Discover Altair, one of the brightest stars in the Summer Triangle. This blog explores its rapid spin and includes a personal telescope sketch for stargazing enthusiasts.
Author Archives: Wayne McGraw
ARY 33 (HD 224612): A Wide Double Star in Cassiopeia
Explore the wide double star ARY 33 in Cassiopeia—its characteristics, discovery history, and tips for amateur stargazers to observe this unique stellar pair.
Schedar: The Bright Heart of Cassiopeia
Explore the bright orange star Schedar (α Cassiopeiae) in Cassiopeia. Discover its key facts, visual companions, and a personal observation guide for amateur astronomers. Also known as Alpha Cass and SAO 21609, α Cas, HIP 3179, HR 168, HD 3712, 18 Cas, GC 792
Vesta: The Asteroid You Can Actually See
Explore 4 Vesta, the second-largest object in the asteroid belt and a rare protoplanet. Discover its massive craters, iron core, and the key findings of the NASA Dawn mission.
Antares: Across the Skylines
From rooftops in Seattle to Florida’s Gulf Coast, follow the journey of observing Antares and Messier 4. This reflective astronomy story weaves stargazing, memory, and the timeless beauty of the night sky.
Ankaa: The Ember in Phoenix
Discover Ankaa, a warm orange giant star in Phoenix. See where to find it, its history, and why it shines as a hidden gem of the southern sky.
Nu Boötis: The Pretty Optical Double Star in Boötes
Nu Boötis, also known as Nu-1 and Nu-2 Boötis, is a striking optical double star in the constellation Boötes. This colorful star pair, visible in binoculars and small telescopes, delights stargazers with its contrasting magnitudes and beauty in spring and summer skies.
Fomalhaut: The Lonely Star of Autumn Skies
Learn how to find Fomalhaut, the Lonely Star of Autumn, and uncover its planetary disk and astronomy details for stargazers.
The Garden Astronomer 