Astronaut Christmas
23 Christmases have been celebrated in orbit, and these intrepid spacefarers have perfected the art of creating a holiday atmosphere unlike any other.
Dec 21, 2023
The Different Types of Comets Explained
Comets, time capsules of primordial materials from 4.6 billion years ago, are explained here in detail, covering every type.
Dec 15, 2023
The entirety of the US history happened within just one Pluto orbit
From the Declaration of Independence in 1776 to the present day, the American saga of liberty, innovation, and cultural evolution has unfolded within just one Plutonian year.
Dec 8, 2023
Health Issue Related to Spaceflight
In this article, we’ll be looking at the long-term health impacts of space travel, and talk about how the human body adapts, or struggles to adapt, to this extraordinary environment.
Dec 5, 2023
Can astronauts vote from space?
Learn how legal innovations enable astronauts to vote from space, highlighting the blend of technology and law that upholds democratic rights aboard the ISS.
Nov 24, 2023
3C 273 Quasar
3C 273 is the first identified and optically brightest quasar, the super bright nucleus of an “active” galaxy.
Nov 21, 2023
Albireo
Albireo is one of the most beautiful double stars in the sky, probably the finest in the heavens for small telescopes.
Nov 21, 2023
Campbell’s Hydrogen Star
PK 64+5.1, or Campbell’s Hydrogen Star, a tiny but surprisingly bright object located about 2.5° north of Albireo.
Nov 21, 2023
FU Orionis
In late 1936, a 16th-magnitude star erupted in the constellation Orion, and by early the next year it had attained 10th magnitude – that is a brightening by a factor of over 250!
Nov 21, 2023
G1 Globular Cluster
G1 is the most luminous globular cluster in the entire Local Group of galaxies.
Nov 21, 2023
Hubble Nebula
Discovered by Sir William Herschel in 1783 and named for Edwin Hubble, NGC 2261 is a fascinating reflection nebula associated with the variable star R Monocerotis.
Nov 21, 2023
Helix planetary nebula
The Helix Nebula is one of the closest of all planetary nebulae, lying at a distance of about 400 light-years from Earth.
Nov 21, 2023
Galaxies
These days any amateur astronomer using a small telescope can see hundreds of galaxies, millions of light-years away.
Nov 21, 2023
Galaxies in Andromeda
Learn about the three galaxies you can observe within the boundaris of the Andromeda Constellation.
Nov 21, 2023
Lagoon Nebula
M8, nicknamed the “Lagoon Nebula“, is a vast cloud of interstellar gas and dust more than 50 light-years across and about 5,700 light-years distant.
Nov 21, 2023
M13 Globular Cluster
M13, the Great Cluster in Hercules, teeters on the edge of naked eye visibility and appears in binoculars as a small, circular, hazy glow.
Nov 21, 2023
M104 Galaxy
The well-known “Sombrero” galaxy M104 in Virgo is probably the best example of an Sa spiral, with tightly- wound spiral arms and a large luminous bulge.
Nov 21, 2023
M1 Supernova Remnant
Have you ever seen the remains of a star in its old age? If not, take out your scope on a clear night and point it towards the constellation Taurus.
Nov 21, 2023
NGC 6891 and NGC 6905
Delphinus contains a variety of deep sky objects for backyard telescopes. Two of these objects are of particular interest: the easily observed planetary nebulae NGC 6891 and NGC 6905.
Nov 21, 2023
M81 and M82 Galaxies
Information about M81 and M82, two interesting galaxies in Ursa Major.
Nov 21, 2023