2024-04-04 13:00
The Spaghetti Nebula is a supernova remnant located approximately 3,000 light-years away in the constellation Taurus, on the border with Auriga. The remnant lies near Elnath at the Bull&rsqu&hell…Read More
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Constellations: A Guide to the Night Sky
2024-03-23 00:59
The Vela Supernova Remnant (Vela SNR) is the remnant of a supernova that occurred around 11,000 years ago in the southern constellation Vela. The remnant lies approximately 936 light-years a… Read More
2024-03-10 03:17
The Gum Nebula is a large emission nebula located approximately 1,470 light-years away. It occupies 36 degrees of the apparent sky in the direction of the constellations Puppis and Vela. It… Read More
2024-02-29 22:03
The Westbrook Nebula is a bipolar protoplanetary nebula located between 2,900 and 5,500 light-years away in the northern constellation Auriga (the Charioteer). It is classified as a carbon-r… Read More
2024-02-25 13:47
The Statue of Liberty Nebula is a large, bright emission nebula located approximately 9,000 light-years away in the constellation Carina. The H II region is roughly 100 light-years across. I… Read More
2024-02-21 00:53
The Skull and Crossbones Nebula is a large star forming region located approximately 20,000 light-years away in the southern constellation of Puppis. It has an apparent magnitude of 7.1 and… Read More
2024-02-20 22:40
Caroline’s Rose Cluster is a bright open cluster located approximately 7,622 light-years away in the northern constellation Cassiopeia. With an apparent magnitude of 6.7, it is visible… Read More
2024-02-12 03:02
Hubble’s Variable Nebula is a variable nebula located approximately 2,500 light-years away in the constellation Monoceros. It is illuminated by the young variable star R Monocerotis. T… Read More
2024-02-08 03:37
The Lemon Slice Nebula is a planetary nebula located approximately 4,500 light-years away in the constellation Camelopardalis. It lies in the region of the north celestial pole, only 7.5 deg… Read More
2024-02-03 21:59
The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is a Magellanic spiral galaxy located 163,000 light-years away. It is the brightest satellite galaxy of the Milky Way and one of the nearest galaxies to our… Read More
2024-01-26 12:36
The Tarantula Nebula is a vast star-forming region located approximately 160,000 light-years away in the southern constellation Dorado. The region of ionised hydrogen gas is part of the Larg… Read More
2024-01-26 03:18
The Ghost Head Nebula is an emission nebula located approximately 160,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud in the constellation Dorado. The star-forming region appears near the… Read More
2024-01-24 14:30
The Red Rectangle Nebula is a protoplanetary nebula located approximately 2,300 light-years away in the constellation Monoceros. It has a radius of 0.14 light-years. The nebula is known for… Read More
2024-01-19 14:49
The Bow-Tie Nebula is a planetary nebula located approximately 5,280 light-years away in the northern constellation Cepheus. With an apparent magnitude of 11.6, it can be observed in amateur… Read More
2024-01-14 03:51
The Angel Nebula is a reflection nebula located approximately 2,700 light-years away in the equatorial constellation Monoceros (the Unicorn). It is part of Monoceros R2, one of the closest m… Read More
2024-01-10 02:29
Hind’s Variable Nebula is a variable nebula located 400 light-years away in the constellation Taurus. The nebula is about 4 light-years across. It is illuminated by the young pre-main… Read More
2024-01-02 10:51
The Flame Nebula is a bright emission nebula located 900 – 1,500 light-years away in the constellation Orion, the Hunter. The large star-forming region has an apparent magnitude of 10… Read More
2023-12-31 00:01
The Bubble Nebula is an emission nebula located 7,100 – 11,000 light-years away in the northern constellation Cassiopeia. With an apparent magnitude of 10, it can be observed in medium… Read More
2023-12-29 14:51
The Alpha Persei Cluster is a bright open cluster located approximately 570 light-years away in the northern constellation Perseus. With an apparent magnitude of 1.2, the cluster is easily v… Read More
2023-12-16 01:20
The Witch Head Nebula is a very faint reflection nebula located approximately 900 light-years away in the constellation Eridanus. The nebula is illuminated by the bright supergiant star Rige… Read More
2023-12-10 02:54
The Owl Cluster is a bright open star cluster located approximately 7,922 light-years away in the northern constellation Cassiopeia. With an apparent magnitude of 6.4, the cluster can be obs… Read More
2023-12-04 02:12
The Skull Nebula is a bright planetary nebula located approximately 1,600 light-years away in the constellation Cetus. With an apparent magnitude of 8, it can be seen in a small telescope. T… Read More
2023-11-12 04:14
47 Tucanae is a bright globular cluster located 14,500 light-years away in the southern constellation Tucana. With an apparent magnitude of 4.09, the cluster is visible to the unaided eye on… Read More
2023-10-28 09:38
NGC 7331 is an unbarred spiral galaxy located 39.8 million light-years away in the constellation Pegasus. With an apparent magnitude of 10.4, it can be seen in small telescopes. It is the br… Read More
2023-10-17 11:24
The Dumbbell Nebula is a planetary nebula located approximately 1,360 light-years away in the northern constellation Vulpecula (the Fox). With an apparent magnitude of 7.4, it is one of the… Read More
2023-09-22 07:17
The Blinking Planetary Nebula is a planetary nebula located approximately 2,000 light-years away in the northern constellation Cygnus. It is also known as the Blinking Eye Nebula. With an ap… Read More
2023-09-05 00:37
The Lagoon Nebula is a vast emission nebula located approximately 4,100 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius. With an apparent magnitude of 4.6 and an apparent size of 90 by 40… Read More
2023-08-24 00:06
The Ring Nebula is a bright planetary nebula located approximately 2,567 light-years away in the constellation Lyra. With an apparent magnitude of 8.8, it is one of the brightest planetary n… Read More
2023-08-15 00:16
The Necklace Nebula is a planetary nebula located 15,000 light-years away in the northern constellation Sagitta. It has an apparent diameter of 0.35 arcminutes and an apparent magnitude of 1… Read More
2023-08-10 15:41
The Lobster Nebula is a large emission nebula located approximately 5,900 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius. The nebula hosts several massive young star clusters and is one of t… Read More
2023-08-04 20:50
The Condor Galaxy is a large barred spiral galaxy located 212 million light-years away in the southern constellation Pavo (the Peacock). It is listed as NGC 6872 in the New General Catalogue… Read More
2023-07-31 00:57
The Butterfly Nebula is a bipolar planetary nebula located approximately 3,400 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius. Named for its resemblance to a butterfly, the nebula has a wing… Read More
2023-07-28 01:34
The Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex is a large complex of bright and dark nebulae located in the constellation Ophiuchus. It is located approximately 460 light-years away and centred 1 degree sou… Read More
2023-07-21 12:52
The Cat’s Eye Nebula is a planetary nebula located approximately 3,300 light-years away in the northern constellation Draco. Its intricate shape and colourful appearance have earned it… Read More
2023-07-14 09:16
The Fish Hook is an asterism formed by about a dozen bright stars in the constellation Scorpius. The curved star pattern forms the heart, body, tail, and stinger of the celestial Scorpion. T… Read More
2023-07-06 01:20
Kepler’s Supernova (SN 1604) is the remnant of a supernova first observed in the constellation Ophiuchus in October 1604. The supernova occurred in the Milky Way galaxy, less than 20,0… Read More
2023-06-30 07:24
The Tadpole Galaxy is a peculiar disrupted barred spiral galaxy located approximately 420 million light-years away in the constellation Draco. It has a disrupted shape with a trail of stars… Read More
2023-06-21 17:48
The Ant Nebula is a bipolar planetary nebula located approximately 8,000 light-years away in the southern constellation Norma. It has an apparent magnitude of 13.8 and an apparent size of ov… Read More
2023-06-13 20:15
The Circinus Galaxy is a Seyfert galaxy located 13 million light-years away in the southern constellation Circinus. It is one of the closest active galaxies to the Milky Way. It has an appar… Read More
2023-06-10 16:30
The Carina Nebula is a vast region of bright and dark nebulosity located in the southern constellation Carina. It is also known as the Eta Carinae Nebula, the Grand Nebula, and the Great Car… Read More
2023-06-05 16:01
NGC 6101 is a globular cluster located approximately 47,600 light-years away in the southern constellation Apus. With an apparent magnitude of 9, it is visible in amateur telescopes. The clu… Read More
2023-05-30 00:41
The Antennae Galaxies, also known as the Ringtail Galaxy, are a pair of colliding galaxies located in the constellation Corvus. The collision has produced two long tails of stars that resemb… Read More
2023-05-23 01:43
Spica’s Spanker is a quadrilateral asterism formed by the brightest stars in Corvus. Also known as the Sail, the asterism appears near Spica, the brightest star in Virgo and the 16th b… Read More
2023-05-17 22:37
The Blue Planetary Nebula is a planetary nebula located in the southern constellation Centaurus. Popularly known as the Southerner, it is the brightest planetary nebula in the far southern s… Read More
2023-05-12 09:23
The Three Leaps of the Gazelle is an asterism formed by three pairs of stars in the constellation Ursa Major. The six stars mark the paws of the Great Bear. They shine at magnitudes 3.06 &nd&hell…Read More
2023-05-07 22:17
The Needle Galaxy is a barred spiral galaxy located approximately 30 – 50 million light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices. It is one of the best-known edge-on spiral galax… Read More
2023-05-06 00:42
The Coma Star Cluster is an open cluster located 280 light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices. With an apparent magnitude of 1.8 and an apparent size of 7.5 degrees, it is easily… Read More
2023-03-05 14:47
The Wishing Well Cluster (NGC 3532) is a bright open cluster located approximately 1,321 light-years away in the southern constellation Carina. It has an apparent magnitude of 3 and is one o… Read More
2023-02-26 01:03
Barnard’s Loop is a large emission nebula within the Orion molecular cloud complex, a vast star-forming region located in the constellation Orion. The nebula appears as a large arc tha… Read More
2023-02-20 01:13
The Tau Canis Majoris Cluster is a bright open cluster located 4,830 light-years away in the constellation Canis Major. With an apparent magnitude of 3.8, it is visible without binoculars in… Read More
2023-02-14 01:21
The Seagull Nebula (IC 2177) is a large region of nebulosity located approximately 3,650 light-years away in the constellation Monoceros (the Unicorn), on the border with Canis Major. The ne… Read More
2023-02-11 13:50
Auriga’s hexagon is a bright, prominent asterism formed by the brightest stars of Auriga – Capella, Menkalinan, Mahasim, Hassaleh, and Almaaz – with Elnath, the star that m… Read More
2023-02-06 00:25
The Tadpole Nebula (IC 410) is an H II region located approximately 12,400 light-years away in the northern constellation Auriga. It is associated with the young open cluster NGC 1893. The c… Read More
2023-02-02 17:48
The Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405) is an emission and reflection nebula located approximately 1,500 light-years away in the northern constellation Auriga. The nebula surrounds the hot blue var… Read More
2023-01-31 22:51
The Retina Nebula is a bipolar planetary nebula located in the southern constellation Lupus. It has an apparent magnitude of 11 and lies approximately 2,000 light-years away. It is catalogue… Read More
2023-01-10 01:53
The 37 Cluster, also known by its New General Catalogue designation NGC 2169, is a small open cluster located in the constellation Orion. With an apparent magnitude of 5.9, it is easily obse… Read More
2023-01-06 04:22
The Running Man Nebula is a reflection nebula embedded in the larger H II region Sharpless 279 (Sh2-279). It lies 1,500 light-years away in the constellation Orion. The nebula is part of the… Read More
2023-01-03 04:44
The Sculptor Galaxy is an intermediate spiral galaxy located approximately 11.4 million light-years away in the southern constellation Sculptor. It is one of the brightest galaxies in the ni… Read More
2023-01-01 00:30
Orion’s Belt is a prominent asterism formed by three stars in the constellation Orion. The three bright blue stars – Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka – outline the belt in the… Read More
2022-12-22 17:14
The Horsehead Nebula (B33) is a famous dark nebula located in the constellation Orion. It is part of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, one of the nearest active regions of star formation to… Read More
2022-11-13 01:22
The Medusa Nebula (Sh2-274) is a large planetary nebula located 1,500 light-years away in the constellation Gemini. With an apparent magnitude of 15.99, the nebula is a challenging target fo… Read More
2022-11-05 01:42
The Iris Nebula is a bright, large reflection nebula located approximately 1,300 light-years away in the constellation Cepheus. With an apparent magnitude of 6.8, the nebula is visible in ba… Read More
2022-10-31 23:50
The Ghost Nebula is a reflection nebula located approximately 1,470 light-years away in the constellation Cepheus. The nebula’s dust and gas form eerie-looking figures that resemble gh… Read More
2022-10-08 14:10
Seyfert’s Sextet is a compact group of galaxies located approximately 190 million light-years away in the constellation Serpens. The group was named after American astronomer Carl Keen… Read More
2022-09-30 09:14
The Northern Cross is a prominent asterism formed by the brightest stars in the constellation Cygnus. Deneb, Sadr, and Albireo form the pole, and Fawaris and Aljanah the cross beam. The aste… Read More
2022-08-31 01:47
Hoag’s Object is a ring galaxy located about 612.8 million light-years away in the constellation Serpens. Recognizable for its nearly perfect ring shape, the galaxy was named after Art… Read More
2022-08-18 01:06
The Cartwheel Galaxy is a ring galaxy located in the southern constellation Sculptor. It lies at an approximate distance of 500 million light-years from Earth. It is also known as the Cartwh… Read More
2022-08-02 02:52
The Southern Cross is an asterism formed by the brightest stars in the constellation Crux. Largely unknown to observers in the northern hemisphere, it is the most familiar star pattern in th… Read More
2022-07-19 03:59
The Southern Ring Nebula (Eight-Burst Nebula, NGC 3132) is a planetary nebula about 2,000 light-years away in the southern constellation Vela. With an apparent magnitude of 9.87 and an appar… Read More
2022-07-12 03:30
The galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 (SMACS J0723.3-7327) is one of the first targets to be imaged by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The massive cluster lies in the southern conste… Read More
2022-07-06 02:33
The California Nebula is a large emission nebula stretching across almost 2.5 degrees of the night sky in the constellation Perseus. It has an apparent magnitude of 6.0 and lies approximatel… Read More
2022-06-26 02:36
The Diamond Cross is one of the three prominent cross asterisms in the far southern sky. Located in the constellation Carina, the asterism is formed by Miaplacidus (Beta Carinae), Theta, Ups… Read More
2022-06-12 11:07
Sagittarius A (Sgr A) is a complex radio source located at the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy. The radio source consists of the supernova remnant Sagittarius A East, the spiral structure Sag… Read More
2022-05-29 10:45
The Little Dipper is an asterism formed by seven bright stars in the constellation Ursa Minor, the Little Bear. It is smaller and fainter than its larger counterpart, the Big Dipper. The ast… Read More
2022-05-21 00:52
The Big Dipper is an asterism formed by seven bright stars in the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear. It is one of the most recognizable star patterns in the night sky. The asterism is… Read More
2022-05-11 00:52
The constellations in tonight’s sky host many familiar star patterns. For northern observers, spring is the best time of year to see the Big Dipper in Ursa Major, the Little Dipper in… Read More
2022-04-07 13:41
The Ghost of Jupiter (NGC 3242) is a planetary nebula located approximately 4,800 light years away in the constellation Hydra. With an apparent magnitude of 8.60 and an apparent size of 25 a… Read More
2022-03-20 14:14
The Rosette Nebula is a vast emission nebula located about 5,200 light years away. The star forming region lies near a large molecular cloud in the constellation Monoceros, the Unicorn. It i… Read More
2022-01-09 23:00
Orion’s Sword is a prominent asterism located below the brighter Orion’s Belt in the constellation Orion. It is part of the recognizable constellation figure representing the cel… Read More
2021-12-22 04:12
The constellation Cassiopeia has long been known by its popular nickname, the W constellation. Its five brightest stars form the distinctive shape of a W in the northern night sky. The W-sha… Read More
2021-12-13 18:25
The Fireworks Galaxy is a bright spiral galaxy located on the border between the constellations Cepheus and Cygnus. It is one of the nearest spiral galaxies to the Sun. It appears face-on ne… Read More
2021-10-22 02:53
The Pointer Stars are the two bright stars in Ursa Major that can be used to find Polaris, the North Star. The two stars, Dubhe and Merak (Alpha and Beta Ursae Majoris), are part of the Big… Read More
2021-09-23 09:23
The Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) is a bright, large planetary nebula located 650 light years from Earth in the constellation Aquarius. It is one of the closest planetary nebulae to Earth, as well… Read More
2021-09-06 03:44
The Cocoon Nebula (IC 5146) is a reflection/emission nebula located approximately 2,500 light years away in the constellation Cygnus. With an apparent magnitude of 7.2 and an apparent size o… Read More
2021-08-20 03:45
The Water Jar is an asterism formed by four relatively bright stars in the constellation Aquarius: Gamma, Pi, Eta, and Zeta Aquarii. Also known as the Urn, the Y-shaped asterism represents t… Read More
2021-08-11 01:45
The Oyster Nebula (NGC 1501) is a planetary nebula located in the northern constellation Camelopardalis, the Giraffe. The nebula was created by an extremely hot, rapidly pulsating central st… Read More
2021-08-03 03:26
The Summer Triangle is an asterism formed by Vega, Altair and Deneb, the brightest stars of the northern constellations Lyra, Aquila and Cygnus. With three first-magnitude stars at its verti… Read More
2021-07-30 04:02
The Egg Nebula is a protoplanetary nebula located in the northern constellation Cygnus. It lies at an approximate distance of 3,000 light years and has an apparent magnitude of 14.0. Named f… Read More
2021-07-20 14:00
The Whale Galaxy is a barred spiral galaxy located at an approximate distance of 30 million light years in the constellation Canes Venatici. It has an apparent magnitude of 9.8 and appears a… Read More
2021-06-07 01:26
The Pacman Nebula (NGC 281) is a large emission nebula appearing near the orange giant Schedar in the constellation Cassiopeia. The nebula lies approximately 9,200 light years away and occup… Read More
2021-05-13 00:14
The Mice Galaxies (NGC 4676) are a pair of colliding galaxies located in the constellation Coma Berenices. The two galaxies – designated IC 819 and IC 820 in the Index Catalogue &ndash&hell…Read More
2021-04-12 16:31
The Jewel Bug Nebula (NGC 7027) is a young planetary nebula located in the constellation Cygnus. It lies approximately 2,870 light years away. With an apparent magnitude of 10, it is one of… Read More
2021-02-21 02:02
The Kite is a large northern asterism that dominates the constellation Boötes. Also known as the Ice Cream Cone, it is formed by the constellation’s brightest stars. Like the Big… Read More
2021-02-05 22:01
The Dragonfish Nebula is a vast emission nebula located in the constellation Crux. Invisible in visible light, the nebula got its name because its appearance in infrared images resembles tha… Read More
2021-02-05 02:21
Here are some of the highlights of the February sky:Orion Nebula (Messier 42), image: NASA, ESA, M. Robberto (Space Telescope Science Institute/ESA) and the Hubble Space Telescope Orion Trea… Read More
2021-01-29 01:34
The Spirograph Nebula (IC 418) is a planetary nebula located approximately 3,600 light years away in the constellation Lepus. It lies near the ears of the celestial Hare, just under Orion&ls&hell…Read More
2021-01-18 03:12
IC 1101 is a supergiant elliptical galaxy located in the constellation Virgo. With a radius of about 2 million light years and home to 100 trillion stars, it is one of the largest galaxies k… Read More
2021-01-06 18:24
The False Cross is an asterism formed by four bright stars in the constellations Vela and Carina. Located in the far southern sky, the diamond-shaped pattern is often confused for the Southe… Read More
2021-01-03 21:38
Here are a few skywatching tips for January:
11 pm, southwest sky – Orion constellation, with the bright supergiants Rigel and Betelgeuse, Orion’s Belt and the Orion Nebula (Mess… Read More
2020-12-07 03:36
Here are the highlights of the December sky:
Messier 81 and Messier 82, image: Leonardo Ciuffolotti, Andrea Pistocchini, Giuseppe Nicosia, Alessandro Falesiedi, Tim Stone, Giuseppe Donatiell… Read More
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