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Columns
Cosmic Challenge: The Great Square
Oct 01 2023 05:00 AM |
PhilH
in Phil Harrington's Cosmic Challenge
Pegasus is one of the best-known autumn constellations. Depicting the winged horse that Perseus used to rescue Princess Andromeda from the clutches of Cetus the Sea Monster, Pegasus flies high in our southern sky during October and November evenings.
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The Skies of October, 2023
Oct 01 2023 05:00 AM |
cookman
in This Month
Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, October Moon Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Camelopardalis, Auriga, Perseus, Andromeda, Pegasus, Cygnus, Aquila, Lyra, Hercules
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The Skies of September, 2023
Sep 03 2023 09:10 AM |
cookman
in This Month
Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, September Moon Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Camelopardalis, Perseus, Andromeda, Pegasus, Cygnus, Aquila, Lyra, Hercules, Corona Borealis, Bootes
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Cosmic Challenge: Abell 70
Sep 01 2023 05:00 AM |
PhilH
in Phil Harrington's Cosmic Challenge
Of the more than 80 planetaries listed by George Abell in his 1966 paper "Properties of Some Old Planetary Nebulae," Abell 70 (also known as PK38.1-25.4) is one of the most unique. Actually, the planetary itself is a stereotypical example of a ring nebula, like M57, with a round shell of gas expanding away from the dim progenitor star. But look carefully and there is clearly more here than just that.
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The Skies of August, 2023
Aug 05 2023 01:33 PM |
cookman
in This Month
Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, August Moon Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Camelopardalis, Perseus, Andromeda,Pegasus, Cygnus, Aquila, Lyra, Hercules
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Cosmic Challenge: Barnard's Star
Aug 01 2023 05:03 AM |
PhilH
in Phil Harrington's Cosmic Challenge
The curtain opened on this challenge in September 1916, when a pair of articles written by Edward Emerson Barnard appeared in the journals Nature and The Astronomical Journal. Both recounted Barnard's discovery of a faint star in the constellation Ophiuchus that appeared completely unremarkable except for the fact that its proper motion was faster than any other star ever found.
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The Skies of July, 2023
Jul 05 2023 05:19 PM |
cookman
in This Month
Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, July Moon Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Camelopardalis, Lynx, Leo Minor, Leo, Virgo, Coma Berenices, Bootes, Ophiucus, Hercules, Lyra, Aquila, Cygnus
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Cosmic Challenge: NGC 6369
Jul 01 2023 05:00 AM |
PhilH
in Phil Harrington's Cosmic Challenge
One of the more interesting, and at the same time, challenging of Herschel's planetaries to view through 3- to 5-inch (7.6- to 12.7-cm) instruments is NGC 6369 in southern Ophiuchus. Nicknamed the "Little Ghost Nebula," NGC 6369 is an example of a ring-type planetary nebula, a faint version of M57. That is, if you can find it.
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The Skies of June, 2023
Jun 06 2023 02:08 PM |
cookman
in This Month
Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, June Moon Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Camelopardalis, Lynx, Leo Minor, Leo, Virgo, Coma Berenices, Bootes, Ophiucus, Hercules, Lyra, Cygnus
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Cosmic Challenge: Plato's craterlets
Jun 01 2023 05:00 AM |
PhilH
in Phil Harrington's Cosmic Challenge
One of the great challenges facing even the most devoted lunar observers is trying to see the many small craters that dot the lava-covered floor of the walled plain Plato. Plato itself is a prominent impact scar measuring 62 miles across. It takes no more than 10x binoculars to see Plato once the Sun is up in its sky. In general, the best times to view Plato and its environs are about 1.5 days past First Quarter and again near Last Quarter.
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