Tag: Milky Way Galaxy

Before dawn, Orion the Hunter

By late August and early September, the constellation Orion is rising in the hours after midnight and is well up by dawn. It’ll continue to rise earlier … and earlier. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/orion-well-up-before-dawn-in-september…

Wow! What if 1 in 4 sunlike stars has an Earth?

According to a new study by astronomers, based on data from the Kepler Space Telescope, 1 in 4 sunlike stars should have a planet that’s approximately Earth-sized, orbiting in the star’s habitable zone. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/earth-like-exoplanets-orbit-one-in-four-sun-like-stars…

See Messier 8, the Lagoon Nebula

The Lagoon – aka M8 – is the largest and brightest nebula, or cloud in space, in the vicinity of the Teapot asterism in the constellation Sagittarius. Source: https://earthsky.org/clusters-nebulae-galaxies/the-lagoon-nebula-messier-8…

See Messier 20, the Trifid Nebula

The Trifid is another famous binocular object, visible in the direction toward the galaxy’s center. Its name means “divided into three lobes.” If you view this nebula through a telescope, you’ll see why. Source: https://earthsky.org/clusters-nebulae-galaxies/trifid-nebula-a-summer-milky-way-treasure…

Find the Teapot, and look toward the galaxy’s center

With the moon waning now, it’s time to go out in the country to witness the glorious Milky Way. Want to locate the direction to the galaxy’s center? This post points the way. Source: https://earthsky.org/favorite-star-patterns/teapot-of-sagittarius-points-to-galactic-center…

Summer Triangle on August evenings

The Summer Triangle is a fixture of our skies at this time of year. Its 3 stars are Vega, Deneb and Altair. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/summer-triangle-high-overhead-at-mid-to-late-evening…

Andromeda galaxy, closest large spiral

The Andromeda galaxy is the nearest big galaxy to our Milky Way. It’s a spiral galaxy, like ours. At 2.5 million light-years, it’s the most distant thing you can see with your eye alone. Source: https://earthsky.org/clusters-nebulae-galaxies/andromeda-galaxy-closest-spiral-to-milky-way…

Peak Perseid mornings: August 11, 12, 13

Unfortunately, during the 2019 peak of the Perseid meteor shower, the moon is nearly full and in the sky nearly all night. Still, you might catch a meteor in moonlight, or after moonset, shortly before dawn. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/peak-night-for-the-perseid-meteor-shower…

Moon, Jupiter, Saturn … Perseid meteors?

The Perseid meteor shower is rising to its peak, so there’s bound to be some fist-shaking this weekend at that bright moon. But the moon can also guide you to Jupiter and Saturn on August 9, 10 and 11, 2019. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/use-moon-to-find-jupiter-and-saturn…