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Posts by
Larry Sessions
Alpheratz belongs to Andromeda, but is part of the Great Square
Alpheratz appears to our eyes as a single star but it is actually a close binary star system. Many stargazers use it to locate the Andromeda galaxy.
October 9, 2024
Fomalhaut is the loneliest star in the southern sky
Fomalhaut is known as the “lonely one” or the "solitary one" because it shines brightly in a patch of sky with no other bright stars. In 2024, Saturn is nearby.
September 29, 2024
Why can’t I find the Big Dipper in September?
On northern autumn evenings, the famous Big Dipper lies low on - or even below - the northern horizon. You can use it to find Polaris, the North Star.
September 15, 2024
Summer Triangle star: Vega is bright and blue-white
There's a noticeable star pattern called the Summer Triangle in the east on July and August evenings. Its brightest star is blue-white Vega.
July 19, 2024
Summer Triangle star Deneb is distant and luminous
When you gaze at the bright star Deneb, you’re gazing across thousands of light-years of space at one of the bright stars of the huge Summer Triangle asterism.
July 12, 2024
Summer Triangle star: Altair is variable and spins fast!
Altair, in the constellation Aquila the Eagle, is one of the closest stars to our solar system. It's variable in an unusual way, and it spins very fast!
July 10, 2024
It’s summer. What’s noon to you? Midday? High noon?
What do you mean by noon? Do you define it by your clock or wristwatch? Or the gnawing in your stomach? Here's how astronomers think about noontime.
June 20, 2024
Massive ruby red Antares is the Scorpion’s Heart
Red Antares, Heart of the Scorpion in the constellation Scorpius, is a massive red supergiant star in the last stages of its lifespan.
June 19, 2024
Spica, the bright beacon of Virgo, is 2 stars
Spica is a scorching-hot pair of stars, whirling very closely around one another. One of them may go supernova someday. It's the brightest star in Virgo.
May 19, 2024
Meet Regulus, Leo the Lion’s Heart
The bright star Regulus in Leo the Lion is prominent in the evening sky in May. It looks like a single point of light, but is really 4 stars.
May 15, 2024
