As summer arrives, amusement parks open their gates. The smell of hamburgers and waffle cones fill the air along with the faint waft of grease and wood from an old roller coaster. Glowing neon. Pulsing bulbs on a Ferris wheel. The clicks and clacks of a coaster coursing on invisible rails pierce the darkening nightContinue reading "Waiting for the Night"
Lyrid Meteor Shower: A Trail of Ancient Falling Light
Trace the history of the April Lyrid meteor shower from ancient China to the 1803 Richmond outburst. Discover Comet Thatcher’s trail and tips for stargazing.
Messier 79 (NGC 1904): The Rogue Southern Globular
Messier 79 is a winter globular cluster in Lepus that may have originated outside the Milky Way entirely — a true rogue hiding below Orion's feet.
Pi Puppis Cluster (Collinder 135): A Bright, Loose Cluster in Puppis
Explore the Pi Puppis Cluster (Collinder 135), a bright, loose star group in Puppis, with tips for finding it and a personal binocular observing story.
Caldwell 74: The Eight-Burst Nebula in Vela
Discover the Eight-Burst Nebula (Caldwell 74), a southern planetary nebula in Vela with a hidden white dwarf at its heart.
Monkey Head Nebula (NGC 2174): Orion’s Hidden Face
Explore the Monkey Head Nebula (NGC 2174) in Orion—its glowing red gas, newborn stars, discovery history, and tips for observing this hidden winter deep-sky object.
The Great Comet of 1861: When Earth Grazed a Comet’s Tail
The Great Comet of 1861 stunned the world as Earth passed through its tail. Discover how a farmer-astronomer and Civil War witnesses saw history.
The Great Comet of 1744: Six Tails at Dawn
Uncover the mystery of the Great Comet of 1744. From its six-tailed fan to inspiring a young Charles Messier, relive the dawn that changed astronomy.
Upsilon Puppis: A Wide Optical Double Star in Puppis
Learn how to find Upsilon Puppis, a great optical double star. Perfect for binoculars, this pair in the constellation Puppis is a winter sky must-see.
The Garden Astronomer 