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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 2023, Saturn is nearby.
September 24, 2023
Delta Cephei helps measure cosmic distances
Delta Cephei is an inconspicuous variable star in the northern constellation Cepheus the King. This star helps establish the cosmic distance scale.
September 10, 2023
Alderamin, or Alpha Cephei, is a fast-spinning star
Meet Alpha Cephei, in the constellation Cepheus the King. It’s spinning so fast that it appears like a slightly flattened beach ball.
September 10, 2023
61 Cygni – a double star – is nicknamed Flying Star
Compared to other stars, 61 Cygni moves quite rapidly against the background of more distant stars, revealing its proximity to Earth.
August 11, 2023
Thuban was Pole Star for the ancient Egyptians
The Pole Stars change over time. Thuban was the Pole Star some 5,000 years ago, when the Egyptians were building the pyramids.
August 9, 2023
Meet Shaula and Lesath, Scorpion’s Stinger stars
Shaula and Lesath, known as the "stinger stars," mark the location of the scorpion's stinger in the zodiacal constellation Scorpius.
July 28, 2023
Summer Triangle star: Altair is variable and spins fast!
Altair is only 16.8 light-years from Earth, making it one of our closest stellar neighbors. It's variable in an usual way, and it spins very fast!
July 20, 2023
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 20, 2023
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 20, 2023
Exquisite Albireo, a much-loved double star
Albireo, in the constellation Cygnus, is a favorite for stargazers. Through a small telescope, it appears as a stunning gold star with a dimmer blue companion.
July 15, 2023
