Tag Archives: Cepheus

The Iris Nebula: A Flower Blooming in the Dark

Explore the stunning Iris Nebula (NGC 7023 or Caldwell 4), a breathtaking reflection nebula in Cepheus. Discover how the central star illuminates its dust and gas, creating a glowing blue celestial flower. See my sketch and Seestar S50 image to visualize what you can expect to see. Learn about its history, distance (1,300 light-years), and why astrophotographers cherish this beautiful autumn target.

Struve 2840: An Easy to See Blue and White Pair in Cepheus

The double star Struve 2840 is located in the northern sky within the constellation Cepheus. Backyard astronomers should find it pretty easy to separate Struve 2840’s two stars, which are separated by 18 arcseconds. The pair is also known as STF 2840, SAO 33819, HD 208063, HR 8357.

Kappa Cephei: A Cosmic Dance Between a Bright and Dim Star

Kappa Cephei, also known as κ Cep and SAO 9665, is a binary star located in the Cepheus constellation. This pair is a tight, but pretty double viewed through a telescope and a good target for backyard astronomers. This system, discovered in 1782, is especially appealing because one star is brighter than the other. Learn about this autumn gem and what you can expect to see through your telescope.

Omicron Cephei: A Challenging but Rewarding Pair in Cepheus

Omicron Cephei, a binary star system situated in the northern sky in the constellation, Cepheus, consists of two contrasting stars; an F-type primary star and a G-type giant companion. This pair’s binary nature was first noted in 1832, and it lies 203 light years away, requiring a moderately-sized telescope for viewing. The binary is also known as SAO 20554, Struve STF 3001, HIP 115088.

Struve 2816 and 2819: Fantastic Stars in Cepheus

Struve 2816 and 2819 make their home in the constellation Cepheus. This much-loved autumn constellation boasts several remarkable celestial objects.

Sketch of Struve 2816 and Struve 2819 as shown in the same 12mm eyepiece in a 8-inch SCT scope. Both sets of double and triple stars are beautiful in the constellation Cepheus. The drawing shows both sets of star also known as STF 2819 and 2816. Also go by (SAO 33626, HD 206267, HR 8281) and (SAO 33652, HD 206482)