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”
Author Archives: Wayne McGraw
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”
Xi Ursae Majoris: A Binary Star Close to Home
Xi Ursae Majoris, also known as Alula Australis, is a double star in Ursa Major. It’s best viewed in winter. This binary system is notable for many reasons: It’s a close binary system to earth — only 25 light years away. It was the first binary system to be discovered. William Herschel discovered it inContinueContinue reading “Xi Ursae Majoris: A Binary Star Close to Home”
24 Comae Berenices: An Amber and Sapphire Double Graces the Spring Sky
24 Comae Berenices is a pretty double star. This striking contrast of the primary amber star against the smaller bluish star makes this pair a worth target in springtime skies.
Cor Caroli: A Binary Star with a Heart of a King
Cor Caroli is a double star in the constellation Canes Venatici. It’s best viewed in spring. The primary star, at a magnitude of 2.9, shines a white blue, while the dimmer companion, at a magnitude of 5.5, shines a warm yellow. This contrast of color makes for an attractive pair in the warming spring sky.
Castor: You Are Not Just Seeing Double
Known as one of the brightest stars in the sky and twin of Pollux, Castor is a bluish-white double star in the constellation of Gemini.
Messier 94 (NGC 4736): The Cat’s Eye Galaxy
Messier 94 is a spiral galaxy with two distinct rings. It also continues to perplex astronomers as it has little to no dark matter.
Messier 64 (NGC 4826): The Black Eye Galaxy
As NASA points out, M64, or the Black Eye galaxy, is characterized by its bizarre internal motion. The gas in the outer regions of this remarkable galaxy is rotating in the opposite direction from the gas and stars in its inner regions.
The Garden Astronomer 