Explore NGC 2362 and Tau Canis Majoris, the “Mexican Jumping Star”—a young, dazzling open cluster gem of winter skies for backyard astronomers.
Category Archives: Star Clusters
Messier 93: The Wedge-Shaped Open Cluster in Puppis
Learn about Messier 93, a wedge-shaped open star cluster in Puppis—its history and how to observe it with binoculars or a telescope.
NGC 752: A Scattered Star Cluster with Some Sparks
NGC 752 is a loose open star cluster in Andromeda, best seen in autumn and winter, offering subtle beauty and a glimpse into stellar aging.
NGC 663: A Star Cluster Known for its Massive Star Evolution
Explore NGC 663 (Caldwell 10), a rich open star cluster in Cassiopeia, ideal for studying massive stars and double stars.
NGC 6883: Star Cluster Looks Like Asteroids!
Explore NGC 6883, a small star cluster in Cygnus, and discover its connection to a sprawling stellar neighborhood. Includes sketch under suburban skies.
IC 4996: A Faint, Yet Rich Star Cluster in Cygnus
Explore IC 4996, a young open star cluster in Cygnus. Discover its brilliant blue stars, stellar youth, and tips for observing this cosmic nursery.
NGC 6871: A Simple Sparkling Cluster in Cygnus
Explore the open cluster NGC 6871 in Cygnus with my observing notes, sketch, and Seestar photo. I also highlight the fascinating Wolf–Rayet star WR 133.
Messier 52 (NGC 7654): A Small Scorpion in Cassiopeia
M52 is a condensed cluster of mostly faint stars sitting in the Milky Way sea of stars. This makes the object tougher to find.
The Garden Astronomer 