The double star Struve 2840 is located in the northern sky within the constellation Cepheus. Backyard astronomers should find it pretty easy to separate Struve 2840's two stars, which are separated by 18 arcseconds. The pair is also known as STF 2840, SAO 33819, HD 208063, HR 8357.
Kappa Cephei: A Cosmic Dance Between a Bright and Dim Star
Kappa Cephei, also known as κ Cep and SAO 9665, is a binary star located in the Cepheus constellation. This pair is a tight, but pretty double viewed through a telescope and a good target for backyard astronomers. This system, discovered in 1782, is especially appealing because one star is brighter than the other. Learn about this autumn gem and what you can expect to see through your telescope.
Omicron Cephei: A Challenging but Rewarding Pair in Cepheus
Omicron Cephei, a binary star system situated in the northern sky in the constellation, Cepheus, consists of two contrasting stars; an F-type primary star and a G-type giant companion. This pair's binary nature was first noted in 1832, and it lies 203 light years away, requiring a moderately-sized telescope for viewing. The binary is also known as SAO 20554, Struve STF 3001, HIP 115088.
Jupiter: King of the Nighttime Sky
Jupiter is not just a planet. It's a dreamland of astronomical proportions. From its giant storms to its mysterious moons, something about Jupiter captures our imagination and fuels our sense of wonder. I show what the planet looks like through a backyard scope and includes an astrophoto of the planet using a DSLR camera.
Struve 2816 and 2819: Fantastic Stars in Cepheus
Struve 2816 and 2819 make their home in the constellation Cepheus. This much-loved autumn constellation boasts several remarkable celestial objects. Sketch of Struve 2816 and Struve 2819 as shown in the same 12mm eyepiece in a 8-inch SCT scope. Both sets of double and triple stars are beautiful in the constellation Cepheus. The drawing shows both sets of star also known as STF 2819 and 2816. Also go by (SAO 33626, HD 206267, HR 8281) and (SAO 33652, HD 206482)
Struve 2404: A Tight, Attractive Orange-Red and Yellow Double in Aquila
Struve 2404 is a tight attractive double star in the summer constellation of Aquila, which lies on the celestial equator. The Russian astronomer Otto Wilhelm von Struve first recorded an observation of this pair in 1822. This pair features a magnitude +6.9 primary star with a beautiful warm orange hue. The orange-red giant star has a stellar classification of K5III and is nearly 60 times the diameter of our sun! The secondary star lies closely by at 3.6 arcseconds away and shines at a magnitude of +7.8. The pair also known as STF 2404, HD 174569, SAO 104170, HR 7099.
NGC 6709: An 8-Bit Game Character in Aquila’s Star Cluster
NGC 6709 is located in the constellation Aquila (the Eagle) best viewed on late summer and early autumn nights. This congregation of stars was first documented by the renowned astronomer William Herschel in 1784. One may not find much written about the cluster, but this fact doesn’t diminish its attractiveness. Approximately 300 stars make upContinue reading "NGC 6709: An 8-Bit Game Character in Aquila’s Star Cluster"
Epsilon Sagittae: A Warm Yellow and Pale Blue Double Star in Sagitta
On August 19, 1780, astronomer William Herschel discovered Epsilon Sagittae, a double star in the Sagitta constellation. It features a visible primary star with a magnitude of +5.7 and a fainter companion. Best viewed in summer, this pair showcases a golden-yellow and blue hue contrast for observers using binoculars or telescopes. Also known as SAO 105061, HD 185194, 4 Sagittae, Eps Sge, HIP 96516, HR 7463, H VI 26.
The Garden Astronomer 