Observing – Page 13 – Astronomy Now

North America Nebula is a true likeness

8 August 2022 Mark Armstrong

The North America Nebula (NGC 7000/Caldwell 20) in Cygnus is a fantastic emission nebula, an iconic object providing one of the highlights of the summer sky.

Don’t miss Albireo: a glorious colour-contrast double star

2 August 2022 Mark Armstrong

Albireo (beta [β] Cygni) is unquestionably the finest colour-contrast double star in the entire heavens, providing an unmissable target on summer nights.

Observe the dramatic Dumbbell Nebula

25 July 2022 Mark Armstrong

The glorious Dumbbell Nebula, in Vulpecula, is unquestionably one of the top planetary nebulae in the entire sky.

Shine light on the Cat’s Eye

21 July 2022 Mark Armstrong

The Cat’s Eye Nebula’s present-day popularity owes much to the Hubble Space Telescope’s dramatic portraits, though it was famous well over a century before Hubble was even conceived.

Messier 57: Lyra’s heavenly ring

11 July 2022 Mark Armstrong

Messier 57 is the famous Ring Nebula in Lyra, a showpiece planetary nebula that’s arguably the finest and most observed in its class.

Globular Messier 92: living in M13’s shadow

4 July 2022 Mark Armstrong

Messier 92 is a fine globular cluster that lies among the stars of northern Hercules, making it superbly placed in the summer sky for observers at mid-northern latitudes.

Don’t miss Rasalgethi, Hercules’ colourful secret

27 June 2022 Mark Armstrong

Look to southern Hercules and you’ll be thrilled to come across Rasalgethi (alpha [α] Herculis, the constellation’s lead star and a colour-contrast double star out of the top drawer.

Observe the best of Ophiuchus’ splendid bunch of Messier globular clusters

21 June 2022 Mark Armstrong

It’s exciting to observing the multitude of bright globular clusters, incredibly dense balls of stars that provide striking viewing with even a modest optical aid, that are on show at this time of the year.

The Double Double: Detach Lyra’s multiple-star gem

13 June 2022 Mark Armstrong

Epsilon (ε) Lyrae is a showpiece multiple star for double star enthusiasts, famously coined the ‘Double Double’.

Zero-in on Messier 13, the great Hercules globular

7 June 2022 Mark Armstrong

Messier 13 (NGC 6205) in Hercules is another of those truly celebrated deep-sky objects like the Orion Nebula, the Pleiades and the Andromeda galaxy.