Observations Under Suburban Skies
Zeta Persei (ζ Persei) is a multiple-star system in the constellation Perseus. Backyard astronomers can enjoy this tight pair of stars on autumn and winter nights.
The supergiant, hot star burns 47,000 time that of our sun and is huge at 26 times the size of our sun!
It will eventually meets its fate exploding as a supernova.
Not much is written about NGC 2129 in Gemini as this is a small cluster, but it houses two bright stars that are likely a binary. And, it’s a very young cluster in our galaxy.
NGC 2506 is fainter open cluster in the constellation of Monoceros in winter. Around 150 stars make up the cluster, and it looks best through a telescope. Amateur astronomers also know the cluster by the names Caldwell 54, Melotte 80, and Collinder 170.
1 Camelopardalis, also known as DL Cam, is a double and variable star in the constellation Camelopardalis and is viewable much of the year as it circles close to the North Star. The blue-white pair are fairly tight together at 10 arcseconds apart. They are also known as Struve 550 (STF 550), SAO 24670, HIP 21148
Messier 47 graces the southern skies in the constellation Puppis. While only 50 or so stars make up this cluster, they are bright, blue, and ready to be enjoyed with binoculars or telescopes.
Messier 41 lies south of the bright star Sirius and covers an area nearly the size of the moon. I credit this wintertime cluster for inspiring my life-long love of astronomy. Learn why.
This close binary star is considered the best in Pisces for its equal brightness and attractive yellow color.
Messier 34 is a treasure chest of 80-100 viewable stars in the winter constellation Perseus.
The Garden Astronomer