Mizar, Zeta Ursae Majoris (ζ UMa), is a quadruple star system in Ursa Major. It lies at a distance of 82.9 ly. It is one of the stars that form the Big Dipper.| Star Facts
Alcor (80 Ursae Majoris, g Ursae Majoris) is a double star in the constellation Ursa Major. It is the fainter companion to the Big Dipper star Mizar.| Star Facts
Messier 51 (M51), better known as the Whirlpool Galaxy, is a famous grand-design spiral galaxy located in the constellation Canes Venatici. The Whirlpool Galaxy has an apparent magnitude of 8.4 and lies at an approximate distance of 23 million light years from Earth. It has the designation NGC 5194 in the New General Catalogue. Messier… Read More »Messier 51: Whirlpool Galaxy| Messier Objects
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
Alnitak, Zeta Orionis (ζ Ori), is a triple star system located at a distance of 1,260 light years. It forms Orion's Belt with Alnilam and Mintaka.| Star Facts
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
Use this “handy” guide to measure degrees – or sky measurements – on the dome of the sky. Image via timeanddate.com. Used with permission.How do you describe how far apart something is in the sky? The fact is, the handiest measuring stick for the sky’s dome is the one on the end of your arm. You can use the width of your pinky, fist and more to gauge the distance between sky objects. That comes in handy when you’re observing conjunctions between planets, or close planets and stars...| EarthSky
Regor, Gamma Velorum (γ Vel), is a multiple star system located at a distance of 1,095 light years in the constellation Vela. It contains one of the nearest supernova candidates to Earth.| Star Facts
Sirius, Alpha Canis Majoris (α CMa), is the brightest star in the sky. The Sirius star system lies at a distance of 8.6 ly from Earth in the constellation Canis Major. It can be found using the stars of Orion's Belt.| Star Facts
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
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
Phecda, Gamma Ursae Majoris (γ UMa), is the 6th brightest star in the Big Dipper and in the constellation Ursa Major. It lies at a distance of 83.2 ly from Earth.| Star Facts
The Big Dipper is an asterism formed by the seven brightest stars in the constellation Ursa Major. It is also known as the Plough, the Saucepan, and the Great Wagon.| www.constellation-guide.com
Ursa Major, the Great Bear, is the largest constellation in the northern sky. It is home to the Big Dipper asterism, formed by its seven brightest stars, and to many well-known deep sky objects.| www.constellation-guide.com
Messier 97 (M97), also known as the Owl Nebula, is a famous planetary nebula located in Ursa Major constellation. The nebula lies at a distance of 2,030 light years from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 9.9. It has the designation NGC 3587 in the New General Catalogue. Messier 97 occupies an area 3.4… Read More »Messier 97: Owl Nebula| Messier Objects