SUNSET: 
Fuzzies in Your Future:
An Introduction to Deep-Sky Objects
Ready to voyage beyond the Solar System? Here's what you can see.
A Galaxy-Hop in Leo
Even with a modest telescope and a poor sky, you can ferret out many faint, far galactic wonders by using a good map.
A Chain of Galaxies Near M92
Many interesting but faint objects are often overlooked when they're beside a "showpiece" object. A collection of galaxies near M92 are a good example of this.
A Pair of Grand Galaxies
If you think all galaxies are faint, fuzzy blobs, think again. Here are two easily-seen galaxies that will change your mind.
A Collection of Bipolar Planetary Nebulae
Butterflies of the Milky Way await scrutiny with telescopes small and large.
Hunting Down the Helix
Despite its dodgy reputation, this planetary nebula is easy to find (for both Northern and Southern Hemisphere observers) if you go about it the right way.
A Pair of Nice Nebulae
When you leave the planets, moons, and comets of our solar system behind, you enter the realm of the deep sky, a place of subtle glows and faint lights.
Observing Amazing Nebulae Season by Season
Nebulae are among the most beautiful sights in the night sky but their diffuse nature can make them challenging to locate. Here are a few interesting nebulae, and most are easy to spot.
Clusters of Clusters: Globular Pairings
Globular clusters are more concentrated in the direction of Sagittarius since that's where we find the center of the Milky Way. This area of the sky affords us opportunities to see several of these rich, ancient clusters in close proximity.
Six Globulars Near Antares
If you can find bright Antares in Scorpius, you can use our chart to find these half dozen globular star clusters with a telescope — and maybe even binoculars.
Winter Clusters Galore
The sky between the Big and Little Dogs may be poor in bright stars, but it’s rich in star clusters for small telescopes.
Open Clusters by the Season
Open clusters are popular targets for deep-sky observers, particularly when composed of varied-color stars. Here are some treats for scopes both large and small.
A Sampling of Star Clusters
You don't need a big telescope to be dazzled by deep-sky wonders, particularly if your target is one of the many lovely star clusters.
Seeking Summer's Dark Nebulae
Amateur skygazers can spend hours roaming ghostly clouds of interstellar dust. You just need to know where to look.
Nebulae of the Deep South
On a long-awaited tour of the southern Milky Way, Alan Whitman discovers many splendid sights in far-southern skies.
Observing Secrets of Deep-Sky Objects Revealed
Here's how to hone your galaxy-hunting skills — and what to expect at the eyepiece.
RS Ophiuchi Finally Blows its Stack
This famous recurrent nova has just erupted for the first time in 21 years, reaching magnitude 4.8 on February 13th.
When Will RS Ophiuchi Next Blow Its Stack?
This recurrent nova last went off in 1985. It could do so again almost any night. By catching this nova on the rise, you’ll help professional astronomers turn their “big guns” on it.
