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The Great Rift is a dark swath in the Milky Way
The Great Rift or Dark Rift is a darkened swath of the Milky Way where new stars are forming. It's best seen from a rural location away from light pollution.
August 20, 2025
The Omega nebula is a star-forming region
The Omega nebula, also known as the Swan nebula or M17, is visible through binoculars and glorious through a telescope. Here's how to find it.
July 10, 2025
Rho Ophiuchi is filled with glorious color
One of the most colorful regions of the sky, Rho Ophiuchi showcases clusters and nebulae galore. This region is a great target for August nights.
June 28, 2025
M5, your new favorite globular star cluster
M5 in Serpens Caput is a refreshing sight through a small telescope, as thousands of stars cluster together into the tightly packed ball of this globular cluster.
June 6, 2025
The awesome beauty of the Eagle nebula
The Eagle nebula - aka Messier 16 or M16 - is home to several well-known cosmic structures, including the stunning Pillars of Creation and Stellar Spire.
May 15, 2025
Meet Omega Centauri, a giant globular star cluster
Omega Centauri is the Milky Way's largest globular star cluster and contains about 10 million stars. It's even visible from parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
May 14, 2025
The Wild Duck cluster, M11, a lovely open cluster in Scutum
The Wild Duck cluster, also known as M11, is an open star cluster in the constellation Scutum that appears best through binoculars or a telescope.
August 8, 2024
M6 and M7: Open star clusters in the Scorpion’s Tail
M6 and M7 are star clusters near Scorpius’ stinger. But you’ll need a dark sky to see these faint but stunning stellar aggregations.
July 18, 2024
The Local Group is our galactic neighborhood
What is the Local Group? It's a collection of the nearest galaxies in space. Read more about these neighbors of our home Milky Way galaxy.
October 24, 2023
Explore the Lagoon nebula, M8, in Sagittarius
The Lagoon nebula, or Messier 8, is a large emission nebula in the constellation Sagittarius that observers can explore with binoculars.
August 10, 2023
