Winter – Page 13 – The Garden Astronomer

Messier 38 (NGC 1912): A Starfish Floating in an Ocean of Sky

Messier 38 is one of several beautiful and bright star clusters in the constellation Auriga. It’s also know as the Starfish Cluster as lines of brighter stars stretch out from the center.

Messier 45: Seven Diamonds in a Winter Mist

Messier 45 is an open star cluster in the constellation Taurus. It’s best viewed in winter and early spring. Also known as the Pleiades, or Seven Sisters, M45 is one of the nearest clusters to Earth and one of the brightest and most recognizable objects in the night sky, even from brighter suburban skies.

Messier 50 (NGC 2323): That’s an “M” for Monoceros! An Open Star Cluster in Monoceros

Messier 50 is an open star cluster in the constellation Monoceros. It’s best viewed in winter. Discovered by Giovanni Domenico Cassini in 1710, Messier 50 is part of the constellation Monoceros but lies near Canis Major. I’ve read various descriptions of the cluster over the years, including it looking like a “coil,” a “heart,” or,ContinueContinue reading “Messier 50 (NGC 2323): That’s an “M” for Monoceros! An Open Star Cluster in Monoceros”