View the full issue in the Magazine Archive M15. Photo © Hubble and NASA. Pegasus is one of the most familiar autumn constellations. The most prominent part of the constellation is a large square of...
Astronomy
Photography Lessons from Comet NEOWISE
Try these comet photography techniques with the next comet and send your results to Nature Friend!
Comet Alert!
Two comets are coming through in October…
Cygnus
Thanks to its location along the Milky Way, Cygnus is loaded with star clusters and nebulas. It also contains a couple of outstanding double stars…
Pluto – 134340
If there was ever an object in the solar system that had astronomers confused, it was Pluto. At first their consensus was that it was a planet; then they decided it was not. The New Horizons spacecraft was supposed to answer questions and solve mysteries about this mysterious object, but when it flew past Pluto at about 31,000 mph, it uncovered more mysterious things…
In Our Skies, September and October 2025
Astronomy highlights for September and October 2025
Binocular Observing
I always carry my binoculars when I’m out under the stars, even when I’m primarily using a telescope. Over the years, I’ve discovered that even a modest handheld binocular like the Vortex Viper HD 10×42 I use can reveal a wide range…
Lyra
Lyra, the Harp, is a small constellation that lies almost straight overhead on August evenings in the mid-northern latitudes…
Exploring Nature, August 2025
Puffin rescue…migrations… August nature highlights.
Ophichus
Ophiuchus is a large constellation that lies high in the southern sky on midsummer evenings…
A Huge Finger
Even though the largest pillar only looks like a curling finger of dust, it is a gigantic four light-years long from the top to the bottom…
In Our Skies, July and August 2025
With the Milky Way coming into a favorable position for evening viewing, all kinds of fun features are out there to be viewed…
Draco
Draco isn’t heavily populated with great telescopic targets, but the double stars and deep sky objects that do lie within the constellation’s boundaries are widely varied…
Our Most Astounding Night Sky Encounters
To step out into the dark, still night and look up into the myriad of sparking, burning lights…
Creation Close-ups, June 2025
Readers’ photo submissions from the June issue.