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Polaris is the North Star
Many people think Polaris is the brightest star, but it's only 50th in brightness. Still, Polaris is famous because the entire northern sky wheels around it.
May 22, 2022
Arcturus, brightest star of the north
Arcturus is the brightest star north of the celestial equator. Near the handle of the Big Dipper, it's easy to find in spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
May 18, 2022
Meet Regulus, 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 6, 2022
Cor Caroli, named for the heart of a king
Cor Caroli is a binary star and the brightest star in the northern constellation Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs. Its name means Heart of Charles.
April 10, 2022
Mimosa, 2nd-brightest star in Crux
To see Mimosa, you need to be in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is a prominent star, or at the latitude of New Orleans, Hawaii, Cairo or New Delhi.
March 31, 2022
Mizar and Alcor in the bend of the Big Dipper
Mizar and Alcor are a famous pair of stars located at the bend of the handle of the Big Dipper. Can you see both without using binoculars?
March 27, 2022
Sirius B: How to see Sirius’ companion
The sky's brightest star - Sirius - is a double star. Here's how to see its small companion, Sirius B, or the Pup, which orbits the larger primary star.
March 15, 2022
Lonely Alphard is the brightest star in Hydra
Alphard is the "heart" and brightest star in the constellation Hydra the Water Snake, and it represents a welcome sign of spring for the Northern Hemisphere.
March 8, 2022
Meet Castor: It’s 6 stars in one
The bright blue-white star Castor, in the constellation Gemini, appears to our eyes as a single star. But it’s really a family of 6 stars.
February 22, 2022
Meet Pollux: The brighter twin star
Pollux, the brightest star in the constellation Gemini, blazes in a golden light next to its bluish-white heavenly twin, Castor.
February 20, 2022
