Author Archives: Wayne McGraw

Mars: Enjoying the View of the Red Planet

Mars is the fourth planet from the sun. At 162 million miles away, light from the Red Planet takes fourteen minutes to reach us. According to NASA, the iron materials in Mars’ soil oxidize, which means the planet is literally a rusty rock. While sky gazers have recorded Mars’ existence and movement across the heavensContinueContinue reading “Mars: Enjoying the View of the Red Planet”

NGC 6820 and NGC 6823: Cluster of Blue Stars with a Beautiful Nebula

The star cluster NGC 6823 lies roughly 6,000 light-years away and appears in the summertime constellation Vulpecula. Adding to this stellar picture is a small emission nebula (known as NGC 6820) that surrounds NGC 6823 and its core of young blue stars. Together, these two NGCs belong to a larger faint emission nebula called SH2-86.ContinueContinue reading “NGC 6820 and NGC 6823: Cluster of Blue Stars with a Beautiful Nebula”

NGC 7063: A Cluster Looking Like the Big Dipper

NGC 7063 is an open cluster in the constellation Cygnus. It’s best viewed in summer through early autumn. This 7th-magnitude cluster is best viewed with a telescope. It is 2200 light years away from us and relatively small at six light years in diameter. My Observations DateOctober 1, 2022Time9:40 p.m.LocationSeattle, WAMagnification169xScopeMeade 8″ SCTEyepiece12mmSeeingGoodTransparencyGood Key StatsContinueContinue reading “NGC 7063: A Cluster Looking Like the Big Dipper”

NGC 6664: A Faint Letter “M” Cluster in Scutum

NGC 6664 is an open cluster in the constellation Scutum. It’s best viewed in late summer and early autumn. William Herschel discovered on June 16, 1784. This 7th magnitude cluster is almost 4000 light years away from us. While fairly dim under suburban skies, you can enjoy it with most telescopes. My Observations September 6,ContinueContinue reading “NGC 6664: A Faint Letter “M” Cluster in Scutum”