Aquarius is a sprawling constellation that stretches across nearly 40° of the southern sky on autumn evenings…
Star Clusters
Aquila
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Aquila, the Eagle, is a mid-sized constellation that lies right along the summer Milky Way just south of the zenith on September evenings in the...
Scutum
Scutum, the Shield, is a small constellation that lies along the summer Milky Way, just south of the Summer Triangle…
Hercules
M13. Photo © Reinhold Wittich/Dreamstime.com. Hercules, the Strongman, is a large constellation that lies straight east of Bootes, the constellation we focused on last month. If you imagine a line...
Bootes
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive M3. Photo © Reinhold Wittich|Dreamstime.com. Bootes lies nearly straight overhead on June evenings in the Northern Hemisphere. This constellation is...
Monoceros
Monoceros the Unicorn is one of the most overlooked winter constellations.
Pegasus
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...
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…
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…
Ophichus
Ophiuchus is a large constellation that lies high in the southern sky on midsummer evenings…
Eastern Hydra and Corvus
The eastern part of Hydra doesn’t hold quite as many outstanding deep-sky targets as the western half of the constellation, but there are several objects here that are worth taking the time to find…
Puppis
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive By the time March comes around in the Northern Hemisphere, Leo is high in the east and Arcturus is rising around dark—both sure signs that spring is...
In Our Skies, March & April 2025
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive March 7 Mars will be <2° S of the Moon. March 8 Mercury will be at its greatest eastern elongation, meaning you can see it just after sunset. March 14...
Cassiopeia
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Cassiopeia lies high in the northern sky in December. Like Cepheus, our target constellation last month, Cassiopeia is a circumpolar constellation. It...
One Autumn Night
View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Western Veil Nebula. Photo © Kevin and Adrian Shank. Rain was in the forecast, and clouds began to creep up out of the west. But as the sun sank behind...