Star Clusters – The Garden Astronomer

Messier 93: The Wedge-Shaped Open Cluster in Puppis

Photo of Messier 93, showing the wedge-shaped 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

Photo of the NGC 752 star cluster, showing the cluster of stars.

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!

Shows sketch of the star cluster NGC 6883 in constellation Cygnus.

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.

Messier 20 (NGC 6514): The Trifid Nebula in Sagittarius

The Trifid Nebula, located in Sagittarius, is best viewed during summer months from June to August. Discovered by Charles Messier in 1764, it serves as a stellar nursery, approximately 5,200 light-years away. Modern telescopes have uncovered hidden stars and complex structures, making it a remarkable subject for backyard astronomers.