Deep-sky tour

1 NGC 697 Not to be unkind, but Aries isn’t generally regarded as a rich haven for amateur deep-sky jewels. However, we’re going to look hard and visit a light smattering of objects near the Aries–Pis

1. Psi Aquarii group 10x 50 This colourful grouping of stars spans nearly 5° of sky, from mag. +5.0 Psi3 (ψ3) Aquarii to mag. +5.6 96 Aquarii. The colours range from blue-white mag. +5.5 Psi2 (ψ2) Aqu

The Messier Catalogue is one of the most well-known collections of astronomical objects. Compiled in the 18th century by French astronomer and avid comet hunter Charles Messier as a quick reference of

VICTOR M BLANCO 4-METER TELESCOPE, 9 JULY 2025 This is NGC 6188, an emission nebula 4,000 lightyears from Earth, known as the Fighting Dragons of Ara because of its resemblance to two dragons preparin

Star and deep-sky catalogues are crucial resources for making sense of the night sky. There are a lot of them, though – so many, in fact, that you almost need a catalogue of catalogues to keep track o

Nicole Poersch, Prestwick, South Ayrshire, UK, 15 September 2024–21 January 2025 Nicole says: “The Clamshell Nebula in Cygnus is often overlooked due to its proximity to the North America and Pelican