Messier 96 is one of those galaxies that can break through the haze of suburban light, as long as one has a modest scope and really transparent conditions. Messier 96 (also known as M96 or NGC 3368) is a spiral galaxy approximately 31 million light-years away from Earth.
Tag Archives: Spring
Messier 100 (NGC 4321): A Grand Design Spiral in Coma Berenices
Messier 100 (M100) is a grand design spiral galaxy located 55 million light-years away in Coma Berenices. Discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781, it features symmetrical arms with vibrant star-forming regions. M100 is both visually striking and dynamic, making it a favorite for amateur astronomers. This post provides history and personal observations using a Seestar S50. Also known as NGC 4321, UGC 7450, PGC 40153.
La Superba: One of the Reddest Stars in the Sky
One night, La Superba appeared randomly on my astronomy app while I navigated the springtime sky. I stared at the map for a moment, scratched my head, and believed the name to be a mistake. I pressed the information icon by the reddish pixel to reveal a summary of La Superba, including the fact thatContinueContinue reading “La Superba: One of the Reddest Stars in the Sky”
Iota Cancri: A Beautiful Double Star of Gold and Blue
Iota Cancri is a beautiful double star in the constellation Cancer. It’s best viewed in the spring with its gold and blue color. It’s a great object in small scopes.
Struve 1850: A Wide Binary Star in Boötes
Struve 1850, a binary star system in the Boötes constellation, consists of two nearly identical A1V stars, easily observable with binoculars or small telescopes. Discovered by Friedrich Struve in 1823, they are over 800 light-years away. Their similar luminosity and proximity make them delightful targets for amateur astronomers. Also known as: STF 1850, HD 127067, SAO 83374, HIP 70786, HR 5414
Struve 1677: A Close Pair of Stars Near Porrima in Virgo
Struve 1677 (STF 1677) is a double star in the spring constellation of Virgo. The binary stars are fairly close together but can be split with a telescope at 16 arc seconds apart. This double is also known as SAO 138952 or HIP 62234 and lies near Porrima.
24 Cancri (Struve 1224): A Quaint Triple Star in Cancer
24 Cancri, located in the spring constellation Cancer, is known as a triple star system, but backyard astronomers will only see a pair of nearly identical and pretty white-yellow stars, Learn more about the pair and see how they look through an 8-inch SLT scope. The pair is also known as 24 Cnc A, HD 71152, HR 3312, SAO 80184, STF 1224, Struve 1224, and upsilon.
NGC 4565: The Needle Galaxy
The post discusses the Needle Galaxy (NGC 4565) located in the Coma Berenices constellation, notable for its thin, edge-on spiral structure. It features a sketch of the galaxy as it appears through a telescope along with a photo from a Seestar S50. Also known as Caldwell 38 (C38). The article also mentions and shows NGC 4562 nearby.
The Garden Astronomer 