Astronomy – The Garden Astronomer

Donati’s Comet 1858: The Comet That Stunned the World

Comet Donati hovers above a pastoral painting at dusk, painting by William Turner.

Explore Donati’s Comet of 1858—its historic observations, first photographs, and global impact, from Florence skies to Abraham Lincoln’s gaze.

Silent Fireballs, Thunderous Awe: The 1913 Meteor Procession

Painting by Gustave Hahn showing yellow stream of meteors crossing over a town at night, depicting 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 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.

The Flame Nebula (NGC 2024): Orion’s Subtle Fire

Features both the Horsehead and Flame Nebula in one color picture

Discover Orion’s Flame Nebula, glowing crimson from hidden star IRS2b. Learn about its beauty and how to observe visually and with a Seestar.

HD 222872: An Uneven Double in Sculptor

HD 222872 is an uneven double star in Sculptor. Learn its magnitudes, separation, distance, and visual observing notes.

NGC 1360: Robin’s Egg Nebula in Fornax

Shows the blue Robin Egg Nebula to support the article.

Explore NGC 1360, the Robin’s Egg Nebula in Fornax, imaged with Seestar S50, revealing its faint oval shape and binary star heart in the night sky.

HD 214599: Triple Star in Piscis Austrinus

An illustration of the double star system.

Explore HD 214599 in Piscis Austrinus, a triple star Herschel studied, with tips for spotting its subtle companions through a telescope. Also known as HR 8619.

Between Stars and Jingle Bells: Savannah’s Troup Square

Explore Savannah’s Troup Square, where a bronze armillary sphere meets history, James Lord Pierpont, and the story behind “Jingle Bells.”