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An image of Schedar with faint stars scattered in the background.

Schedar shines brightly at the Queen’s heart

Posted by in Brightest Stars | 4 days ago

Orange-hued Schedar is the brightest star in the distinctive W-shaped northern constellation Cassiopeia the Queen.

Photo of star Bellatrix, with a comet sweeping near.

Bellatrix is Orion’s 3rd-brightest star

Posted by in Brightest Stars | 2 weeks ago

The bluish-white shoulder star, Bellatrix, aka Gamma Orionis, has a name that means “female warrior.” Bellatrix is one of the hottest stars you can see without optical aid.
A faint, fuzzy galaxy located along our line of sight to a bright orange star.

Mirach is guide star to 3 galaxies

Posted by and in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 1 month ago

Mirach, a bright star in the constellation Andromeda, is often used by stargazers to locate the Andromeda Galaxy, the Triangulum Galaxy, and a galaxy known as Mirach’s Ghost (NGC 404).

Image of bright Gamma Cephei with sparsely distributed faint stars.

Gamma Cephei: A future Pole Star

Posted by and in Brightest Stars | 1 month ago

About two thousand years from now, Gamma Cephei, an inconspicuous star in the constellation Cepheus, will become our North Star.
A star map showing how to find the Andromeda Galaxy from Alpheratz.

Alpheratz belongs to Andromeda, but is part of the Great Square

Posted by and in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 1 month ago

Alpheratz, the brightest star in the constellation Andromeda, can help you locate the Andromeda Galaxy, the closest large spiral galaxy to our Milky Way home galaxy.

A star called Mira the Wonderful

Posted by in Brightest Stars | 3 months ago

Mira, in Cetus the Whale, varies in brightness over about 11 months. In late September 2020, it might be near its peak brightness, easily bright enough to be viewed with the eye alone.

Deneb is distant and very luminous

Posted by in Brightest Stars | 4 months ago

When you gaze at the bright star Deneb, you’re gazing across thousands of light-years of space.
A image of two blue-white stars shining prominently in a backdrop of fainter reddish stars.

Meet the Scorpion’s Stinger stars, Shaula and Lesath

Posted by in Brightest Stars | 4 months ago

The constellation Scorpius resembles a scorpion, complete with a curved tail. Two stars close together near the end of the Tail – Shaula and Lesath – represent the Scorpion’s Stinger. They’re easy to spot and fun to get to know!
Image of a star field showing two bright stars, Epsilon Lyrae 1 and Epsilon Lyrae 2.

Epsilon Lyrae is the famous Double Double star

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 5 months ago

To the unaided eye, Epsilon Lyrae, in the constellation Lyra, appears as one star. But it’s actually a star system with at least five stars.

Vega: Brilliant blue-white star in the Summer Triangle

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 7 months ago

Vega is 1 of 3 stars in an asterism – or noticeable star pattern – called the Summer Triangle in the early evening sky.

A single bright star, Regulus. Above it is a faint smudge of light, the dwarf galaxy Leo I.

Meet Regulus, the Lion’s Heart

Posted by in Brightest Stars | 7 months ago

The bright star Regulus is very prominent in the evening sky in May. It looks like a single point of light, but is really 4 stars. It’s the brightest star in the constellation Leo the Lion.

Mimosa, 2nd-brightest in Southern Cross

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 8 months ago

To see Mimosa, you need to be at the latitude of New Orleans, Hawaii, Cairo or New Delhi. From the Southern Hemisphere, Mimosa is a prominent and beloved star.

Mizar and Alcor, famous double star

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 9 months ago

Mizar and its fainter companion star Alcor are easy to spot in the Big Dipper’s handle.
Image of bright star Pollux against a backdrop of fainter stars.

Pollux: The brighter twin star

Posted by in Brightest Stars | Space | 9 months ago

Pollux, the brightest star in the constellation Gemini, blazes in a golden light next to its bluish-white heavenly twin, Castor, in the evening skies of the Northern Hemisphere’s spring.

Image of bright star Castor against a backdrop of fainter stars.

Castor is six stars in one

Posted by in Brightest Stars | Space | 9 months ago

The bright bluish-white star, Castor, in the constellation Gemini, appears to our eyes as a single star. But it’s actually a family of 6 stars.

Come to know orange Arcturus in Boötes

Posted by and in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 10 months ago

Orange Arcturus is more evolved than our sun and has swollen up to a larger size. It’s less than 37 light-years away and appears as the brightest star north of the celestial equator. The Big Dipper can help you find it.

Procyon is the Little Dog Star

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 10 months ago

The Dog Star, Sirius, is easy to spot because it’s the sky’s brightest star. Procyon – the other Dog Star – is near its brighter brother on the sky’s dome.

Elnath is close to the galactic anticenter

Posted by in Brightest Stars | 10 months ago

Elnath, the 2nd-brightest star in Taurus, is the closest bright star to the galactic anticenter – the point in space directly opposite our Milky Way’s center.

Rigel in Orion is blue-white

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 11 months ago

Rigel, brightest star in the easy-to-see constellation of Orion the Hunter, shines with a blue-white color. Hidden behind its brilliant classic beauty is a fascinating and complex stellar life history.

Mirfak is Perseus’ brightest star

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 12 months ago

Mirfak isn’t as famous as Algol, its brother star in the constellation Perseus. But Mirfak is easier to find and can help guide you to Algol.