The Sky in February

Some Bright Winter Double Stars

December 2005 : By Glenn Chaple

The winter night sky, dominated by mighty Orion, is rich with deep-sky splendors. If you can brave the cold, you’ll be rewarded by some of the finest double and triple stars the night sky has to offer.

A Selection of Double Stars in Orion

January 2007 : By Glenn Chaple

Of the one hundred double and multiple stars on the Astronomical League’s double stars list, nine are found in Orion.

A Selection of Double Stars in Gemini

January 2008 : By Glenn Chaple

It’s appropriate that the constellation Gemini, the Twins, should be home to a numerous collection of double stars. Here are ten stellar – pardon the pun - examples (data from the Washington Double Star Catalog (WDS).

A Selection of Double Stars in Cancer

April 2008 : By Glenn Chaple

For our spring double star selection, we’ll say goodbye to Gemini and shift eastward to the faint constellation Cancer. Notable for its bright Messier cluster M44 (the Praesepe), Cancer is also home to a splendid array of double and multiple stars. How many can you notch? (Data from the Washington Double Star Catalog (WDS)

Struve 817 Orionis

January 2009 : By Glenn Chaple

I’m a big fan of “off-the-beaten-path” sky objects. One of my favorites is the little-known double star Struve 817 - the 817th double star catalogued by the German-born Russian astronomer F. G. W. Struve during a survey conducted between 1824 and 1827.

A Better Galaxy Guide: Early Spring

April 2009 : By Craig Cortis

We all know about the wealth of galaxies that populate the sky beginning around this time of year, but if you’re not an experienced deep-sky observer, where do you begin?

The Winter Circle

February 2009 : By Dave Huestis

Just as the summer sky has the Summer Triangle, the winter sky has its own special asterism, and this one is huge and includes a total of eight bright stars. It’s called the Winter Circle or Winter Hexagon. I’ll explain why you can get both shapes from the stars.

Mizar, The First Double Star

May 2009 : By Glenn Chaple

The middle star in the handle of the Big Dipper, Mizar is the easiest double star for the novice to locate. It boasts historical importance as the first double star discovered.

NGC 2362: Open Cluster in Canis Major

March 2009 : By Glenn Chaple

A remarkable, yet little-known open cluster is NGC 2362 which surrounds and includes the star tau Canis Majoris.

44 Boötis

June 2009 : By Glenn Chaple

44 Boötis, whose 210-year orbit is highly inclined to our line-of-sight, has opened up. Its magnitude 5.3 and 6.2 component stars are separated by 2.2 arc-seconds.

h 3945 Canis Majoris

March 2010 : By Glenn Chaple

What is the most colorful double star in the night sky? Most amateur astronomers would vote for β Cygni (Albireo). Others might cite γ Andromedae (Almach), ι Cancri, ξ Bootis, or η Cassiopeiae. Sadly overlooked is a double star that might challenge them all – h 3945 in Canis Major. It is arguably the most colorful double star in the winter sky and, in fact, has been nick-named the “Winter Albireo.”

Beta Orionis (Rigel)

February 2010 : By Glenn Chaple

You won’t need a finder chart to locate this month’s featured sky object. It’s the first magnitude star β Orionis, better known by its proper name Rigel. Seventh brightest star in the night sky, Rigel dazzles us with a diamond-white color; especially striking when compared with Orion’s other first-magnitude star, the ruddy-hued Betelgeuse.

Orion the Hunter

February 2011 : By Dave Huestis

Everyone with an interest in astronomy probably has a favorite constellation. It may be because of the star pattern’s mythology, or its shape in the sky, or for the beautiful objects that reside within its boundaries, or possibly because it’s your astrological sign.

February Constellations & Folklore

February 2011 : By Francine Jackson

One of the biggest moments for a new astronomy lover is the sudden realization that we have suddenly connected the stars and found the constellations, as has happened for generations all around the world. And, then, to try to remember the figure, we often depend on a story, or a myth, to keep the stars in their proper position. Very often, we depend on the ancient European, notably the Greco-Roman stories, to keep the sky in line.

Seeking Markarian 421: The Brightest Blazar

March 2011 : By Craig Cortis

An easy star hop leads to a BL Lacertae-type active galaxy in Ursa Major that is visible in 8-inch and larger backyard telescopes.

β Monocerotis

February 2011 : By Glenn Chaple

Observe one of the sky's best triple stars just 12 degrees east of the Great Orion Nebula.

Variable Star R Leonis

March 2012 : By Glenn Chaple

On the evening of March 1, 1918, a young Ohio farm boy trained a small refracting telescope towards the variable star R Leonis. He estimated its brightness, later forwarding the information to the American Association of Variable Star Observers. It was the first of over 132.000 variable star observations the legendary Leslie Peltier would submit to the AAVSO.

Algieba: Double Star in Leo

April 2012 : By Glenn Chaple

One of the finest double stars in the spring sky – indeed, in all the heavens – is gamma (y) Leonis. Its proper name, Algieba, comes from the Arabic Al Jabbah (The Lion’s Mane).

M46 & NGC 2438

March 2014 : By Glenn Chaple

There’s a saying that goes, “You can’t see the forest for the trees.” In the case of the planetary nebula NGC 2438, “you can’t see the nebula for the stars.” NGC 2438 lies within the northern portion of the open cluster Messier 46 and is often overshadowed by the surrounding stars.

Reason for the Season(s)

March 2015 : By Dave Huestis

Have you ever noticed how high the Sun arcs across the sky during the summer, or how low it arcs during the winter? It’s an astronomical cycle that only requires one’s eyes to observe, plus a one year commitment of time. I’m sure you’ve noticed the Sun rising or setting at various locations along your horizon during the year. One month it may be rising or setting directly in front of you as you drive down a particular road, while at other times it may be either north or south of that same position. Astronomy provides the answers.

Maserthim (γ Arietis)

December 2012 : By Glenn Chaple

I’m a double star aficionado; my sky gazing motto is “double stars are twice the fun!” Unlike the “faint fuzzies” most backyard astronomers prefer, double stars aren’t hidden by light pollution or bright moonlight. They aren’t the exclusive property of big-scope owners. In fact, many showpiece doubles are within reach of small-aperture instruments. The common 60mm refractor with its crisp stellar images delivers exquisite views of double stars - especially twin systems.

NGC 7662: the Blue Snowball

January 2013 : By Glenn Chaple

What could be a more appropriate telescopic destination for a wintry night in January than the “Blue Snowball?” More formally known as NGC 7662, the Blue Snowball is a beautiful planetary nebula located in Andromeda. Discovered by William Herschel in 1784, it sports as the nickname implies a circular form and eye-pleasing bluish hue.

M78: Reflection Nebula in Orion

March 2013 : By Glenn Chaple

It’s understandable that M78 should be overlooked by backyard astronomers. Not far away is the much brighter, much more easily found, and much, much more spectacular M42 - the Orion Nebula. This deep-sky masterpiece was spectacular even through the eyepiece of my 3-inch scope. M78, on the other hand, was a faint blob that seemed to sport an off-center nucleus.