A buccaneer, a calendar-maker, and rival astronomers all watched the same comet in 1680—and it took Newton years to admit they were right.
Category Archives: Top Object
Biela’s Comet: The Comet That Died Twice
Discover the captivating history of Biela’s Comet, the periodic comet that split in two, vanished, and birthed the spectacular Andromedid meteor shower.
The Great January Comet of 1910: Daylight Comet Steals Halley’s Year
Before Halley’s Comet arrived, a dazzling visitor lit the sky. Explore the story of the Great January Comet of 1910, the famous Daylight Comet.
Stars Fell Like Snow: Witnesses to the 1833 Leonid Meteor Storm
The 1833 Leonid meteor storm stunned America. Read the harrowing eyewitness accounts of the night the stars fell like snow and the sky caught fire.
Silent Fireballs, Thunderous Awe: The 1913 Meteor Procession
Eyewitness accounts of the rare 1913 Great Meteor Procession, a slow-moving fireball display across Canada, Bermuda, and the South Atlantic.
Messier 89 (NGC 4552): A Cosmic Billiard Ball in Virgo
Learn about Messier 89 and its unique appearance, historical notes, and a backyard sketch of Virgo’s unique cosmic billiard ball through an 8-inch scope.
NGC 2903: A Beautiful Spiral that Messier Missed in Leo
Explore NGC 2903, a bright barred spiral galaxy in Leo that rewards backyard observers as it’s often overlooked for other Messier galaxies.
The Great Comet of 1811: Companion to a Shaking World
Discover the Great Comet of 1811—Napoleon’s Comet that blazed during the New Madrid earthquakes, inspired Tecumseh, and created the legendary 1811 comet wine vintage.