Mu Boötis is a spring treat for those who enjoy observing multiple star systems. The system’s proper name is Alkalurops, which means “club” in Greek and represents a shepherd’s staff. With the naked eye from a dark site, one can see the primary star, Alkalurops A. It has a yellow, white color. Nearby are theContinueContinue reading “Mu Boötis: A Triple Treat of Stars”
Author Archives: Wayne McGraw
Polaris: Celebrated North Star and Triple Star System
Polaris, known as the North Star, is a triple-star system located 433 light-years from Earth. The primary star, Polaris A, is a yellow supergiant and a Cepheid variable, with two companions. Although it appears singular, Polaris is a complex system, offering astronomers a tool for measuring cosmic distances. This article shows how it appears in an 8-inch SCT telescope under suburban skies.
HR 4893: A Pretty Double Near the North Celestial Pole
Up near Polaris, the North Star, there are a number of good double stars. The ever popular Mizar in Ursa Major comes to mind. Another double star bright enough with good separation is Nu Draconis in Draco. In this same region is a double star system called HR4893 in the constellation Camelopardalis. It appears HRContinueContinue reading “HR 4893: A Pretty Double Near the North Celestial Pole”
Messier 60 (NGC 4649): Hubble’s Fastest Moving Galaxy
Messier 60 is a giant elliptical galaxy in the Virgo constellation. It’s best viewed in spring. According to NASA, M60 has a diameter of 120,000 light-years and is as massive as one trillion suns. At its center is a supermassive black hole with a mass 4.5 billion times that of our sun. It’s easy toContinueContinue reading “Messier 60 (NGC 4649): Hubble’s Fastest Moving Galaxy”
Messier 86 (NGC 4406): A Galaxy Not Running Away
Astronomers are unsure which is the best description for Messier 86 as it falls between an elliptical or a lenticular galaxy. It resides in the Virgo constellation and is best viewed in spring. As I mentioned in my post on Messier 60, the galaxies in Virgo played an essential role in Edwin Hubble’s research inContinueContinue reading “Messier 86 (NGC 4406): A Galaxy Not Running Away”
Arcturus: The Great Light Switch of the Chicago World’s Fair
Whenever I see Arcturus, I imagine standing with 30,000 other people at the opening of the Chicago World’s Fair on May 27, 1933. At 9:15 that evening, observatories in four locations across the eastern U.S. aimed their scopes on Arcturus. The bright star’s light set off photocells at each location. In turn, these devices sentContinueContinue reading “Arcturus: The Great Light Switch of the Chicago World’s Fair”
Coma Star Cluster: An Egyptian Queen’s Long Hair
The Coma Star Cluster is nearby open cluster in the constellation Coma Berenices. It’s best viewed in the spring. Open any app or astronomy book with drawings of the constellations. While looking at Coma Berenices, you’ll see a cluster of around 40 stars and few cascading bright stars that make up the queen’s long-flowing hair.ContinueContinue reading “Coma Star Cluster: An Egyptian Queen’s Long Hair”
Messier 40: Also Known as Messier’s Greatest Mistake
Springtime galaxy hunting in Ursa Major is an awarding experience. Observers have their pick of Messier objects from the awe-inducing Whirlpool Galaxy (Messier 51) to the bright Cigar Galaxy (Messier 82). Then, scrolling through these notable Messier objects, one lands upon Messier 40. Aiming the scope at M40 uncovers a simple pair of stars—no nebula,ContinueContinue reading “Messier 40: Also Known as Messier’s Greatest Mistake”
The Garden Astronomer 