Follow a lifetime of stargazing from Denver to the Gulf Coast, as the red fire of Antares bridges decades of memory, solitude, and celestial wonder.
Tag Archives: Astronomy
Ankaa: The Ember in Phoenix
Discover Ankaa, a warm orange giant star in Phoenix. See where to find it, its history, and why it shines as a hidden gem of the southern sky.
Nu Boötis: The Pretty Optical Double Star in Boötes
Nu Boötis, also known as Nu-1 and Nu-2 Boötis, is a striking optical double star in the constellation Boötes. This colorful star pair, visible in binoculars and small telescopes, delights stargazers with its contrasting magnitudes and beauty in spring and summer skies.
Fomalhaut: The Lonely Star of Autumn Skies
Learn how to find Fomalhaut, the Lonely Star of Autumn, and uncover its planetary disk and astronomy details for stargazers.
57 Aquilae: A Light Topaz Blue Double
Tucked away in the Eagle’s wing, 57 Aquilae shines as a quiet pair of stellar companions. I spent some time at the eyepiece with this beautiful double star—here’s what I saw and why it left an impression.
Messier 80 (NGC 6093): A Stellar Beehive in Scorpius
Discover the beauty of Messier 80, a dense globular cluster near the Milky Way’s center, perfect for stargazers and amateur astronomers. Learn and see how M80 is viewed through a visual and electronic telescope such as Seestar S50.
Caldwell 56: The Haunting Skull Nebula in Cetus
The Skull Nebula, known as NGC 246 or Caldwell 56, resides in the constellation Cetus. Discovered by William Herschel in 1785, the planetary resembles a human skull due to gas distribution. It features a white dwarf and two companion stars. Though challenging to observe, it captivates astronomers, symbolizing change and the cosmos’ enduring nature.
Gomeisa: The Shining Blue Jewel of Canis Minor
Gomeisa, or Beta Canis Minoris, is a striking blue-white B-type star located 170 light-years from Earth in Canis Minor. With a surface temperature over 11,000 Kelvin and a brightness of magnitude 2.9, it stands out near Procyon. Its rapid rotation and classification as a variable star add to its intrigue for astronomers.
The Garden Astronomer 