X-Highlight – Page 5 – Astronomy Now

Head south for a Messier globular duo

30 June 2024 Mark Armstrong

The southern constellation of Scorpius hosts two splendid globular clusters, M4 and M80, both of which provide good viewing despite their lowly presentation at mid-northern latitudes.

Set your filtered sights on the Sun

25 June 2024 Mark Armstrong

Summer is the season for a spot of solar observing and sunspots, probably the Sun’s most fascinating phenomena, are easier to see than you might think.

Cassiopeia A’s many faces

22 June 2024 Astronomy Now

This is the James Webb Space Telescope’s (JWST’s) second view of the Cassiopeia A (Cas A) supernova remnant, the remains of a massive star that exploded in the late 17th century.

Star power in Boötes

22 May 2024 Mark Armstrong

The late-spring constellation of Boötes is home to brilliant Arcturus and a collection of some of the most beautiful double stars of the season.

Resolving Messier 3’s swarming stars

7 May 2024 Mark Armstrong

Messier 3 in Canes Venatici is right up near the top of the premier league of globular clusters. It has huge appeal for visual observers and imagers alike, making it a great alternative in the late spring sky to the ubiquitous Messier 13.

NGC 4361: A planetary nebula to crow about

22 April 2024 Mark Armstrong

NGC 4361 in Corvus is a bit of an horizon-hugger at mid-northern latitudes, but it’ll reward determined observers.

Line up Markarian’s Chain

8 April 2024 Mark Armstrong

Markarian’s Chain is a string of bright Virgo Cluster galaxies straddling the Virgo/Coma border.

Chasing lunar shadows

2 April 2024 Mark Armstrong

There’s so much that the Moon offers to an observer armed with just modest instrumentation and the unaided eye. Here’s some of the Moon’s best sights on an exciting observing journey as the Moon waxes from new to full phase.

Focus on Messier 106

25 March 2024 Steve Kelly

Spiral galaxy Messier 106 in Canes Venatici faces stiff competition there but remains one of the northern sky’s best .

Inspect impressive Mare Imbrium

15 March 2024 Steve Kelly

In and around the vast Imbrium Basin is a very fertile area for lunar observers. For our Imbrium expedition let’s zero in on its magnificent mountain ranges and great selection of impact craters.