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The Skies of January, 2023

Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, January Moon Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Camelopardalis, Perseus, Auriga, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Leo Minor, Lynx

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Cosmic Challenge: IC 418

If you have ever glanced at a compendium of images taken with the Hubble Space Telescope, then chances are you have seen this next challenge. You may not know it by its catalog number, IC 418, but instead may recognize it by its nickname, the Spirograph Nebula. That nickname came about because the Hubble images show an amazingly complex cloud of entangled filaments that create a strange, oval cloud that looks like it could have been drawn using a child's Spirograph toy. Remember those? You would trace intertwining arcs by rolling a color pen in a circle along the inside or outside of another circle.

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How To Construct A True Newtonian Astrograph

I finally decided that I was going to build my own 10” astrograph incorporating as many characteristics that I was able to find. The project differed from what you would expect in a field so dependent on pre-planning. The project was really more of an evolution than a clearly documented plan. It is for this reason that my trek began with a collection of assorted hardware, and a scratch pad.

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The Skies of December, 2022

Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, December Moon Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Perseus, Camelopardalis, Auriga, Gemini, Taurus, Aries, Pisces, Andromeda, Pegasus, Cygnus

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Cosmic Challenge: WLM and WLM-1

If you thought last month's challenge, IC 1613, was just too easy, try your luck with another member of the Local Group that is also within Cetus.

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Questar Standard: Tristand vs. Astropier

I have the Tristand for my ‘66 Questar Standard and have used it for several years. It’s great. Sturdy, easy to polar align, compact design with folding legs. I really like it - but I have always wondered about the Astropier: would I like it better?

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The Skies of November, 2022

Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, November Moon/Eclipse Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Perseus, Camelopardalis, Auriga, Taurus, Aries, Pisces, Andromeda, Pegasus, Cygnus, Lyra

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Cosmic Challenge: IC 1613

The Local Group of galaxies includes three large spiral galaxies – the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Triangulum Spiral – and dozens of smaller systems. Two of the toughest to see are found in the constellation Cetus and make up this two-month challenge. We begin with IC 1613, discovered in 1906 by German astronomer Max Wolf on photographs taken with the Bruce 16-inch (41-cm) refractor at the Astrophysical Observatory in Heidelberg.

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The Skies of October, 2022

Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, October Moon Focus Constellations: Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Perseus, Camelopardalis, Ursa Major, Hercules, Lyra, Cygnus, Pegasus, Andromeda, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Auriga

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Cosmic Challenge: NGC 7537 and NGC 7541

NGC 7537 and NGC 7541 are two of the more visually interesting galaxies that hide among the faint stars of Pisces, the Fishes. Only 3 arcminutes separate these nearly edge-on spirals, creating an attractive pair of faint fuzzies that float in a field of dim stars.

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