Alnilam (ε Ori) is a blue supergiant star located 1,180 light-years away in the constellation of Orion. It forms Orion's Belt with Alnitak and Mintaka.| Star Facts
The Little Dipper is an asterism formed by seven bright stars in the constellation Ursa Minor, the Little Bear. It has historically played an important role in navigation because it includes Polaris, the North Star.| www.constellation-guide.com
The Northern Cross is a prominent asterism formed by the brightest stars in the constellation Cygnus. It appears in a rich Milky Way field and outlines the body of the celestial Swan.| www.constellation-guide.com
The Coathanger is an asterism located in the northern constellation Vulpecula (the Fox). With an apparent magnitude of 3.6 and an apparent size of 60 arcminutes, it is visible to the unaided eye.| www.constellation-guide.com
Equuleus is the smallest constellation in the northern sky. It represents a little horse or foal and lies near the larger horse, Pegasus. The constellation is home to the yellow giant Kitalpha and the spiral galaxy NGC 7015.| www.constellation-guide.com
Naos, Zeta Puppis (ζ Pup) is a hot blue supergiant located at a distance of 1,080 light years from Earth in the constellation Puppis. It is the constellation's brightest star.| Star Facts
Cygnus, the Swan, is one of the largest northern constellations. Recognizable for the Northern Cross, it is home to the bright supergiant Deneb, the North America Nebula (NGC 7000) and the Gamma Cygni Nebula (IC 1318).| www.constellation-guide.com
The Cat’s Eye Nebula is a planetary nebula located 3,300 light-years away in the constellation Draco. Named for its intricate appearance, it was one of the first planetary nebulae to be discovered and is one of the most complex planetary nebulae known.| www.constellation-guide.com
The Blinking Planetary Nebula (NGC 6826, Caldwell 15) is a planetary nebula located approximately 2,000 light-years away in the northern constellation Cygnus. It appears in the region of the Swan's wing.| www.constellation-guide.com
Asterisms are defined as patterns formed by stars of one or more constellations. These star patterns are commonly recognized by observers across the world and once served as a basis for the modern 88 constellations.| www.constellation-guide.com
Mimosa, Beta Crucis (β Cru), is a multiple star system located at a distance of 280 ly in the constellation Crux. It is one of the stars of the Southern Cross.| Star Facts
Cassiopeia is a prominent constellation in the northern sky. Recognizable for its W shape, the constellation is home to the Heart Nebula, the Soul Nebula, the Pacman Nebula, and the open clusters Messier 52 and Messier 103.| www.constellation-guide.com
Rigel (β Ori) is a blue-whlue-white supergiant star located 848 light-years away in the constellation Orion. It is the most luminous star within 1,000 ly of Earth.| Star Facts
Orion, the Hunter, is one of the best known constellations in the sky. Home to Orion's Belt, the Orion Nebula, and the bright stars Rigel and Betelgeuse, the constellation lies north of the celestial equator and is visible from both hemispheres.| www.constellation-guide.com
Canis Major is a constellation in the southern sky. It represents the bigger dog following Orion, the Hunter. The constellation is home to Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, and the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy.| www.constellation-guide.com
Betelgeuse, Alpha Orionis (α Ori), is a red supergiant star and supernova candidate located 548 light-years away in the constellation Orion. Marking the Hunter's shoulder, it is one of the most recognizable stars in the night sky.| Star Facts
The W-shaped asterism formed by the five brightest stars of Cassiopeia is one of the most familiar features of the northern night sky. It is used to find the Heart and Soul Nebulae, the Double Cluster, the open clusters M52 and M103, and many other deep sky objects.| www.constellation-guide.com
Orion’s Belt is one of the most familiar asterisms in the night sky. It is formed by three stars in the constellation Orion: Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka. The bright blue stars are part of the hourglass-shaped constellation figure of Orion.| www.constellation-guide.com
Lyra is a small constellation in the northern sky. It represents the lyre of Orpheus. The constellation is home to Vega, the second brightest northern star, and the Ring Nebula (M57), a famous planetary nebula.| www.constellation-guide.com
Vulpecula is a faint constellation in the northern sky. It represents the little fox. The constellation is home to the red giant Anser, the Dumbbell Nebula (M27), and as asterism known as the Coathanger.| www.constellation-guide.com
Polaris (α UMi), the North Star, is a yellow supergiant located 446 light-years away in the constellation Ursa Minor. The star is part of the Little Dipp| Star Facts
Fomalhaut, Alpha Piscis Austrini (α PsA), is a white main sequence star located 25 light-years away in the constellation Piscis Austrinus. Its hosts a planet, Dagon (Fomalhaut b), and is known for its vast debris disk.| Star Facts
The list of all the named stars (stars with names that have been formally approved by the IAU), with name origins and etymologies explained.| Star Facts
The Southern Cross is a bright, diamond-shaped asterism located in the far southern sky. Formed by the brightest stars of the constellation Crux, the asterism is commonly used to find the south celestial pole.| www.constellation-guide.com
Regulus, Alpha Leonis (α Leo), is a multiple star system located at a distance of 79.3 ly from Earth in the constellation Leo. It marks the heart of the celestial Lion.| Star Facts
Alpha Centauri (α Cen) is a triple star system located at a distance of 4.37 light years from Earth in the constellation Centaurus. It is the nearest star system to the Sun and hosts the nearest extrasolar planets to Earth.| Star Facts
Alderamin, Alpha Cephei (α Cep), is a white main sequence star located at a distance of 49.05 light years from Earth in the constellation Cepheus.| Star Facts
Messier 27 (M27), also known as the Dumbbell Nebula, Diabolo Nebula or Apple Core Nebula, is a planetary nebula in Vulpecula. The Dumbbell Nebula is large in size and quite bright, which makes it a popular object among amateur astronomers. It can be seen in binoculars and small telescopes. The nebula covers an area of… Read More »Messier 27: Dumbbell Nebula| Messier Objects
Aquila, the Eagle, is a prominent northern constellation located near the celestial equator. It contains the bright Altair and the planetary nebulae NGC 6741 (the Phantom Streak Nebula) and NGC 6751 (the Glowing Eye Nebula).| www.constellation-guide.com
The Summer Triangle is a northern summer asterism formed by the brightest stars in the constellations Lyra, Aquila and Cygnus. It can be used to find some of the best-known nebulae in the sky.| www.constellation-guide.com
Vega (Alpha Lyrae) is a fast-spinning white main sequence star located 25.04 light-years away in the constellation Lyra. Shining at magnitude 0.026, it is the fifth brightest star in the sky. It forms the Summer Triangle with Altair and Deneb.| Star Facts
Altair, Alpha Aquilae (α Aql), is a white main sequence star located 16.73 ly from Earth in the constellation Aquila. It forms the Summer Triangle with Vega and Deneb.| Star Facts