Vulpecula’s NGC 6830 is an older cluster with about 50 dim stars and is located around 5,300 light years away. Though many of its residents are dim, the cluster contains a few brighter stars making this a good target for backyard astronomers with a small to middle size telescope.
Tag Archives: Autumn
HD 919: A Red Variable Double Star in Cepheus
HD 919, also known as HIP 1124 or STTA 1, is a variable double star in the constellation Cepheus that warrants a look due to its pretty red color contrasted against a white secondary star.
Struve 2883: A Pretty Contrasting Binary Star Cepheus
HD 210884, also known as HIP 109474 or STF 2883, is a double star in the constellation Cepheus. It’s best viewed on autumn nights.
Messier 32 (NGC 221): Le Gentil—A Galaxy in our Neighborhood
Messier 32 (M32, NGC 221), is a dwarf elliptical galaxy best viewed in the fall. It lies in the Andromeda constellation.
NGC 7331 (Caldwell 30): The Milky Way’s Twin
NGC 7331, also known as Caldwell 30, is a non-barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Pegasus, best viewed during autumn. One can make out the distant cousin as a smudge in smaller scopes.
NGC 7662: The Blue Snowball Nebula
NGC 7662, also known as the blue snowball nebula, is a bright planetary nebula in the andromeda constellation. It’s a good target for the casual backyard observer with a small telescope as it breaks through the light pollution pretty well for a nebula.
NGC 7009: The Saturn Nebula
The Saturn Nebula, also known as Caldwell 55, is a planetary nebula viewable in the northern night sky in autumn in constellation Aquarius. Even though dim nebulas like NGC 7009 can be challenging to view in suburban backyards because of light pollution, astronomers should not loose heart. This nebula is pretty easy to spot on a moonless night with a smaller telescope. It will appear light-blue or green and as a small smudge in the scope.
NGC 6826: A Blinking Planetary Nebula in Cygnus
As one stares at the central star, or uses averted vision, the nebula’s fuzzy cloud may come into view as if turning on a light switch. Because of this, some refer to NGC 6826 as the “blinking planetary.”