in Boötes
Struve 1825, sits near the bright star Arcturus and has an orange and yellow pair sitting in Boötes.
Gamma Virginis “Porrima”: Twins Pulling Apart
Not far from Virgo’s beautiful blue Spica is the double star Gamma Virginis. Also known as Porrima, this star is the second brightest in the springtime constellation of Virgo. At first glance, from a suburban location with light pollution, Porrima appears as a dim, white star. However, looking through the telescope, one will find twoContinueContinue reading “Gamma Virginis “Porrima”: Twins Pulling Apart”
Mizar: A Double Star Known for Generations
My guess is Mizar is the first double star most people ever see. When Ursa Major (the “Big Dipper”) takes its place high in the springtime sky, casual skygazers can point out the bright double star in the middle of the ladle called Mizar. Its companion, called Alcor, shines almost as bright, making both starsContinueContinue reading “Mizar: A Double Star Known for Generations”
Messier 92 (NGC 6341): A Chandelier of Stars
On summer nights, when the constellation Hercules makes its way to the top of the sky, two of the greatest globular clusters tag along: Messier 13 and Messier 92. These ancient objects of the universe are must-see objects, and one can get a good view of them with a simple pair of binoculars. Many observersContinueContinue reading “Messier 92 (NGC 6341): A Chandelier of Stars”
Pi Bootis: A Pair of White Stars in Bootes
The prominent springtime constellation Boötes contains a host of nice double stars. Like the colorful double star Xi Bootis in Bootes, Pi Bootis is a naked eye object under darker sky conditions with a magnitude of +5. While the pair is fairly bright, they are close in proximity, so you will need at least aContinueContinue reading “Pi Bootis: A Pair of White Stars in Bootes”
Xi Bootis: A Yellow and Reddish-Violet Double in Bootes
The prominent springtime constellation Boötes contains a host of nice double stars. One, in particular, XI Bootis, is a rare sight because it’s a naked-eye object with a mass and luminosity less than our sun. The primary star is 90% of the mass and 83% of the radius of the Sun. Due to XI Bootis’ContinueContinue reading “Xi Bootis: A Yellow and Reddish-Violet Double in Bootes”
The Garden Astronomer 