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Cosmic Challenge: NGC 2371 - 2372

Feb 01 2025 07:00 AM | PhilH in Phil Harrington's Cosmic Challenge

Gemini offers two intriguing planetary nebulae for stargazers: the well-known Eskimo Nebula (NGC 2392) and the lesser known but equally fascinating NGC 2371 - 2. While the Eskimo Nebula dazzles with its bright, structured halo resembling a face framed by a parka, NGC 2371 - 2372 (traditionally abbreviated NGC 2371 - 2) presents a more subtle, ghostly charm.

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The Skies of February, 2025

Feb 01 2025 07:00 AM | cookman in This Month

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

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The Skies of January, 2025

Jan 04 2025 09:03 AM | cookman in This Month

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

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Cosmic Challenge: M1, the Crab Nebula

Jan 01 2025 07:00 AM | PhilH in Phil Harrington's Cosmic Challenge

The story of M1, of how it is the expanding remnant of a massive star that detonated in a huge supernova explosion, is well known to most. That explosion was witnessed by ancient Chinese and Anasazi Native American stargazers in July 1054 AD. Although half a world away from each other, both recorded the exploding star's sudden appearance. At its peak, the supernova may have shone as brightly as magnitude -6 and was visible in broad daylight for nearly a month.

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The Skies of December, 2024

Dec 10 2024 05:27 PM | cookman in This Month

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

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Cosmic Challenge: Galaxy UGC 2838

Dec 01 2024 07:00 AM | PhilH in Phil Harrington's Cosmic Challenge

The Pleiades is one of everyone's favorite winter sights. You and I probably look up at that tiny pot of stellar jewels every winter night we head out, just as we have ever since we first became fascinated with the night sky. It’s a seasonal rite. But did you know there was a small galaxy lurking behind the Pleiades? Not many people do. Its faint disk was never seen by the Herschels or known to John Dreyer when he assembled the New General Catalog and supplemental Index Catalogs.

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The Skies of November, 2024

Nov 05 2024 07:20 PM | cookman in This Month

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

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Cosmic Challenge: Palomar 13 and Friends

Nov 01 2024 05:00 AM | PhilH in Phil Harrington's Cosmic Challenge

Pegasus is best known to deep-sky observers as a breeding ground for faint galaxies, with more than 100 faint NGC galaxies littering this winged steed. Floating seemingly out of place among those systems is the globular cluster M15, one of the season's finest targets. Did you know that there is a second globular within Pegasus lying just within the grasp of your 10-inch telescope? That little known target is Palomar 13, one of those nasty globulars discovered by Abell and company while surveying the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey half a century ago.

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The Skies of October, 2024

Oct 15 2024 02:22 PM | cookman in This Month

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

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Cosmic Challenge: IC 5067 and IC 5070 (Pelican Nebula)

Oct 01 2024 05:00 AM | PhilH in Phil Harrington's Cosmic Challenge

My September 2018 Cosmic Challenge dared you to see the North America Nebula without optical aid. How did you do? If you didn’t see it back then, can you now? If you passed that trial, then pick up your binoculars and see how you do with this month’s test. The North America Nebula is easy to see compared to spotting this month's challenge, the Pelican Nebula by binoculars.

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