78 results
Orion Nebula

Learning About the Sky

Fuzzies in Your Future:
An Introduction to Deep-Sky Objects

Ready to voyage beyond the Solar System? Here's what you can see.

Celestial Objects to Observe

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.

Deep Sky

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.

Deep Sky

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.

NGC 2440

Celestial Objects to Observe

A Collection of Bipolar Planetary Nebulae

Butterflies of the Milky Way await scrutiny with telescopes small and large.

The Helix Nebula

Deep Sky

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.

Orion Nebula

Celestial Objects to Observe

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.

Celestial Objects to Observe

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.

Celestial Objects to Observe

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.

Deep Sky

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.

Celestial Objects to Observe

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.

Celestial Objects to Observe

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.

Celestial Objects to Observe

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.

Celestial Objects to Observe

Seeking Summer's Dark Nebulae

Amateur skygazers can spend hours roaming ghostly clouds of interstellar dust. You just need to know where to look.

Deep Sky

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.

urban observer

Deep Sky

Observing Secrets of Deep-Sky Objects Revealed

Here's how to hone your galaxy-hunting skills — and what to expect at the eyepiece.

Deep Sky

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.

Celestial Objects to Observe

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.