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Orange Aldebaran is Taurus the Bull’s fiery eye
Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus the Bull, is at one tip of a V-shaped cluster. If placed where our sun is, its surface would pass the orbit of Mercury.
December 12, 2024
Bellatrix is Orion’s 3rd-brightest star
Orion's shoulder star Bellatrix has a name that means "female warrior." Bellatrix is one of the hottest stars you can see without optical aid.
November 24, 2024
Mirach is your guide star to finding 3 galaxies
Mirach in the constellation Andromeda helps stargazers locate the Andromeda Galaxy, the Triangulum Galaxy, and "Mirach's Ghost" (NGC 404).
November 10, 2024
Algol the Demon Star … but why is it called that?
What's the scariest star in all the heavens? Look for Algol the Demon Star on autumn evenings. It's a great choice for a driveway telescope night on Halloween.
October 31, 2024
Fomalhaut is the Loneliest Star … but not in 2024
Fomalhaut is known as the “lonely one” or "solitary one" because it shines brightly in an otherwise dim patch of sky. But in 2024, Saturn is nearby.
October 18, 2024
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
Delta Cephei helps measure cosmic distances
Delta Cephei is an inconspicuous variable star in the northern constellation Cepheus the King. This important star helped establish the cosmic distance scale.
September 24, 2024
Meet Delta Scorpii, aka Dschubba, it’s a variable star
Delta Scorpii, also known as Dschubba, is a variable star in the constellation Scorpius. With the eyes alone, you can check its brightness for yourself.
July 24, 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
