Summer – Page 11 – The Garden Astronomer

Messier 27 (NGC 6853): The Dumbbell Planetary Nebula in Vulpecula

Messier 27 (NGC 6853) is a planetary nebula in the constellation Vulpecula. It is also known as the Dumbbell Nebula due to its distinctive shape resembling a dumbbell or hourglass. It’s best viewed in summer and early autumn. Amateur astronomers can find M27 fairly easy with binoculars and small telescopes, even from light-polluted suburban area as the sketch in this article shows.

NGC 6229: A Very Distant Globular Cluster

NGC 6229 is a dim globular cluster in the summer constellation of Hercules. It lies nearly 100,000 light year away in the outer halo of the Milky Way. Still, amateur astronomers using a modest telescope can still view it.

Delta Herculis (Sarin): A White Star Surrounded by Mulitple Blues

Delta Herculis (δ Herculis) is a multiple star system with a bright white center star named Sarin. The star is the third brightest in the constellation Hercules best viewed in summer. Several blue optical companions surround the magnitude 3 central star. Double also known as Struve (Σ 3127) and SAO 84951

100 Herculis: A Pair of Equally Bright White Stars

100 Herculis is a close binary star of two equally bright stars like diamonds on black velvet. The binary lies in the constellation Hercules and is enjoyed on summer nights. Also known as SAO 85752, 100 Her, HDF 166046, STF 2280.

NGC 6633: This Captain Hook Cluster Pulls You In

NGC 6633 is a bright open cluster in Ophiuchus, nearly moon-sized in the sky. A stunning binocular target rich with blue-white stars for summer nights.

IC 4665: Say “Hi” to a Brilliant Star Cluster and a Black Cat

This post summarizes how to view the open star cluster IC 4665, which lies in the summer constellation of Ophiuchus. IC 4665 is a large, course, and young star cluster with 30 stars, which are mostly blue-white or white in color. It’s a great object to view and enjoy with binoculars from the suburbs. Also known as Collinder 349 and Melotte 179.

Messier 14 (NGC 6402): Globular Cluster with an Elongated Glow

Messier 14 (NGC 6402) is a globular cluster in Ophiuchus best viewed in summer. It is slightly elongated in shape and looked fairly dim in my 8-inch SCT scope from the suburbs as my sketch shows. Still, it’s bright enough to see with binoculars from dark skies.

NGC 6866: One of Caroline’s Bright Clusters in Cygnus

NGC 6866 is a rich cluster with close to 100 stars, making it a good target for backyard astronomers. Caroline Hershel discovered the cluster in the summer of 1783.