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Vol. 52 • Issue 10

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 OCTOBER
VOL. 52, NO. 10
2024

ON THE COVER
The Lagoon Nebula in Sagittarius
is one of the brightest emission
nebulae in our sky, a star factory

CONTENTS 46 producing a new generation of

suns. JOHN CHUMACK

FEATURES
5 28 44 COLUMNS
Welcome to Sky This Month Black hole bugaloo Secret Sky 12
Firecrown Media Mars improving. JWST discovers a pair of black STEPHEN JAMES O’MEARA
A letter from Astronomy MARTIN RATCLIFFE AND holes merging in the early
magazine’s new owner. ALISTER LING universe. RICHARD TALCOTT Observing Basics 50
MOLLY WAKELING
CRAIG FULLER
30 46
14 COVER STORY Star Dome and We test Starizona’s IN EVERY ISSUE
Inside the world of Paths of the Planets Nexus Coma Corrector From the Editor 4
deep-sky objects RICHARD TALCOTT; This accessory boosts fast
Astro Letters 6
Sharpen your eye and build ILLUSTRATIONS BY ROEN KELLY Newtonian astrographs with
your knowledge of clusters, superb flattening to the edges New Products 51
nebulae, galaxies, and more. 36 of your field. CHRIS SCHUR Advertiser Index 51
DAVID J. EICHER Our 14th annual Reader Gallery 54
Star Products 52 Breakthrough 58
24 We’ve scoured the astro- Ask Astro
Tour the marketplace to find the Saturn’s disappearing rings.
Sculptor’s workshop finest and most innovative 7
This faint southern products of the past year.
QUANTUM GRAVITY
constellation contains a PHIL HARRINGTON
Everything you need to
smattering of galaxies — and
know about the universe
one standout globular cluster —
this month: summits on
to explore. MICHAEL E. BAKICH
Mars, odd radio circles,
a waterlogged asteroid,
Moon samples, and
more.

ONLINE
FAVORITES
Go to www.Astronomy.com News Picture of My Science Dave’s
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 FROM THE EDITOR

Headlong
Editor David J. Eicher
Assistant Design Director Kelly Katlaps

EDITORIAL
Senior Production Editor Elisa R. Neckar

into the cosmos Senior Editors Alison Klesman, Mark Zastrow

Associate Editors Michael E. Bakich, Daniela Mata
Editorial Assistant Samantha Hill

ART
Illustrator Roen Kelly
One of the most exciting experiences Production Specialist Jodi Jeranek
for an amateur astronomer is when CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
we get a new telescope or pair of bin- Bob Berman, Adam Block, Martin George, Tony Hallas,
Phil Harrington, Alister Ling, Stephen James O’Meara,
oculars and get a “new view” of the universe. I Martin Ratcliffe, Raymond Shubinski, Richard
recall vividly when I received an 8-inch Talcott, Molly Wakeling

Celestron as a holiday gift; it opened my eyes EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

to all manner of things that I had only vague Buzz Aldrin, Marcia Bartusiak, Jim Bell, Timothy Ferris,
Alex Filippenko, Adam Frank, John S. Gallagher lll,
notions of before seeing them myself. Daniel W. E. Green, William K. Hartmann, Paul Hodge,
Edward Kolb, Stephen P. Maran, Brian May,
What would the Andromeda Galaxy look S. Alan Stern, James Trefil
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space? How would the Orion Nebula stack Firecrown
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The Dumbbell Nebula citizens of the cosmos happens whenever we Chief Operations Officer Nicole McGuire
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examples of a Group President, Hobby Division David Carr
planetary nebula, I soon discovered that the great bulk of what we see in telescopes Group President, Aviation Division Lisa DeFrees
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of our own Sun solar system. The gigantic Milky Way Galaxy hosts many thousands Vice President, General Counsel Darren Caputo
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4 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

Welcome to Firecrown Media
BY CRAIG FULLER

M
y company, Firecrown journey. When reading online, one
Media, has acquired is constantly distracted by emails,
Kalmbach’s esteemed Slack messages, social media
hobby magazines and feeds, etc.
media properties, including None of that exists in print.
renowned titles such as Astronomy, Magazines offer the reader an
Model Railroader, Classic Trains, experience and a journey unparal-
Trains, Garden Railways, and leled in any digital format. In recent
Classic Toy Trains. years, we’ve seen younger genera-
As the new custodians of these tions (the “Zoomers”) start to prefer
cherished and respected brands, we print magazines over digital. For
are committed to upholding their them, magazines are innovative and
legacy and nurturing their growth. tangible, providing a premium expe-
Firecrown Media, a rapidly rience compared to digital offerings.
expanding media company, is dedi- After our success with FLYING
cated to acquiring and stewarding (revenues up 5x since we acquired
magazine and digital media brands it in 2021), we expanded our portfo-
in the transportation sector. Our lio through 20 acquisitions and
portfolio includes FLYING, Boating, Yachting, and rebranded as Firecrown Media.
FreightWaves, among 50 other loved brands. Firecrown’s playbook for the Kalmbach titles will
Firecrown is young; it has only been around for follow our experience with other publications and digi-
three years, but it is funded by a billion-dollar family tal assets we’ve acquired.
office with a significant focus on media. After acquiring We will invest significantly in the publications,
these signature brands, we have invested over $40 million creating coffee table-worthy magazines with gorgeous
in them. photography and stories that engage audiences.
As Firecrown’s founder, I drive much of the passion Magazines should be timeless and something that read-
and energy behind our media strategy. ers want to keep.
I started in media in 2017 when I launched In addition to creating beautiful magazines, we will
FreightWaves, a digital media company often called the also make significant investments in the digital web-
“Bloomberg of freight.” In just seven years, it has become sites in our portfolio. This will include significant
the most prominent voice covering the freight industry, upgrades to Astronomy.com.
with deep news and analysis of the trucking, rail, air, and We also have big plans for video products and plan
ocean container markets. FreightWaves is also one of the to introduce new podcasts to serve and engage the
fastest-growing B2B media companies in the world. community.
While I am a digital native, I love print magazines. All of these investments will take time, but in a few
My love for magazines began when I was a boy; months, you will start to see improvements in the
FLYING was a magazine I grew up reading. So, when I online products, and over the next year, you will see
had the opportunity to acquire it in 2021, I did. My pur- a relaunch of the magazines.
chase of FLYING began as a passion project; I have been As the parents of five children (ages 3-17), my wife
a private pilot since I was 17. and I spend much time and effort introducing our
My initial plan was to shutter the magazine and focus young children to hobbies that do not involve screens
on the digital edition. However, I remembered how I felt and devices. We want to find experiences that exist in
each month when I received my copy of FLYING in the the physical world for them. Astronomy offers an expe-
mail. Fully understanding and appreciating the power rience that does exactly that.
and love of magazines, we soon realized that magazines I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas on
offered an experience for readers that digital couldn’t improving the Astronomy experience.
match. Unlike digital apps or online websites, consuming
print content provides the reader with an undistracted You can find me on X: @freightalley.

WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 5
 ASTRO LET TERS

Color correction ASK ASTRO Astronomy’s experts from around the globe answer your cosmic questions. (Dover Publications, Inc., 1978), Robert Burnham Jr.
Astronomy is a great So why can’t stars with temperatures in between
appear green? The answer is a result of the way our eyes
see combinations of frequencies: Our eyes add up all
writes of this particular star: “Another mystery
the colors that come in, and the color we see is the result

magazine, so thank you concerns the fact that this white star has so often been
of this addition.
“Green” is a very specific frequency, but stars emit
light smoothly across a broad spectrum. Think of this
spectrum like a playground seesaw with a rainbow
painted on it, blue on one end and red on the other. This
seesaw tilts based on temperature, and the color we see

for your hard work. I is a mixture of all the colors on the seesaw. Here’s the
trick, though — we see more of whichever colors are
higher off the ground. If a star is really hot, the blue end
is tilted up, so blue dominates over the other colors and
we see this star as blue. If it’s cool and the red end is
described as ‘greenish’ or ‘pale emerald.’ Olcott refers
read the March 2024 to it as ‘the only naked-eye star that is green in color,’
tilted up, red dominates and we see this star as red.
On a seesaw, you can’t make the middle any higher
than the ends. If the temperature is moderate so that we
are in the middle of the board, then the board remains
horizontal and we have to add up all the colors equally,
which comes out as white. In fact, that’s why our own

Ask Astro question Sun is white — its temperature corresponds to a fre-

quency in the middle of the seesaw.
Green is also near the middle of the seesaw, but there
is just no way to tilt the seesaw to make green higher than
any other color; our only options are blue, white, or red.
while T.W. Webb refers to its ‘beautiful pale green
Matthew Murphy

about green stars. The The double star

Albireo in Cygnus

Green stars QI
shows off beautiful
contrasting colors
of orange and blue,
Graduate Student, Department of Astronomy and
Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson

IF A BLACK HOLE BEGINS AS A

hue.’ Star colors are strangely elusive, of course, and
which also reveal
STAR SOMEWHERE IN A GALAXY,

answer seemed to say there are many such discrepancies in the guidebooks,
the stars’ differing
ON THE COLOR-WAVELENGTH HOW DOES IT END UP IN THE GALAXY’S
QI
temperatures.
STEPHEN RAHN
SPECTRUM, GREEN FALLS CENTER? IS THE GRAVITATIONAL PULL
BETWEEN YELLOW AND BLUE. WHY SO STRONG THAT ALL THE STARS IN THE
ARE THERE NO GREEN STARS? GALAXY START REVOLVING AROUND IT?
Jeff Franklin Paul Simon

that there are no green but modern observers generally agree that the only
Surprise, Arizona Raleigh, North Carolina

AI AI This is an excellent question! It seems weird,

right?
The color of stars, or anything that gets really hot,
The black hole created by a single star’s death
is called a stellar-mass black hole. These black
holes have masses about two to 100 times that of the
is connected to its temperature. This is because hot Sun. When a star explodes to create a stellar-mass black

stars. But an entry stars which definitely appear green are the close
objects emit light, which is called thermal radiation. hole, it might give itself a little “kick” and start flying
The color of this light — or in physical terms, its fre- through space, but this kick is random and could send
quency — depends on the temperature. As any object it inward, outward, or in any direction in 3D. So, these
gets hotter, it emits more and more of its light at higher black holes don’t tend to end up in a galaxy’s center
frequencies. The same way it takes you more energy to unless the star that created them happened to be there.
jump at a faster rate, it takes more energy to emit light The type of black hole that’s sitting in the center of a

from Ian Ridpath’s The at higher frequencies. These higher frequencies appear
blue to our eyes, while lower frequencies appear red.
So as an object gets hotter, it generally gets bluer. As a
result, the hottest stars appear to us as blue, but cooler
stars appear red.
galaxy is different. This is a supermassive black hole, or
SMBH, and — as its name implies — it’s much heftier.
SMBHs have masses of at least a million solar masses,
up to several billion solar masses. The one in the center
of the Milky Way is about 4.3 million solar masses,
companions to red stars, such as Antares itself.”
Illustrated Encyclopedia 50 ASTRONOMY • MARCH 2024 What’s going on here? The answer is that we’re not
of Astronomy and Space sure, but there are several possibilities. Physically,
(Thomas Y. Crowell Co., 1976) seems to say that there are no green stars, for the reasons explained in
green stars are out there, just very rare: “Beta Librae, the March issue. However, some stars may look green
a spectroscopic binary, is one of the few bright stars to our eyes for many reasons.
We welcome that appear green in color.” Just curious which answer Everyone’s eyes see colors slightly differently, so
your comments is correct. — Gene L. Timpe, Fort Collins, CO some people may see certain stars as greenish. (Many
via email to letters@ people also see Beta Librae as white.) Poorly color-
astronomy.com .
Senior Editor Alison Klesman responds: Beta (β) corrected instruments could also contribute to the
Please include your
name, city, state, and Librae, also known as Zubeneschamali, does indeed issue. Finally, as Burnham mentions, proximity to
country. Letters may seem to be a perplexing case of a visually green star. a star of a contrasting color — e.g., a red companion
be edited for space In his Burnham’s Celestial Handbook: An Observer’s — can cause a star to appear to take on an unnatural
and clarity. Guide to the Universe Beyond the Solar System hue, though this is an optical illusion.

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6 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

 QG QUANTUM GRAVITYEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE UNIVERSE THIS MONTH

SNAPSHOT

CHILLY
SUMMITS
ON MARS
Satellites spot
ephemeral
morning
frost atop the
tallest martian
volcanoes.
The peak of Mars’ Olympus
Mons, along with other
nearby volcanoes, sports
frosty patches in the winter.
ESA/DLR/FU BERLIN. BOTTOM FROM LEFT: LEGO; ALEX P. KOK/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS CC BY-SA 4.0; ROBERTO MOLAR CANDANOSA/JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

This morning image of the

tallest volcano in our solar
system was taken by the
European Space Agency’s
Trace Gas Orbiter and Mars
Express orbiter. It shows the
ice deposits, falsely colored
blue, in the volcano’s caldera
(bowl-shaped features).
Scientists found that the icy
patches collectively contain
some 150,000 tons of water
and are as thin as a strand
of human hair. The team
also found that wind travels
at lower speeds within the
caldera than the surrounding
areas, allowing the frost to HOT BRICK BUILDING AMONG THE STARS ICARUS COULD NEVER
Working with LEGO, Dutch celestial Keck Observatory
form for a few hours around BYTES ESA researchers have cartographer Wil Tirion data show that
sunrise during the cooler
3D printed LEGO-like died July 5 at the age the Neptune-
seasons before evaporating bricks with meteorite of 81. He created two sized exoplanet
into the thin martian air. dust. Future Moon landmark sky atlases TIC 365102760 b retains
— SHARMILA KUTHUNUR explorers could print — Sky Atlas 2000.0 and a puffy atmosphere
similar interlocking Uranometria 2000.0 despite a close orbit
bricks from lunar soil (co-authored with Barry around its red giant
to build structures. Rappaport and George host star, which should
Lovi) — and contributed have stripped it away.
to many more. The planet has been
dubbed Phoenix.
WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 7
QUANTUM GRAVITY

GALACTIC MEGAMERGERS COULD

EXPLAIN ENORMOUS RADIO CIRCLES
The mysterious Cloverleaf “odd radio circle” could be a merger
of a dozen galaxies.
said lead author Esra Bulbul, an astro-
physicist at the Max Planck Institute in
Germany, in a press release.

WHAT’S THIS?
In 2020, astronomers using the
Australian Square Kilometer Array
Pathfinder (ASKAP) discovered gigan-
tic ghostly circles of radio emission
in the sky that surpassed our Milky
Way’s size tenfold. No known cosmic
phenomenon can explain what they
are or how they formed. Since then,
astronomers have found eight of these
ORCs scattered randomly in space.
Each is large enough to envelop an
entire galaxy, sometimes several.
The supremely inflated profiles of
the behemoth circles don’t agree with
circular features otherwise common
in radio images, such as the shell of
material shed by a dying star or a
face-on view of a dusty protoplanetary
disk. Because the handful of bizarre
objects could be seen by more than
one telescope at different times and
wavelengths, astronomers ruled out the
possibility that they were artifacts pres-
ent in the raw data.
“The power needed to produce such
an expansive radio emission is very
COLORS TELL ALL. The Cloverleaf odd radio strong,” Bulbul said. “Some simulations
circle is shown here in multiple wavelengths: can reproduce their shapes but not their
The Cloverleaf, a member of a visible light from the DESI Legacy Survey in intensity. No simulations explain how
white and yellow, XMM-Newton X-rays in blue,
new category of cosmic objects and ASKAP radio data in red. XIAOYUAN ZHANG/MATTHIAS to create ORCs.”
called odd radio circles (ORCs), has been KLUGE (MPE)/BAERBEL KORBALSKI (CSIRO)

observed in a new light to reveal clues A NEW VIEW

to how ORCs are created. Astronomers Milky Way is about 100,000 light-years Once Bulbul realized that ORCs have
used the Extended Roentgen Survey with across.) only been studied through radio
an Imaging Telescope Array (eROSITA), Examining the Cloverleaf’s X-ray data, she and postdoctoral researcher
an orbiting German/Russian X-ray emission gave astronomers the chance Xiaoyuan Zhang started diving into
telescope, to observe the Cloverleaf, to probe high-energy processes, such as X-ray data from eROSITA. In short
which resides about 600 million light- supersonic shock waves and black holes. images with less than seven minutes
years from Earth and spans more than “It was the missing key to unlock the of exposure time, the duo noticed
326,000 light-years. (For comparison, the secret of the Cloverleaf’s formation,” some emission that indicated it could

8 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

 QUICK
TAKES
the Cloverleaf. The team hypothesizes
that it may have been created by two
GETTING WARMER
groups of galaxies in the midst of a messy TIC 393818343 b, an exoplanet
merger. Just how many are in each group 300 light-years away, has been
remains unclear, but the Cloverleaf seems confirmed by citizen scientists as
to encompass at least a dozen galaxies a “warm Jupiter,” using data from
in varying states of disfigurement. The NASA’s TESS mission. The world
XXM-Newton data also showed that as may be migrating to a close-in
much as 700 billion solar masses’ worth of orbit, transitioning to a
hot gas wafts among the dozen galaxies, hot Jupiter.
explains Zhang, reaching temperatures
around 15 million degrees Fahrenheit RETIREMENT PLANNING
(8 million degrees Celsius). NASA announced June 26 it has
It’s possible that the conditions gener- awarded SpaceX an $843 million
LUCKY CHARM. The first ORC discovered, named
ORC 1, appears in green as imaged in radio waves ated by the merger have created shock contract to design a vehicle to
by South Africa’s MeerKAT telescope and waves that accelerated ancient cosmic take the International Space
superimposed over an optical and infrared map Station out of orbit when its
from the Dark Energy Survey. J. ENGLISH (U. MANITOBA)/EMU/ ray particles within the galaxies, left over
MEERKAT/DES from when their central supermassive mission ends in 2030.
black holes were actively feeding. This
be coming from the Cloverleaf. This acceleration could have created the GREENHOUSE SPOTTING
To find exoplanetary life,
prompted the team to secure additional observed radio emission.
astronomers have suggested
telescope time with ESA’s XMM-Newton Still, this finding raises other questions.
looking for artificial greenhouse
X-ray telescope. For example, galaxy mergers frequently
gases like perfluorocarbons,
Based on the XXM-Newton observa- occur without any associated ORCs
which could indicate intentional
tions, a study led by Zhang and published recorded, so it’s important to pin down terraforming. Focusing on gases
April 30 in Astronomy and Astrophysics what creates the specific conditions that that can’t be produced naturally
Letters proposes a possible origin for produce ORCs versus those that don’t. — S.K. would reduce false positives.

FAMILIAR HOSTS
Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are

Growing globular gems energy-packed flashes of radio

waves. By studying how their
polarization is altered by
THE COSMIC GEMS ARC is a galaxy passing through their host
that can only be seen through galaxies, astronomers found that
gravitational lensing, as an non-repeating FRBs likely come
extremely dense foreground from galaxies like the Milky Way.
ESA/WEBB, NASA & CSA, L. BRADLEY (STSCI), A. ADAMO (STOCKHOLM UNIVERSITY) AND THE COSMIC SPRING COLLABORATION

object bends and focuses the

incoming light of a more distant HUBBLE HOBBLED
To save wear and tear, in June
one. By training the James
the Hubble Space Telescope
Webb Space Telescope on the
switched to a mode that uses just
Cosmic Gems arc (the lower of one of its two remaining good
the two lensed galaxies in this gyroscopes while slewing. This
image), astronomers detected slows the collection of data but
five massive star clusters that won’t affect their quality; Hubble
might someday become globular has used one gyro while taking
clusters, dense balls of ancient science data since 2021.
stars. Each is only about a parsec
(3.26 light-years) across, making UNSCHEDULED FLIGHT
them the smallest features ever resolved in a galaxy at this distance. We see the During a June 30 static fire test,
a private Chinese Tianlong-3
Cosmic Gems arc as it was 460 million years after the universe formed, during
rocket broke free from its test
the epoch of reionization — when light from the first stars cleared away the
platform, launching on a brief
dense fog of neutral hydrogen that prevailed in the early universe, ending the flight. The rocket fell and
cosmic dark ages. Recent studies suggest that most of this light came from gal- exploded in the hills of Gongyi,
axies like the Cosmic Gems arc. Though such galaxies are faint in ultraviolet 0.9 mile (1.5 km) southwest of
light overall, outflows from quickly forming star clusters could have swept away the test platform. — DANIELA MATA
their dust, allowing their light to escape and transform the universe. — JOHN WENZ
WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 9
QUANTUM GRAVITY

Chang’e 6 nabs first samples Mongolia Autonomous

Region at 06:07 UT on
from Moon’s farside June 25, carrying what offi-
cials would later announce as
4.27 pounds (1,935.3 grams)
China’s robotic that imaged the Moon and with the farside using the of samples, just shy of
Chang’e 6 mission captured data of its magnetic lunar-orbiting Queqiao-2 the mission’s target of
returned to Earth on June 25 field.) Mission planners relay satellite. 4.41 pounds (2 kilograms).
with an eagerly awaited stash eventually chose a site in the The lander then trans- Scientists hope the new
of rocks from the Moon’s Apollo basin, an impact cra- ferred the samples to the samples will help explain
farside — a historic first, and ter with an eroded inner ring. ascent stage stacked above why the rugged, crater-
the latest achievement for the The lander touched down it, which lifted off from the pocked lunar farside is so
growing space power. in Apollo at 23:23 UT on lunar surface at 23:38 UT on different from the lava plains
Chang’e 6 launched May 3 June 1, carrying with it three June 3. A few days later, the that mark the nearside, and
from the Wenchang Space international instruments ascender docked with the shed light on the origin of
Launch Site on the island from the European Space orbiter and return vehicle, both the Moon and Earth.
of Hainan, atop a Long Agency, France, and Italy. which had remained in lunar The China National
March 5 booster. It entered Over the next two days, orbit. About two weeks later, Space Administration says
a highly elliptical lunar the lander carried out its the return vehicle began it plans to offer portions of
orbit May 8 and spent the sampling work with a drill the journey back to Earth. the Chang’e 6 samples to
rest of the month lowering and robotic arm. Throughout After jettisoning the service international labs, as it did
its orbit and looking for a the process, controllers were module, the craft touched in August 2023 for samples
suitable landing site. (It also able to establish periodic down in the Siziwang Banner from Chang’e 5. Whether
released a Pakistani cubesat windows of communication province of China’s Inner U.S. labs will be able to

BENNU’S WATERY PAST

WHEN WE THINK OF WATERY LANDSCAPES in the solar on Bennu’s par-
system, the first body to come to mind likely isn’t ent body for an
an asteroid. But an early analysis of samples returned extended time,
from the asteroid 101955 Bennu hints that this perhaps akin to
0.3-mile-wide (500 meters) pile of rubble is a piece of a the salty brines
larger body that may have once sported an active hydro- found in evaporating
thermal system and maybe even subsurface lakes or oceans. lakes on Earth’s surface.
In a study published June 26 in Meteoritics & The rock samples also
Planetary Science, researchers examined 0.5 ounce WATERLOGGED. appear to have been shaped by
(14.9 grams) out of the total 4.3 ounces (121.6 g) of Samples from contact with water. Some particles
Bennu’s material returned to Earth in September asteroid 101955 have so-called hummocky shapes resem-
Bennu bear
2023 by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission. They found hallmarks of a bling cauliflower, similar to rocks in southern
that most of the minerals are phyllosilicates. These history of flowing Italy that formed in areas with shallow seas. Other
water. NASA/GODDARD/
are produced when silicate materials interact with UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
particles have angular or sharp edges, suggesting
water, especially alkaline fluids. that water fractured them in a higher-pressure
“Think soda water with lots of carbon diox- environment.
ide,” says lead author Dante Lauretta of the University of One possibility to explain these findings is that heat from
Arizona, who is also the OSIRIS-REx principal investigator. radioactive decay within Bennu’s parent body melted ices
The sample also yielded a surprise: magnesium-sodium shortly after it formed 4.5 billion years ago. The resulting
phosphates. Lauretta says this type of phosphate is intrigu- water could have altered the rocks for millions of years.
ing because it only forms when water has become saturated “Depending on the ice-to-rock ratio, there could have been
with carbonates. This suggests that pools of water persisted an ocean or lake capped by ice,” says Lauretta. — THEO NICITOPOULOS

10 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

 320
The approximate
number of
basketball-sized
meteorites that
land on Mars each
year, based on
seismic data from
NASA’s InSight
MOON SELFIE. Chang’e 6 used largely the same technology as the successful Chang’e 5 mission, which scooped lander. This is five
up 3.8 pounds (1.7 kg) of material from Oceanus Procellarum in December 2020. One exception was the addition
of a mini-rover named Jinchan, which snapped this portrait of the lander. CNSA/HANDOUT VIA XINHUA times higher than
estimates published
obtain any is yet to be seen. NASA sought such approval land a larger scientific a decade ago
Since 2011, federal law has for researchers to request payload at Shackleton Crater
prohibited NASA from Chang’e 5 samples; as of this in preparation for a future
based on satellite
bilateral collaborations with writing, NASA is considering Chinese-led permanent base. observations,
China unless NASA certifies doing the same for Chang’e 6. Shackleton lies near the lunar suggesting that
to Congress that there is Chang’e 7, scheduled south pole — the same region
many impacts go
no technology transfer or for 2026, will not focus on targeted by NASA’s Artemis
security risk. In late 2023, sample return but instead program. — MARK ZASTROW undetected.

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Astronomy?
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VIO LENT FORMA
TIO N p. 22
AUGUST 2024

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 SECRET SK Y

Morehouse’s saw the dark ring standing out “with tantalizing clear-
ness” in a 9¾-hour exposure taken over the course of
two nights by Theodore G. Mehlin and Richard S. Zug

Black Ring A dark ring nebula

hiding in plain sight.
with Drake Observatory’s 8.25-inch refractor, newly
equipped with a Brashear photographic doublet. “A
careful examination of the negative,” Morehouse said,
In the pio- “convinced me that the structure is a ring of black
neering nebula … [that] forcibly reminds one of the Ring Nebula
d ay s of in Lyra except that it is much larger.”
long-exposure The following year, he published his findings in the
astrophotography in February issue of Popular Astronomy, in which he pos-
the late 19th cen- tulated that this feature is caused by a ring of black
tury, the use of dry absorbing material that appeared to be in abundance
plates over wet throughout this portion of the Milky Way.
collodion plates In June 1927, Morehouse and Zug took an additional
simplified the pho- 6½-hour exposure at Drake Observatory. They used the
tographic process. image to count the stars in the ring and its immediate
The increased light vicinity. Their results, published in the 1928 Proceedings
sensitivity of the of the Iowa Academy of Science, confirmed the existence
emulsion coatings of a dark, absorbing nebula that appeared to lie some
on d r y pl at e s 1,500 light-years distant. However, they did not toss out
allowed for shorter the possibility that the ring could be composed of two
exposure times and nebulae at different distances.
produced sharper After Edward Fath, director of Goodsell Observatory
images of the night at Carelton College in Northfield, Minnesota, studied
sky. In 1881, the the ring on numerous photographs, he wrote to
French inventors brothers Auguste and Louis Morehouse in a private correspondence saying, “It is
Lumière made improvements to these plates, render- certainly a very peculiar structure in that it is so nearly
ing them easier and more convenient to use. circular,” and, like Morehouse, wondered if it was a dark
The results led to a new wave of scientific inqui- Ring Nebula.
The North America ries, and brought to light many features that weren’t You’ll find Morehouse’s dark ring at R.A. 20h56m,
Nebula (NGC 7000)
and Pelican Nebula
obvious to the eye. One such feature in Cygnus likely Dec. 45°31', measuring 30' by 12' across. For several
(IC 5067/5070) harbor appears in many images taken by modern astrophotog- years prior to imaging this dark ring, Morehouse had
Morehouse’s raphers with basic equipment, though few referred to the structure as “The Bird’s Nest.”
mysterious dark ring
and B353. ADAM BLOCK/
may have noticed it. In 1927, Edward Emerson Barnard cataloged
STEWARD OBSERVATORY/ In 1910, American astronomer Daniel A prominent the dense eastern segment as dark nebula 353
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA;
Walter Morehouse used a Sigma Lumière (B353). In the ring’s hollow region, toward
INSET: GARY IMM dark ring
dry plate to make a long exposure of the its southern end, lies NGC 6996. It is cur-
North America Nebula (NGC 7000) — the attracted his rently uncertain whether this star group is
central figure of a region “most remarkable,” attention. an actual open cluster. However, recent data
he wrote, for its variety of bright and dark from the European Space Agency’s Gaia
nebulae. When Morehouse was developing mission — as well as the ground-based
the plate, “a number of curious spots appeared.” This 2MASS survey and other independent studies — have
was no surprise, as such features were characteristic to found associated members.
this brand of plate. However, a prominent dark ring While this fascinating and puzzling dark ring is
appearing “a little to the north of the ‘St. Lawrence easily captured in images, I’m wondering what it takes
River’ region” — treating the North America Nebula as to see the complete ring visually, not just the dense
a map of its namesake — attracted his attention. eastern portion that comprises B353. I would hazard a
Morehouse described it as “a ring formed by the absence guess that low-power views will be best, as it will con-
BY STEPHEN of stars.” A second photograph at that time verified the dense the fainter segments of the ring, making it more
JAMES O’MEARA
structure’s existence, although, he said, it was not as apparent. As always, be sure to send reports on what
Stephen is a globe-
trotting observer who conspicuous. you see or don’t see to [email protected].
is always looking Not until 1926, however — when Morehouse was
for the next great president of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa — BROWSE THE “SECRET SKY” ARCHIVE AT
celestial event. did he return to observing the object. That summer, he www.Astronomy.com/OMeara

12 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

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 Sharpen your eye and build
your knowledge of clusters,
nebulae, galaxies, and more.
BY DAVID J. EICHER

INSIDE TH
OF DEEP-SKY
 The blue reflection nebula M78
lies about 1,600 light-years away
in Orion. It is a cloud of interstellar
gas and dust that owes its
luminosity to embedded, bright,
blue, early B-type stars — making
it the brightest diffuse reflection
nebula in the Orion B molecular
cloud complex. TONY HALLAS

HE WORLD
Y OBJECTS
 D
Do you remember the first time you truly discovered the
universe? When I was a teenager, many moons ago, I bought
my first telescope, a Celestron 8. I remember excitedly unboxing
it the day it arrived. Fortunately, I had a clear sky that evening
and stayed up all night observing. In the early morning, I swung
the scope over to the vicinity of the constellation Cygnus. Boom.
There it was, plain as day: the Veil Nebula, its faintly glowing
gray-green arcs of nebulosity running through a rich, speckled,
multicolored star field, appearing like luminous fragments of
twisted rope. I was absolutely stunned.
awareness of the universe. The
publication coincided with the
so-called Dobsonian Revolution,
in which larger telescopes were
rapidly becoming available to
backyard astronomers.
At the same time, an informa-
tion revolution was opening up
new possibilities for telescopic
targets. Rather than the limited
few hundred objects most people
thought were observable, the
1980s and 1990s saw an explosion
of observers going after thou-
sands of objects that were
previously pretty much
unknown. And now, a generation
later, the world of deep-sky
objects has never been better.
Telescopes and imaging systems
have improved dramatically over
the last few years, and the knowl-
edge of deep-sky objects has
Antares correspondingly sharpened.
What follows is a guide to the
basic types of objects you can go
ABOVE: The variable
star Antares shines
after as an observer or imager
brightly at 1st What really surprised me is targeting the distant cosmos.
magnitude and is that I had read that the Veil (Deep-sky simply means “beyond
located in the Rho
(ρ) Ophiuchi cloud Nebula was not supposed to be the solar system.” Objects within
complex, a giant visible in a such a small telescope. the solar system, such as the
molecular cloud
composed partly That night it struck me that much Moon and planets, will have
of bright ionized of the information about sky to step aside for this article.) So
hydrogen and largely
of dark dust.
objects was wrong, or naïve, or buckle up and get ready for an
MASSIMO TAMAJO based on observations under poor overview of the many creatures
conditions. As a result, I created a that inhabit the Milky Way
RIGHT: My monthly
magazine eventually small publication called Deep Sky Galaxy, and distant shores of the
became a quarterly, Monthly, pushing ahead in step cosmic ocean far beyond our own
Deep Sky, when I
joined the Astronomy
with a growing generational galaxy’s disk.
magazine staff in
1982. KALMBACH MEDIA
Double stars
Some of the most cherished
memories I have of astronomical
observing stem from my earliest
teenage days. Those nights before I
was familiar with the sky — when
I simply went after everything,
not knowing whether I could see
an object or what it would look
like — represented pure explora-
tion and adventure. Everything
was a surprise. In my first year of
observing, before the Celestron 8,
I simply had a pair of 7x50 bin-
oculars. Scanning the sky here and
there revealed countless interest-
ing and unusual star fields. The
luminous band of the Milky Way
washed in and out of the field of
view. And everywhere I looked,
sparkling stars formed patterns.
Many of them appeared to be dou-
ble or multiple stars, the simplest
category of deep-sky objects.
The magnificent nuclear fur-
nace that powers our solar system
and enables life on Earth — the
Sun — is an exception as a solitary
star. More than half of the stars in
the Milky Way Galaxy and almost
certainly in the universe at large NGC 104, or 47 Tucanae
are double or multiple star
systems. NGC 104, or
The term double star simply 47 Tucanae, is the
means two stars that appear close double and multiple star systems second brightest
globular star
to each other as we see them. While Telescopes and and plotting their positions can cluster in the
some doubles are optical double show their movements as the stars night sky at
imaging systems magnitude 4.1.
stars — chance alignments that are slowly orbit each other. Change Located in the
not physically close or gravitation- have improved is a relative rarity in the deep sky, constellation
ally bound — the majority are dramatically over as most objects are so distant and Tucana, this
globular contains
binaries and are physically associ- the last few years, cosmic timescales so long. But the hundreds of
ated systems, where the stars are class of deep-sky objects called thousands of
and the knowledge members — 27 of
orbiting each other. Additionally, variable stars offers the oppor- them fast rotating
some star systems are multiples of deep-sky tunity to see changes in stellar pulsars. FERNANDO
and contain three stars or more objects has behavior over shorter timescales. OLIVEIRA DE MENEZES

orbiting each other in sometimes correspondingly The term variable hints at their
chaotic but generally stable ways. nature: stars that vary in apparent
sharpened.
In the Milky Way, some 60 percent brightness over time. The earliest
of the stars have one or more known written record of a variable
companions. star is in a 3,200-year-old ancient
Great examples of double stars golden yellow star paired with a Egyptian calendar documenting
are scattered all over the sky. The dimmer blue star. Many other the regular changes in brightness
middle star in the handle of the bright and well-known stars are of Algol in Perseus; other early
Big Dipper, Mizar, forms a nice doubles: Acrux, Capella, Polaris, known variables include
double with Alcor. Another excel- Procyon, Sirius, and more. Betelgeuse and Antares. Variable
lent example is the “base” star in stars change their light output
the Northern Cross asterism of Variable stars for a variety of reasons. Some are
Cygnus: Albireo, a beautiful Over time, carefully viewing intrinsic variables, with brightness

WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 17
 swings caused by changes in a binaries, star systems with mem- history of astrophysics. Cepheid
star’s internal properties. These bers that occasionally eclipse their variable stars, for example, are
include pulsating variables, erup- partner suns, and rotating vari- named for the well-known proto-
tive variables, and cataclysmic ables, stars whose light output is type Delta (δ) Cephei. They vary
variables that undergo enormous affected by rotational characteris- in highly precise ways, such that
changes like novae and tics. Some stars, for example, have their absolute brightnesses can
supernovae. enormous starspots that when be determined very well. So
A second major classification aimed toward us, diminish the when Edwin Hubble discovered a
RIGHT: M27 is the
Dumbbell Nebula, of variable stars is extrinsic vari- star’s brightness. Cepheid variable in 1923, in what
which lies more ables, star systems that vary in Within these broad categories, was then called the Andromeda
than 1,200 light-
years away and
brightness due to external proper- many subtypes exist. Some have Nebula, the incredibly dim mag-
glows at an ties. These include eclipsing been incredibly important in the nitude of the star could be used
apparent to calculate its great distance.
magnitude of 7.5.
The clumps of This revealed that Andromeda
gas and dust was a galaxy separate from the
seen in this
planetary nebula
Milky Way, not a nebula within it
are caused when — a breakthrough that unlocked
the stellar winds the nature of galaxies in a first
are not powerful
enough to step toward understanding the
disperse them. vast cosmic distance scale.
As the nebula
expands, the
clumps are Open star clusters
reshaped. One major aspect of the universe
MARK GERMANI
is that it operates like a giant,
BELOW: Mizar well-crafted recycling program.
and Alcor are two
stars that form a Hydrogen, helium, and other
binary system light elements are converted into
visible to the
naked eye. Mizar heavier elements in the bellies of
is the second star stars. When the stars die, they
from the end of spit these elements back out
the handle of
the Big Dipper into the interstellar medium to
and Alcor is form nebulae, which eventually
the dimmer
companion. In collapse through gravity and
ancient times, become stars once again. These
this system
was used as a
clouds tend to produce groups
vision exam.
M27 of stars, which we call open star
MASSIMO DI FUSCO
clusters. (Our Sun was born as
part of such a group.)
Open clusters abound in
our sky, so you’re undoubtedly
familiar with a few. Those close
to us in the galaxy include the
Hyades, the V-shaped cluster that
makes up the brightest part of
the constellation Taurus. It lies
153 light-years away. Another
smaller bright cluster, the
Pleiades (M45), lies 444 light-
years away. Altogether, the Milky
Way contains some 1,100 open
clusters, each containing dozens
to several hundred stars.
The Ursa Major Moving
Group is not an open cluster, but
it’s the closest physically associ-
ated group of stars at only 80
light-years away. The group’s
nucleus contains 14 stars that
Mizar and Alcor
 Lagoon (M8) and Trifid (M20) nebulae

The stunning
Lagoon (M8)
formed together several hundreds between them is not strong Globular star clusters and Trifid (M20)
of million years ago. These stars enough to keep them together While open star clusters exist in nebulae — located
at the bottom and
include most of the stars in the forever. As open clusters orbit the Milky Way’s disk and contain top of this image,
familiar Big Dipper asterism. the Milky Way’s center, tidal relatively young stars, another respectively —
display a diverse
So, if stars are born in open forces tear the stars from each type of cluster plays the opposite range of objects
clusters and are surrounded by other and scatter them into indi- role. Globular star clusters, named and systems, such
their dozens or hundreds of sib- viduals or smaller associations. after their globelike shapes, lie as open clusters
and emission,
lings, why is it that our Sun is a Thus, our Sun’s siblings have scattered far out in the galaxy’s reflection, and
solitary star? Stars may be born long since departed for other halo, away from the younger dark nebulae. JOHN
CHUMACK
in large groups, but the gravity areas of the galaxy. disk. They contain hundreds

WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 19
 varied objects in our local part
of the universe to observe with
a telescope.
The primary type of nebula
in our sky is emission nebulae.
These glowing clouds of mostly
hydrogen gas are the stellar nurs-
eries of our Milky Way Galaxy.
We can see magnificent examples
with small telescopes from a
dark-sky site.
Some emission nebulae are so
bright and so large that they can
be seen with the naked eye. In the
Northern Hemisphere, the most
celebrated example is the Orion
Nebula, visible as a fuzzy “star”
in the center of Orion’s Sword.
This glowing gas cloud lies about
1,500 light-years away, spans
nearly 25 light-years, and is
slowly churning out a cluster of
infant stars. In the Southern
Hemisphere is the spectacular
Carina Nebula, the brightest and
largest nebula in Earth’s sky. This
The Pipe Nebula beast glows with the brightness of
a 1st-magnitude star and covers
The Pipe Nebula some 300 light-years of space —
is composed of of thousands — sometimes as The largest globular clusters impressively bright from a dis-
several smaller
Barnard dark many as a million — stars, pre- have an even more interesting tale tance of 7,500 light-years.
nebulae: B59, B65, dominately old and yellowish. to tell. Astronomers have con- A raft of bright and interesting
B66, B67, B72, B77,
and B78. The Pipe Astronomers believe that globulars cluded that these may be the emission nebulae exists in the
Nebula is a part of formed in the early days of galaxy remnant cores of disrupted dwarf general direction of the galactic
the Ophiuchus dark formation from material that did galaxies whose material was center. Here you will find stun-
cloud complex,
around 650 light- not fall into the rotating disks of partially dispersed, sending the ning examples such as the
years from Earth. their parent systems. core into a new life as a rich Lagoon and Trifid nebulae, the
FERNANDO OLIVEIRA DE
MENEZES Although globular clusters lie grouping of tightly packed stars. Omega Nebula, the Eagle Nebula,
at far larger distances than open Omega Centauri is one such clus- and many more.
clusters, many examples are bright ter; it contains 10 million suns
and large enough to see nicely in and stretches over a diameter of
amateur telescopes. They include at least 150 light-years, making it
M13 in Hercules and M22 in the most formidable globular clus-
Sagittarius, as well as Omega ter belonging to the Milky Way.
Centauri and the great 47 Tucanae
in the southern sky. Altogether, Emission nebulae
we know of about 160 globulars Our Milky Way and other galaxies
in the Milky Way, and it appears do not contain stars alone. They
that nearly all galaxies have popu- are vast storehouses of gas. Under
lations of globular clusters. the right conditions, we see this
Some of the largest galaxies gas as either glowing — excited
known are the giant elliptical by stars and fluorescing like an
galaxies that have grown as incandescent bulb — or simply
galaxies merge. These behemoths reflecting light from bright stars
can contain as many as 15,000 toward us. These reflection and
globular clusters. One outstanding emission nebulae, along with
example is M87 — the most mas- other types of nebulae, make up M60
sive galaxy in the Virgo Cluster. some of the most interesting and

20 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

Planetary nebulae distant future. Sun-like stars end
Also glowing by fluorescence As stars go as planetary nebulae and white
but at the other end of the stellar about their dwarf remnants, as we’ve seen.
life cycle are planetary nebulae. More massive stars, however, with
William Herschel is believed to
existence, about eight times the mass of the
have originated the term in the they convert Sun or more, have shorter lifes-
1780s based on these objects’ hydrogen into pans and more violent ends.
resemblance to planetary disks heavier elements The end result of a massive
in the telescope. They have no by nuclear fusion. star’s life is a cataclysmic explosion
connection to planets, however: producing a supernova, which can
Instead, they are the result of briefly unleash so much energy
stars with about the same mass that it outshines its entire host
as the Sun approaching the ends long gone before our Sun’s plan- galaxy as it collapses to either a
of their lives. etary nebula stage arrives. But we neutron star or a black hole. The
As stars go about their exis- can look through our telescope byproduct of a supernova explo-
tence, they convert hydrogen and eyepieces to observe many exam- sion is a supernova remnant — a
other light elements into heavier ples of bright planetaries in our glowing cloud of gas — and these
elements by nuclear fusion. At sky — some circular and others nebulae can be observed for peri-
some point, these stars transform more elongated, like a squashed ods of hundreds of thousands of
as the supply of hydrogen is bug. A popular example is the years before they dissipate into the
exhausted. Just by looking at the Ring Nebula in Lyra, with its interstellar medium.
3,500 known planetary nebulae famous central dark hole and You may well know of some
in our galaxy, we can foresee the faint central star, dimly glowing celebrated examples of supernova
future of our solar system. In away. Another is the Dumbbell remnants in our sky. The very first
Left to right are
about 6 billion years, the Sun will Nebula in Vulpecula, appearing, object in Charles Messier’s famous examples of the
start to exhaust the hydrogen fuel as its nickname suggests, with a list of deep-sky objects, M1, is the three main types of
at its core, swell into a red giant, tapered center and rounded ends. Crab Nebula — a supernova rem- galaxies in Edwin
Hubble’s tuning-
and begin to fuse helium. This will Many others are scattered along nant. The bright exploding star fork classification:
lead to instability and eventually the Milky Way, giving us a was observed in various early M60 in Virgo is an
elliptical galaxy,
force the Sun to puff off a shroud glimpse of our cosmic neighbor- cultural records in 1054, and we though some say it
of gas that will constitute a plan- hood’s distant future. now see the slowly expanding could be lenticular;
etary nebula. The first puffs will remnant as a nebula. Other great M95 in Leo is a
barred spiral
be relatively slow, followed by Supernova remnants examples also lie around the sky, galaxy; and M104,
higher-velocity outbursts. The Stars evolve and expire in an including the Veil Nebula, the Vela also known as the
Sombrero Galaxy,
interaction between the gas and array of different ways. The least Supernova Remnant, IC 443, and in Virgo is a spiral
intense ionizing radiation from the massive stars churn away with the small remnant cloud produced galaxy — without a
bar. LEFT TO RIGHT:
star will cause the shroud to glow fusion for vastly long intervals; by the closest recent supernova, HARSHWARDHAN PATHAK;
for something like 20,000 years. they may be the final, dimly SN 1987A, in the Large Magellanic BERNARD MILLER; ADAM

Life on Earth will have been glowing remnants in the cosmos’ Cloud. BLOCK/MOUNT LEMMON SKY
CENTER/UNIVERSITY OF
ARIZONA

M95 Sombrero Galaxy (M104)

WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 21
 magnetic field. (This can happen
with planetary nebulae as well.)
Because they are not glowing,
most reflection nebulae are faint.
Good examples exist, however,
such as M78 in Orion, the Witch
Head Nebula in Eridanus, and
the Merope Nebula surrounding
the brightest stars in the Pleiades.
Many nebulae consist of
combinations of emission and
reflection nebulae. The most
famous example with both types
side by side is the Trifid Nebula,
with its pinkish emission and
bluish reflection “halves.”

Dark nebulae
A final broad category of galactic
clouds is dark nebulae. These
dense interstellar molecular
clouds block starlight from
beyond and therefore are seen
as “negative spaces” in the fabric
of the galaxy. The astronomer
Edward E. Barnard recorded sev-
eral hundred such objects in his
famous catalog called “Barnard’s
Catalogue of 349 Dark Objects
in the Sky,” published in 1927.
The particles that make up dark
nebulae are coated in carbon and
quite small, perhaps about the
size of those in smoke. A great
density of these particles needs
to be present to block the light of
stars lying behind them.
Observing dark nebulae can
be a challenge, because to see
them well requires a really dark
sky. Under good conditions,
though, huge dark nebulae can be
seen running along and through
the luminous band of the Milky
Gemini / Jellyfish Nebula (IC 443) Way from a dark sky site. Other
notable smaller dark nebulae
Located 5,000
include the celebrated Horsehead
light-years away in Nebula in Orion, the Coalsack in
the constellation Reflection nebulae illuminated either by stars embed- the southern constellation Crux,
Gemini is a
supernova While emission nebulae, planetary ded within them or bright stars the Pipe Nebula in Ophiuchus,
remnant called the nebulae, and supernova remnants lying nearby. Barnard’s E (B142 and B143) in
Jellyfish Nebula
(IC 443). The two
all glow via excited atoms, not all The dust that comprises these Aquila, and many more.
exceptionally nebulae are luminous. Reflection nebulae contains minute particles
bright stars in nebulae are clouds of interstellar of carbon, nickel, iron, and other Galaxies
this wide-field
telescopic view dust that are visible from Earth elements. The presence of metallic In late 1923, Edwin Hubble made
are Tejat (top) and because the geometry works elements (like iron and nickel) his breakthrough discovery of the
Propus (bottom).
MARTIN BRACKEN
in such a way that they reflect results in some reflection nebulae nature of the Andromeda Galaxy.
starlight toward us. They’re being aligned with the galactic In the decades since, astronomers

22 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

 The Pleiades
(M45) is an
open star cluster
in Taurus
surrounded by a
reflection nebula.
The cluster is
composed of
more than a
thousand stars
but is mostly
known for a
handful of
dominating stars,
earning M45 the
nickname Seven
Sisters. ANTONIO
FERRETTI/ATTILIO
BRUZZONE

Pleiades (M45)

have not only discovered that in the last 20 years, astronomers toward each other and will
the Milky Way and Andromeda have mapped the existence of a eventually merge, turning into
are two big galaxies in our Local prominent bar in our galaxy, a single, massive elliptical some-
Group, but that the universe placing it into the second major thing like the well-known galaxy
contains at least on the order type, barred spirals. A barred Centaurus A in the Southern
of 100 billion galaxies, and that spiral galaxy has a bright disk, Hemisphere. Countless examples
they display a few basic types of but its distinguishing feature is of ellipticals litter the sky, and
morphology. a prominent, elongated bar of include M49, M60, and M87.
Three sizable galaxies exist in material passing through the The realm of the deep sky has
our own Local Group: the two just nucleus, anchoring spiral arms completely transformed over the
mentioned and M33. But just like at each end. Barred spirals are past generation. Thirty years ago,
stars, the most numerous galaxies common. Aside from our galaxy, the great majority of enthusiasts
are dwarfs. At least 80 such examples include M95, M109, were targeting the same couple
members reside in the Local and the Large Magellanic Cloud hundred objects, starting with the
Group, and possibly more — — one of the Milky Way’s satel- Orion Nebula and Andromeda
nearly all of them dwarfs. Setting lite dwarf galaxies. Galaxy. Now, the information
dwarfs aside, however, normal The third major type of galaxy explosion has redirected people to
galaxies constitute several types. is the elliptical. Rather than a flat vastly more distant places. Armed
The first is the spiral galaxy, which disk of stars, ellipticals are spheri- with smart scopes, better info, and
consists of a flattened bright disk cal balls of stars with very little curiosity, we can go after strange
of stars, gas, and dust, with a dark gas and dust. Because of their nebulae, vistas of star formation,
matter halo and a cloud of globu- shape, they can contain a vastly strange galaxy clusters, and binary
lar clusters surrounding it. larger amount of matter than a star systems that house hidden
Countless galaxies familiar to flattened disk with the same black holes. The sky is truly now
readers and observers are spirals, diameter. For years astronomers the limit.
including Andromeda, M33, the struggled with ideas of how ellip-
Whirlpool Galaxy, M81, M101, tical galaxies form. Today, the David J. Eicher is editor of
and many more. consensus is that they are created Astronomy, author of 26 books on
For decades astronomers from the mergers of disk galaxies. science and history, and a member
believed the Milky Way was a We now know that the Milky of the boards of the Starmus Festival
“normal” spiral galaxy. However, Way and Andromeda are moving and of Lowell Observatory.

WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 23
 Tour the
Sculptor’s
workshop
This faint southern constellation contains a smattering of galaxies —
and one standout globular cluster — to explore. BY MICHAEL E. BAKICH
THE CONSTELLATION SCULPTOR This face-on flocculent — meaning that
is not an easy star pattern to find, but it has a fluffy or patchy appearance —
it’s worth the effort because it contains spiral glows at magnitude 9.0, which
some gorgeous deep-sky objects. lands it on the top 40 chart for brightest
Its name comes from French astron- galaxies. Indeed, even observers with
omer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, who small telescopes at a dark site won’t have
surveyed the southern sky from 1750 trouble seeing NGC 7793 for two rea-
to 1753 at the Cape of Good Hope. sons: First, it measures 9.3' by 6.3', and
He called the pattern “The Sculptor’s second, it has a high surface brightness.
Workshop,” but this was later To locate it, aim your scope 5° south-
shortened. southeast of Delta (δ) Sculptoris, which
Sculptor lies south of the border glows at magnitude 4.6. For those of you
between Cetus and Aquarius and north using 8-inch or larger instruments, view
of Phoenix. The best time to see this NGC 300 is nicknamed the Southern NGC 7793 through eyepieces that give
constellation is in the early fall in the Pinwheel Galaxy, a reference to the Pinwheel ever-higher powers until the seeing
Northern Hemisphere, when it reaches Galaxy (M33) in Triangulum. The Southern (steadiness of the sky) breaks down.
Pinwheel lies just 6.5 million light-years
its highest point at midnight. away. DAN CROWSON See if you can trace the closely packed
Although Sculptor isn’t huge or spiral arms by following the gentle
bright, the best observers always set curves made by star-forming regions
aside a few hours each year during its and overlooked deep-sky objects it holds that appear brighter than the gas and
brief window of visibility. It doesn’t high in your sky. dust around them.
contain any Messier objects, but it does Our first object is Bond’s Galaxy, Scottish astronomer James Dunlop
boast a handful of nice galaxies and a also known as NGC 7793, one of five discovered this galaxy in 1826 from
sweet globular cluster. So, consider galaxies with a proper name in this faint Paramatta, Australia. He found it while
packing your telescope and heading constellation. (Sculptor lies at the top using a 9-inch reflector to survey
south if necessary to place the of the constellation heap in terms of southern sky objects. But the galaxy’s
Workshop and all of the under-observed having common names for objects.) namesake is American astronomer

24 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

George Phillips Bond, who indepen-
dently discovered it in 1850 from
Cambridge, Massachusetts. At that
time, Dunlop’s much earlier discovery
was unknown.
Second on our list is the Southern
Cigar Galaxy, which also goes by the
designations Caldwell 72 and NGC 55.
Amateur astronomers gave NGC 55 its
common name because it resembles
the Cigar Galaxy (M82) in Ursa Major
— a lot. At magnitude 7.9, this barred
spiral is visible through high-quality
binoculars from a dark site. Its large
apparent size (32' by 6') is due to its
distance, a scant 6.5 million light-
years away.
To locate this galaxy, point your
telescope roughly 4° northwest of
2nd-magnitude Ankaa (Alpha [α]
Phoenicis). Then get comfortable,
because there’s a lot to see here.
If you start with low magnification,
the first thing you’ll notice is that the
galaxy isn’t centered on its core; most
of the galaxy lies west of it. The overall
appearance, then, is that of a celestial
cigar. If you then view it at high power,
you’ll separate the main part of
NGC 55, which contains the most
stars, from the other, less starry side.
All along its length, the Southern
Cigar Galaxy displays many star-
forming regions. One of them even has
its own designation, IC 1537. You might
be able to spot some of these stellar
nurseries if you use an Oxygen-III filter
in combination with an 11-inch or
larger telescope. (You’ll need that much
light-gathering power because the filter
won’t let through much light.)
Our third target is the barred spiral
galaxy NGC 134. You’ll find it 0.5°
east-southeast of 5th-magnitude Eta (η)
Sculptoris. It glows at magnitude 10.4
and measures 8.5' by 1.9'.
Put an eyepiece that gives a magni-
fication of about 100x into an 8-inch
telescope and look for an elliptical
glow surrounding a starlike nucleus.
You won’t see the spiral arms because At a distance of 12 million
of their orientation. Through 16-inch light-years and around
105,000 light-years
and larger telescopes, you’ll just start across, NGC 253’s
to see indications of them. They’d be angular length is close to
the diameter of the Full
easy to spot if NGC 134 were face on, Moon. VIKAS CHANDER
but they appear tightly wrapped and
are thus difficult to separate.

WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 25
 observing location in Tucson, it’s only a
bit more than one-third of the way from
the horizon to the zenith.
German-born British astronomer
Caroline Herschel discovered the Silver
Coin Galaxy in 1783 through a 4.2-inch
reflecting telescope. It still looks good
even through such a small instrument.
(Well, better, because telescope optics
have come a long way in the past two-
and-a-half centuries.) But use an 8-inch
or larger telescope, and details really
begin to pop.
The first thing you’ll notice is that the
galaxy has a slightly spotty look.
Observers call this trait mottling. Next,
you’ll notice that, unlike the majority of
spiral galaxies, the central region doesn’t
stand out. Larger scopes and high pow-
ers may let you pick out the two main
spiral arms. They are not easy to see.
Now we come to the one non-galaxy
on our list, globular cluster NGC 288.
It glows at magnitude 8.1 and has a
diameter of 13.8'.
To find this object, point your scope
3° north-northwest of Alpha Sculptoris.
If your site is dark, try viewing NGC 288
and the Silver Coin Galaxy together
through binoculars. NGC 288 lies a bit
less than 2° southeast of the galaxy.
NGC 288 is unusual because its cen-
tral region isn’t densely packed, as in
most globulars. Because of that, you’ll be
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: able to resolve a couple dozen stars
Next, point your telescope at another, NGC 55’s oblong shape gives it an uncanny through an 8-inch telescope with a
resemblances to the Cigar Galaxy (M82).
slightly smaller, barred spiral galaxy, FERNANDO OLIVEIRA DE MENEZES
medium-power eyepiece. Higher magni-
NGC 150. To locate it, look 5.5° west- fications in bigger scopes will let you
NGC 150 is infrequently imaged, but doing so
northwest of Alpha Sculptoris. It glows reveals its fainter extended outer arms. GARY IMM count more than 100 of them.
at magnitude 11.3 and measures 3.4' The next target on our list is a great
In a telescope, flocculent, face-on NGC 7793
by 1.6'. looms large and bright from a distance of one: the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy,
Medium-size telescopes won’t show roughly 12 million light-years away. DAN CROWSON cataloged as Caldwell 70 and NGC 300.
a lot of detail in this galaxy because it’s This beauty glows at magnitude 8.1 and
only half the size of the Milky Way and measures an impressive 20' by 13'. To
70 million light-years away — but you (for a galaxy) at magnitude 7.6, which find it, look in southeastern Sculptor
will notice its bright, concentrated core. puts it in easy range of pretty much all about 1.7° northwest of magnitude 5.6
If you can use an 11-inch telescope, binoculars. It’s also huge (again, for a Xi (ξ) Sculptoris. It was discovered by
crank the power up as much as the see- galaxy), measuring 30' by 6.9'. To find Dunlop in 1826 through a 9-inch
ing will allow. Then look for a faint ring it, look not quite 5° north-northwest of reflector.
of light surrounding the brighter core. Alpha Sculptoris. NGC 300 is the ninth-nearest
NGC 150’s spiral arms only show up When I was younger (OK, a lot non-dwarf galaxy, lying only 6 million
through 16-inch and larger scopes. younger), I could see NGC 253 with my light-years away. Amateur astronomers
OK, enough of the faint stuff. It’s naked eyes. You can try it, but it’s an bestowed on it its common name
time to observe one of the top 10 galax- observation that takes a lot of patience. because it looks a lot like the Pinwheel
ies in the sky, the Silver Coin Galaxy. Your latitude matters, too. From 40° Galaxy (M33) in Triangulum.
Also known as Caldwell 65 and north, the galaxy climbs to a maximum When you observe the Southern
NGC 253, this object glows brightly altitude of 25°. Even from my current Pinwheel, first locate its tiny core. From

26 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

 CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:
NGC 288 is relatively loosely packed, without
the concentrated core that is characteristic
of a globular cluster. DAN CROWSON

The Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy may not be

visually impressive, but it is remarkable for
its history — it is much older than its host
galaxy, the Milky Way, and lacks heavy
elements. This makes it a valuable record of
what some of the earliest galaxies in the
universe were like. DAN CROWSON

The frequently overlooked spiral NGC 613

lies around 86 million light-years away, but
the thinness of its spiral arms help them
stand out in an 11-inch telescope. WARREN KELLER/
MIKE SELBY

NGC 134 is a barred spiral galaxy, but its

tilted orientation makes it tricky to see its
arms. It lies about 50 milion light-years away.
WARREN KELLER/STEVE MAZLIN

there, move outward and take note

of how wide and bright its central
region is. Finally, try to identify the
galaxy’s two main spiral arms, which
are quite thick.
Next is the Sculptor Dwarf, a
dwarf spheroidal galaxy (the first ever
discovered), and the most difficult
object on this list. To locate it, aim your
telescope a bit more than 2° south-
southwest of 5th-magnitude Sigma (σ)
Sculptoris. Although it glows at magni-
tude 8.8, don’t be surprised if at first
you don’t see it. This galaxy covers an
area 1.1° by 0.8°, so it doesn’t just jump
out of the background. Observers who
have spotted it used low-power eye-
pieces in large scopes. Once you’re in
the area, pan your field of view north
and south or east and west until you
detect a faint increase in the back-
ground glow. That’s it.
Our final target is spiral galaxy
NGC 613, a true under-observed gem.
It glows at magnitude 10.1 and
measures 5.5' by 4.1'. You’ll find it 0.6°
northwest of 6th-magnitude Tau (τ)
Sculptoris. A 6-inch telescope will show
just a fuzzy oval. Step up to an 11-inch
instrument, however, and lots of details
will pop into view. Use as high a power
as the seeing allows and look for thin
spiral arms radiating outward from the
bright core.

Michael E. Bakich is an associate

editor of Astronomy and enjoys slowly
moving his telescope through a single
constellation.

WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 27
 Visible to the naked eye

SKY THIS MONTH Visible with binoculars

Visible with a telescope

THE SOLAR SYSTEM’S CHANGING LANDSCAPE AS IT APPEARS IN EARTH’S SKY.

BY MARTIN RATCLIFFE AND ALISTER LING

Mid-October will bring the

Mars (the bright object highly anticipated Comet
at center) is once again Tsuchinshan-ATLAS to the eve-
making its way through ning sky. It is 20° to 25° north-
Gemini (whose two
bright stars are at left) west of Venus on the 13th and
and increasing in size 14th. Look for it in binoculars;
and brightness as it by the time you read this, per-
approaches opposition
in January. ALAN DYER haps it could even be visible
without aid. Time will tell, as
comets rarely follow brightness
estimates. Venus continues from
Libra into Scorpius and then
Ophiuchus. By the 25th, Venus
stands 3° due north of Antares,
a 1st-magnitude star dimly vis-
ible in evening twilight.

OCTOBER 2024 By the end of October, Venus

has moved a bit closer to Earth,
spanning 14" and 77 percent lit.

Mars improving Already high in the south-

eastern sky as twilight falls,
Saturn is ready for focused
attention. By 8 p.m. local day-
light time on the 1st, it stands
20° high among the stars of
October finds Mercury Dominating the evening is On Oct. 5, look for the thin Aquarius. By the 31st, it’s some
and Venus in the eve- Venus, shining at magnitude crescent Moon less than 5° from 40° high at the same time and
ning sky. Mercury is shy and –3.9 and more than 30° east Venus. Venus sets 80 minutes remains visible well into the
takes some effort to see, but bril- of the Sun. You can use it as a after the Sun in early October, morning hours. It stands 2°
liant Venus is not hard to find. guide to try and spot Mercury offering a lovely view in deep- from Lambda (λ) Aquarii, a
Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, and later in October by following a ening twilight. Through a tele- 4th-magnitude star. Saturn
Jupiter rise in that order before sightline down from Venus scope Venus is 12" wide and spends most of the month at
midnight. Mars becomes a fine toward the direction of sunset. 84 percent lit. magnitude 0.7, outshining
bright object in the predawn everything in this region
sky, standing high in the east. A lovely pairing including 1st-magnitude
And C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan- Fomalhaut, 20° south of the
ATLAS) may be on show as the planet. It fades by 0.1 magnitude
comet passes closest to Earth by the 31st, when it is 842 mil-
OPHIUCHUS
and springs into the evening sky. lion miles from Earth.
Mercury comes out of supe- B O ÖTES Saturn’s shadow falls on the
rior conjunction early in the Arcturus rings with increasing promi-
month and by the 31st reaches nence throughout the month
an elongation of 18° east of the as the planet moves away from
Sun. It stays very low above the Antares opposition. The tilt of the rings
LIBR A
western horizon due to the shal- SC ORPIUS
reaches 5° during October and
low angle of the ecliptic. By the will increase for one more
24th it remains difficult to spot, Venus month before beginning to nar-
even at magnitude –0.4, since it Moon row in the lead-up to the ring
10°
sets 35 minutes after the Sun. plane crossing next March.
Mercury’s visibility doesn’t Oct. 5, 40 minutes after sunset The apparent size of Saturn’s
improve much by the end of the Looking west
disk through a telescope dimin-
month, as it dims by 0.1 magni- ishes from 19" to 18", while its
A delicate crescent Moon joins blazing Venus in the evening sky early this
tude and remains a mere 2° month. A few days earlier, the Moon could share the sky with Comet squashed polar diameter drops
high 30 minutes after sunset. Tsuchinshan-ATLAS — if the latter is visible. ALL ILLUSTRATIONS: ASTRONOMY: ROEN KELLY to 16". The rings’ major axis of

28 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

 RISING MOON I Lava, lava, lava, dome
AMONG THE BEST volcanic features on the
Marius Hills
face of the Moon (not counting the huge “seas”)
is the field of domes known as the Marius Hills.
Located in the vast Oceanus Procellarum basin
OBSERVING near the craters Marius and Reiner in the lunar
HIGHLIGHT west, the coarse, sandpaper-like terrain sees first
light about three days before Full phase.
COMET C/2023 A3
(TSUCHINSHAN-ATLAS) The Moon is quite bright on the evening of
makes its closest approach the 14th — use a filter to reduce the glare, or Marius
to Earth Oct. 12. even sunglasses will help. At first your eye will
be drawn to Tycho’s spectacular ray system and
then to brilliant Aristarchus, dominating Luna’s
northern section at this phase. Have a look, but
then shift your concentration to an area just
Marius Hills
north of the equator and boost the
43" on the 1st shrinks to just magnification.
over 41" by the 31st. How did the Moon develop this out- Reiner
N
Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, break of hives? Astronomers reason that
is 8th magnitude — an easy tar- the evidence points at more than one
episode. A few hundred steep-sided E
get for any telescope. It stands
near the planet Oct. 3, 11, 19, cone volcanoes erupted onto the scene
The Marius Hills lie near the craters
and 27, located just a few arcsec- when a huge zone of magma upwelled. Marius and Reiner. Kepler lies to the east,
onds off the northern or south- Less violent eruptions then built the dome just out of view in this image. CONSOLIDATED LUNAR
ATLAS/UA/LPL. INSET: NASA/GSFC/ASU
ern limb. It stands east or west structures surrounding them. Finally, volumes
of the planet Oct. 9, 17, and 25. of lava oozed out of cracks and vents to fill
much of the vast basin surrounding the Marius to notice on the 15th, and by the 16th the higher
Look for 10th-magnitude
Hills. To the first lunar observers, this huge elevation of the Sun will have wiped out the
Tethys, Dione, and Rhea orbit-
expanse of darker, smoother terrain evoked a shadows necessary to observe textured terrain.
ing from night to night, some-
sense of the sea. Before moving on, take some time to admire the
times skimming the edge of the
Under turbulent skies you might only see the bright splash of rays from the relatively younger
rings or undergoing transits and Kepler.
two larger peaks. The Marius Hills will be harder
occultations. Telescopes larger
than 10 inches using high-speed
video capture under good see-
ing conditions have a chance.
Iapetus reaches its brighter METEOR WATCH I Fighting moonlight
western elongation Oct. 13,
shining near 10th magnitude
and 9' due west of Saturn. It Orionid meteor shower THE REMNANTS OF
spends the rest of the month HALLEY’S COMET generate
Moon
moving toward superior con- the annual meteor shower
Radiant
junction and is less than two called the Orionids. It’s active
MONO CEROS Jupiter from Oct. 2 through Nov. 7,
days shy of this on the 31st, Betelgeuse
when it stands 1' southwest of Aldebaran with the peak occurring on
ORION Oct. 21. A bright gibbous
Saturn — a great time to spot Pleiades
Sirus TAURUS Uranus Moon located on the Taurus/
this unusual moon. Its darker
Auriga border will strongly
face has progressively turned CANIS
ARIES Hamal
M AJOR Rigel affect the appearance of
our way, so it has dimmed by
Orionid meteors.
about a full magnitude. Menkar
The shower has a zenithal
Neptune rises before sunset hourly rate of up to 20 mete-
ERIDANUS
and is well placed in the south- ors per hour on the morning
eastern sky by full dark, gaining CETUS 10°
of maximum, corresponding
altitude through midnight. to an observable rate of some
During October, 15 to 18 per hour between
Neptune wanders west and ORIONID METEORS
Oct. 21, 1 hour before sunrise 2 A.M. and dawn. The radiant
forms a nice triangle with Active dates: Oct. 2–Nov. 7
Looking southwest lies in northeastern Orion and
Peak: Oct. 21
24 and 20 Piscium, which rises by 10:30 P.M. local day-
Moon at peak: Waning gibbous
lie just over 5° southeast of Maximum rate at peak: The bright gibbous Moon will diminish this year’s light time.
— Continued on page 34 Orionids, but brighter meteors may still be visible.
20 meteors/hour
WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 29
 N

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BEGINNERS: WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT HOW TO READ A STAR CHART AT
www.Astronomy.com/starchart.
 γ OCTOBER 2024
SUN. MON. TUES. WED. THURS. FRI. SAT.
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ILLUSTRATIONS BY ASTRONOMY: ROEN KELLY

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2 New Moon occurs at 2:49 P.M. EDT; annular solar eclipse

LY R A

The Moon is at apogee (252,597 miles from Earth), 3:39 P.M. EDT
L A M57
γ

W
α

5 The Moon passes 3° south of Venus, 4 P.M. EDT

β

ECU

7 Asteroid Laetitia is at opposition, 2 P.M. EDT

HUS κ
α
α

VULP
A

The Moon passes 0.2° south of Antares, 3 P.M. EDT

TT

δ
GI

IUC

9 Jupiter is stationary, 3 A.M. EDT

CA PENS

ε
ζ
SA

β
A

OPH
IL

UD

10 First Quarter Moon occurs at 2:55 P.M. EDT

SER
QU
γ
β α

δ A

11 Pluto is stationary, 10 P.M. EDT

ζ
η

η 14 The Moon passes 0.1° north of Saturn, 2 P.M. EDT

15 The Moon passes 0.6° north of Neptune, 2 P.M. EDT
α
λ
11

ν
M

M 16 Asteroid Juno is in conjunction with the Sun, 11 A.M. EDT

16

TU
M

U
SC The Moon is at perigee (221,938 miles from Earth), 8:51 P.M. EDT
17
M

17 Full Moon occurs at 7:26 A.M. EDT

20

π ξ 22 μ
M

M 19 The Moon passes 4° north of Uranus, noon EDT

θ

λ
8

σ 21 Orionid meteor shower peaks

M

τ
ϕ Mars passes 6° south of Pollux, 2 A.M. EDT
SW

ζ δ
γ
The Moon passes 6° north of Jupiter, 4 A.M. EDT
US
A RI
TT ε 23 The Moon passes 4° north of Mars, 4 P.M. EDT
GI η
SA α A S
R ON ALI 24 Last Quarter Moon occurs at 4:03 A.M. EDT
R
α β CO ST
AU 25 Venus passes 3° north of Antares, 3 P.M. EDT
β
29 The Moon is at apogee (252,377 miles from Earth), 6:50 P.M. EDT

WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 31
PATHS OF THE PLANETS
LYN PE R AND

Eunomia
GEM TRI
C NC Path o)
the M ARI
C OM Jupiter oon
Mars PEG
LEO Uranus
ic)
BOÖ clip t
n (e ORI TAU
ta e Su PSC
Ves ho
) th Ma
ssa
CMi
Pat l ia
Celestial equator
VIR
Neptune
SEX MON
Su n Saturn
C RT solarHYA
An annular eclipse
ERI
Asteroid Laetitia reaches
C ET
occurs across parts of Chile
and Argentina on October 2 CM a opposition October 7
LEP
SCL
PYX F OR Ps A
ANT
C OL CAE
PUP
VEL PHE
CEN
G RU

Moon phases Dawn Midnight

To locate the Moon in the sky, draw a line from the phase shown for the day
straight up to the curved blue line.
5 4 3 2 1

31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14

Uranus
THE PLANETS THE PLANETS IN THE SKY
IN THEIR ORBITS Jupiter These illustrations show the size, phase,
Arrows show the inner and orientation of each planet and the two
planets’ monthly motions brightest dwarf planets at 0h UT for the dates
and dots depict the Neptune in the data table at bottom. South is at the top
Saturn
outer planets’ positions to match the view through a telescope.
at midmonth from high
above their orbits.

Venus
Jupiter
Mercury Mars
Pluto
Ceres

Mars
PLANETS MERCURY VENUS
Date Oct. 31 Oct. 15
Earth
Magnitude –0.3 –3.9
Mercury
Venus
Angular size 5.2" 13.0"
Illumination 87% 82%

Ceres Distance (AU) from Earth 1.284 1.281

Distance (AU) from Sun 0.459 0.728
Right ascension (2000.0) 15h31.6m 15h34.8m
Declination (2000.0) –21°02' –20°16'

32 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

 This map unfolds the entire night sky from sunset (at right) until sunrise (at left). Arrows

JULY 2021
and colored dots show motions and locations of solar system objects during the month. OCTOBER 2024
1

C YG Callisto 2 Jupiter Europa

LYR H ER BOÖ
CrB
C OM
3 Io Ganymede
VU L Europa
DE L
SGE 4

SE R
Io
E QU C o me t C /2 0 2 5
AQL 3 A3 V IR

AQR 6
LI B Ganymede
Iris
SCT Su n
7 Callisto
ry C RV
Pluto Venus M e r cu
JUPITER’S 8

MOONS
SGR Ceres 9
M IC Dots display
CrA SCO positions of
T EL Galilean satellites 10
LUP CEN at 4 A .M. EDT on
the date shown. 11
Early evening South is at the
top to match the 12
view through a
telescope. 13
31 30

14
13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3
15

16
Jupiter
S
17
Saturn
W E
18
N
19

10" 20

21

22
Uranus Neptune Pluto

23

24

MARS CERES JUPITER SATURN URANUS NEPTUNE PLUTO 25

Oct. 15 Oct. 15 Oct. 15 Oct. 15 Oct. 15 Oct. 15 Oct. 15

26
0.3 9.1 –2.6 0.7 5.7 7.7 15.3
8.2" 0.5" 44.1" 18.8" 3.8" 2.4" 0.1" 27

88% 97% 99% 100% 100% 100% 100%

28
1.143 2.924 4.473 8.855 18.735 28.985 34.974
1.521 2.952 5.058 9.654 19.566 29.896 35.118 29

7h33.3m 19h02.2m 5h20.8m 23h01.4m 3h35.7m 23h53.0m 20h08.7m

30
22°36' –30°03' 22°25' –8°37' 19°02' –2°12' –23°29'
31
 WHEN TO
SKY THIS MONTH — Continued from page 29 VIEW THE
PLANETS
Infrequent visitor east-west. Uranus stands 1.3°
southwest of 13 Tau on Oct. 1, a EVENING SKY
Mercury (southwest)
Iapetus S gap that increases to 2.3° by the
Venus (southwest)
31st. Uranus is the same bright-
ness as 13 Tau: magnitude 5.7. MIDNIGHT
With Uranus high in the sky Mars (east)
in the pre-dawn hours, it’s a Jupiter (east)
W Saturn (south)
Saturn Rhea great time to view the planet
Mimas Uranus (east)
Enceladus
through a telescope. The disk
Neptune (south)
Tethys Dione spans 4", revealing little to the
earthbound observer but a nice MORNING SKY
Oct. 31, 10 P.M. EDT 30" Mars (southeast)
challenge for video capture with
telescopes 14 inches and larger. Jupiter (southwest)
By Oct. 31, Iapetus is 11th magnitude, approaching superior conjunction close Uranus (west)
to Saturn. Enceladus is 12th magnitude and Mimas is 13th magnitude; these Jupiter rises just after 10 p.m.
Neptune (west)
moons may be difficult to spot. Hyperion (14th magnitude) is not shown. local daylight time on Oct. 1
and two hours earlier on the
Lambda Psc. Follow Neptune’s that far northwest of the planet 31st. Early morning sees Jupiter
motion relative to these stars on the 15th. at more than 60° in altitude, a Even small telescopes can
through binoculars. Around Uranus rises by 9 p.m. local boon that offers stunning views view detail in Jupiter’s turbulent
mid-month, you’ll find the 8th- daylight time on the 1st, and for Northern Hemisphere atmosphere. On some nights
magnitude planet 1° due north two hours earlier by the 31st. It observers. It’s located in Taurus the Great Red Spot appears, its
of 24 Psc. A telescopic view stands about 6° southwest of the and brightens to magnitude motion evident within 10 to 15
reveals a 2"-wide disk with Pleiades (M45) all month. The –2.7 this month. A waning gib- minutes. The jovian disk starts
a distinctive bluish hue. easiest way to spot it is with bous Moon joins Jupiter Oct. 20 October at 42" and grows to 46"
A waxing gibbous Moon binoculars. Scan south of M45 and 21; the Moon passes within by the 31st.
stands about 10° southeast of to find a pair of 6th-magnitude 0.5° of Elnath, the northern Galilean moons Io, Europa,
Neptune on Oct. 14 and half stars, 13 and 14 Tauri, aligned horn of the Bull. Ganymede, and Callisto transit

COMET SEARCH I Comet of the year

GET OUT AND ENJOY Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), whether Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)
with binoculars, a small telescope, or unaided eyes. It doesn’t matter if
you’re in the town or country. Look often — it might peak and fizzle or ι N
split and surge within a day or two. Regardless, this comet will absolutely κ
NGC Path of Comet γ
delight amateurs like us. It might even be the best of the decade, but not 6572 α
worth a last-minute plane ticket to the desert. β Tsuchinshan-ATLAS ε
When September closes, the comet is at perihelion, closest to the Sun. M5
30 γ 25
The head is visible only as dawn breaks, with its tails streaming toward 20 λ
OPHIUCHUS σ SERPENS
Oct. 15
Sirius. What structures will be visible? Will we get a magnetic disconnec- NGC 6535
CAPU T
M14 δ μ
tion in the solar wind? By Oct. 7, follow it online through the field of view M12
of NASA’s SOHO LASCO C3 for a few days. E M10 ε
NGC 6539
Then get set ... and go! On the 9th, scan the sky with binoculars shortly NGC 6366
μ υ LIBR A β
after sunset — if Tsuchinshan-ATLAS gets as bright as Venus (unlikely), ν
SERPENS
ζ ε
you’ll see it! An hour later, the blue ion tail stretches up to Arcturus like an
CAUDA ο M107
auroral spike. On the 10th, the comet’s head glows brightly in the deep ν
M16
twilight with the ion tail straight up. The dust tail should be super bright η γ 5°
φ
because of the forward-scattering effect when it lies between us and NGC 6605 θ
the Sun.
Oct. 13 to 21 will be the best time to see what kind of performance the comet
By the 13th we should see a sunward-pointing anti-tail forming. It’s a exhibits as it crosses from eastern Virgo into Serpens and Ophiuchus.
trick of perspective as Earth passes through the comet’s orbital plane on
the 14th, the dust fan edge-on toward us. On this night, casual observers Tsuchinshan-ATLAS’ inner coma. There’s a decent chance to see a
will discover another “comet” with their binoculars: the large globular star shadow channel projected onto the fan of dust. From the 20th
cluster M5. Imagers can nab fainter comet 13P/Olbers in the same field, onward, the Moon rises after the sky is fully dark, maximizing the
quite an uncommon sight! contrast between the tails and the sky. Alas, the comet is fading, yet
Never mind the glow from the Moon; use a telescope to study still visible to the unaided eye from a dark site.

34 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

 LOCATING ASTEROIDS I
A joyous time
I LOVE THE FALL SEASON. Many long, sometimes mild, trans-
parent nights are a gift after those short, summer nights of haze
Group shot and smoky skies.
Main-belt asteroid 39 Laetitia, perhaps some 100 miles wide,
PEGASUS glows at magnitude 9.5 due to reflected sunlight. It won’t present
PISCES
CETUS Markab a simple “spot and run” observation, but as long as you make a
Neptune basic sketch one night by dropping four or five dots into a log-
book circle, the next time you return one of the points will have
Diphda shifted. On the 11th and 12th, it sits inside a quadrangle of stars at
Moon low power, and moves just outside it by the 13th.
Some additional sunlight delight might pass through this
Saturn month as you peer into the eyepiece. For Northern Hemisphere
observers, dots will drift into and then pass out of view if your
AQUARIUS
scope has a drive. These are geostationary satellites — they just
happen to have solar panels reflecting the Sun to you at the per-
Fomalhaut fect angle this month, perhaps reaching 3rd magnitude. Without
10° a drive, the satellites appear stationary while the stars drift across.
Laetitia was named in honor of a minor Roman goddess
Oct. 15, 2 A.M. whose realm was gaiety. So, have some fun out there!
Looking southwest

In mid-October, the Moon stands between Saturn and Neptune. Note that Swimming with satellites
Neptune will need binoculars or a telescope to spot.
N
in front of the disk or become both visible for an hour starting
hidden behind it from time to around 4:23 a.m. EDT. Callisto Oct. 1
Path of Laetitia
time. Here are some — but not is due south of Jupiter on the 5
all — of the month’s events. 15th at 6:30 a.m. EDT, missing 10
The evening of Oct. 2 finds the planet entirely. Io and its E 15
Europa’s shadow crossing the shadow repeat their journey 20
disk of Jupiter, starting around Oct. 23/24, with both visible on 25
CETUS 30
11:48 p.m. EDT and ending at the disk from about 12:37 a.m.
2:18 a.m. EDT (Oct. 3 in all U.S. and 1:48 a.m. EDT. And once
time zones except Pacific). again, you’ll find Callisto due
θ
Ganymede takes many south of Jupiter early on the
1°
minutes to disappear behind evening of the 31st.
Jupiter’s limb the night of Mars rises shortly before Laetitia is moving through a region where passing geostationary
Oct. 8/9 at 1:29 a.m. EDT. It local midnight on Oct. 1 and by satellites may reflect the sunlight into your eyepiece.
reappears exactly two hours 11 p.m. local daylight time on
later. The large moon transits the 31st. The Red Planet tracks
the southern polar region of the eastward across Gemini and techniques before opposition in is quickly affected by twilight, if
planet Oct. 26/27 from moves into Cancer by the 29th. January 2025. it is visible. It crosses into the
10:35 p.m. to 12:40 a.m. EDT It starts the month at magnitude Mars stands high in the evening sky in the second week
(ending after midnight on the 0.5 and brightens to magnitude eastern sky at 4 a.m. local day- of October and quickly increases
East Coast only). The transit is 0.1 by the 31st, standing on that light time; the following fea- its elongation from the Sun.
underway as Jupiter rises in the date 7.5° southeast of Pollux. In tures are visible at that time The comet comes closest to
Mountain time zone and the the hour before dawn, Mars is throughout the month (deter- Earth Oct. 12, at a distance of
latter portion is barely visible an impressive 70° in altitude. mined for the mid-U.S.): Oct. 3, 43.7 million miles. After this, it
from the West Coast. Mars’ disk reaches 9" wide Sinus Meridiani; Oct. 10, Syrtis could reach 1st or 2nd magni-
By contrast, Europa sud- and 89 percent lit by the end of Major and the Hellas Basin; tude and be a lovely object in
denly reappears Oct. 11/12 at October. The Red Planet now Oct. 18, Mare Sirenum; Oct. 26, binoculars.
1:30 a.m. EDT, popping into reveals some of its surface Olympus Mons; Oct. 31, Tharsis
view at the eastern limb near secrets, hidden from Earth for Ridge and Valles Marineris. Martin Ratcliffe is a
the Northern Equatorial Belt. more than a year. Now is the About an hour before sun- planetarium professional with
Oct. 14/15 hosts Io and its time to brush up on your rise, Oct. 1 hosts a fine crescent Evans & Sutherland and enjoys
shadow transiting the disk, with video-capture and processing Moon and possibly Comet observing from Salt Lake City.
Tsuchinshan-ATLAS if it is Alister Ling, who lives in
GET DAILY UPDATES ON YOUR NIGHT SKY AT bright enough. The comet sits Edmonton, Alberta, is a longtime
www.Astronomy.com/skythisweek. 12° to the right of the Moon but watcher of the skies.

WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 35
 2024

Our 14th annual

STAR
PRODUCTS
BY PHIL
HARRINGTON 1 Apertura Dobsonian
Performance Upgrade Kits
These kits may be designed for Apertura

O
nce again, telescopes, but they are suitable for similar-
we’ve scoured style Dobsonians across various brands. The
the astro- kits are available for apertures ranging from
6 to 12 inches, in 2-inch increments. Each
marketplace to find the one features two pieces of flat black flocking
finest, most practical, material, strategically sized to fit perfectly
and most innovative around the primary mirror and opposite the
secondary mirror to reduce stray light and
products for Astronomy
enhance image contrast. The kit includes three
magazine’s Star collimation knobs to replace factory-installed screws (allowing manual adjustment of the
Products, 2024 edition. secondary mirror alignment), and a Phillips head screwdriver. Apertura also includes three
This collection of 35 upgraded primary mirror collimation springs to maintain optimal mirror positioning.
items, in no particular $69.95–$89.95
order, offers a diverse www.highpointscientific.com
selection. From tools
tailored for visual
observing to those
crafted for astrophotog- 2 Apertura Easy Leveler
The Apertura Easy Leveler is a versatile tool designed for effortless and precise leveling
in a variety of applications. While designed originally for the Seestar S50 smartscope, it
raphy, there’s something also can be used for cameras and small telescopes atop any
here for everyone, photographic tripod that uses 3/8"-16 screws. The Easy
whether you’re a novice Leveler employs a three-bubble level indicator and built-
in adjustment knobs for accurate alignment, ensuring
or an expert. that your gear is perfectly straight every time. This
clever device features a compact and lightweight design,
Phil Harrington is a contributing making it easy to transport and install; its intuitive
editor of Astronomy and a operation allows users to level equipment in less than
dedicated equipment collector. 10 minutes.
$46.95
www.highpointscientific.com
36 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024
3 Apertura Roll Easy Kit
for Dobsonian Telescopes
Dobsonian telescope owners know their
instruments can be difficult to move
around due to their size and weight,

5
but the Apertura Roll Easy Kit for Askar 120 APO
Dobsonian Telescopes makes it
simple. The kit includes three
Triplet Air-Spaced Refractor
Askar’s refractor is a precision-crafted telescope designed for discerning astron-
locking casters you attach to
omers and astrophotographers. With its 4.7-inch aperture and apochromatic
the base’s ground board with
triplet objective lens, Askar’s 120 APO delivers stunningly sharp and color-
the included mounting
corrected images. The air-spaced design reduces chromatic aberration to
plates. This lessens
produce sharp, contrasty views of stars, planets, and deep-sky wonders. Its
the work required to
robust construction and high-quality optics make it a reliable instrument for
maneuver the instru-
both visual observation and astrophotography. The included accessories, such
ment over various
as the dual-speed focuser and sturdy mounting rings, enhance usability and
terrains. The
stability. Overall, the Askar 120 APO offers exceptional performance and
durable construc-
value for enthusiasts seeking top-tier optics.
tion ensures sta-
bility and protection $1,499
during movement. www.sharpstar-optics.com
With a straightfor-
ward installation

6
and a secure fit, the Astronomik 1.25" UHC filter
Roll Easy Kit simplifies Astronomik’s filter is a great addition for ama-
the process of transporting your telescope teur astronomers seeking clear, high-contrast views of
to and from observing sites. deep-sky objects. With a 1¼" diameter, it threads into
$219.95 most standard eyepieces. Its Ultra High Contrast
www.highpointscientific.com (UHC) design improves contrast by selectively blocking
light pollution and other unwanted wavelengths while
highlighting nebulae. Constructed with high-quality glass
and multilayer coatings, it ensures minimal light scattering and

4 Energizer
UE30068 Power Bank
The internal batteries in smart telescopes
maximum transmission, preserving image brightness and detail. Easy to
install and compatible with various astrophotography setups, this filter
reveals elusive celestial wonders with remarkable clarity and definition.
and portable tracking mounts only last so €83.19
long. But the Energizer UE30068 Power www.astronomik.com
Bank, a compact powerhouse boasting an
impressive 30,000 mAh capacity, is engi-
neered to keep your equipment charged
while on the move. Featuring dual USB-A
ports and a USB-C Power Delivery port,
it ensures broad compatibility and swift
7 Celestron Origin Intelligent Home Observatory
Celestron has simplified astrophotography further with features like the
patented Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph (RASA) optics and AI-driven
recharging. Its sleek design and compact image processing with Origin. Its fast 6-inch f/2.2 system and Sony IMX178
build are highlighted by an LCD indicator sensor deliver sharp, detailed images. The built-in StarSense technology auto-
for monitoring the power bank’s battery mates setup and alignment in a matter of minutes. With the Origin
level, allowing real-time monitoring of the app, users can easily navigate the night sky and capture
remaining battery capacity. images of celestial objects. It also supports livestreaming
$59.99 through the app, casting to your smart TV, remote
www.energizerpowerpacks.com operation, or scheduled imaging sessions.
A built-in filter drawer provides optional
filters that enhance views and mitigate
light pollution. The system includes a
NexStar Evolution mount and is portable
and easy to assemble, making it ideal for
both beginners and advanced amateurs.
$3,999
www.celestron.com
 8 My Science Shop Sun Globe
This globe of the Sun offers a captivating glimpse into the heart of our solar system. Using
images from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, this globe unveils the Sun’s active corona,
revealing various phenomena like sunspots, prominences, and flares. Each composite image
represents different ultraviolet wavelengths, depicted in shades of red, green, and blue. Crafted
from durable plastic with a single seam, the globe includes a clear acrylic base that can also serve
as a magnifying glass for close-up examination. Offering a unique perspective on solar activity,
this globe is a must-have for space enthusiasts seeking to explore the dynamics of our home star.
$34.95
www.myscienceshop.com

9 Celestron
StarSense Autoguider
Celestron’s SSAG changes the game
10 Daystar’s Universal Solar
Lens Filters (ULFs)
Observing and photographing the dynamic
for visual observers and astrophotog- surface of the Sun is captivating, but safety is
raphers alike. Its patented technology paramount in order to shield eyes and equipment
swiftly aligns your telescope in about from harmful radiation. Daystar’s Universal Solar Lens
three minutes, eliminating the need Filters (ULFs) offer an affordable entry into solar astronomy.
for manual alignment. This accessory They are available in six sizes for cameras, binoculars, and
enhances pointing accuracy and sim- small telescopes, and will fit apertures up to 1.9 inches to 4.2 inches
plifies autoguiding for sharp long- (50 mm to 109 mm). The filters come mounted in cardboard holders
exposure images. With its onboard that fold up like cups to slide over the front of instruments. All meet
computer and sensitive CMOS sensor, ISO 12312–2 transmission standards. The ULFs produce orange-tinted views
it delivers exceptional guiding accu- of the photosphere, allowing observers to follow the ever-changing sunspots.
racy. The autoguider is compatible $12.95–$39.95
with newer Celestron mounts, offer- www.daystarfilters.com
ing flexibility in control options via
PC or hand control. Advanced fea-

11
tures like dithering and comet guid- Pegasus Astro SmartEye
ing to enhance imaging capabilities It may look like a typical 2-inch eyepiece at first, but
are expected to be available with the Pegasus Astro SmartEye is anything but typical. Inside,
future firmware updates. a Sony IMX533 color CMOS sensor collects light from
$799.95 whatever a telescope is aimed toward. Live stacking technol-
www.celestron.com ogy then generates a high-resolution 90° apparent-field-of-
view display at the top of the eyepiece for viewing as you
would a normal eyepiece. The SmartEye effectively turns a
small telescope into a larger instrument by delivering
vibrant images of targets that otherwise would be too faint
to see with conventional eyepieces. It also can be used as an
imager to record images and save to share with others later.
$1,500
www.pegasusastro.com

12 DWARF 3 Smart Telescope by DwarfLab

DwarfLab’s latest creation, DWARF 3, is a compact dual-lens device
with a unique folded optical design. It includes apochromatic lenses and a SONY
IMX678 Starvis 2 sensor for sharp imaging. Available in a Classic and Deluxe
edition, both feature an effortless setup via a smartphone app, with autofocus
capability and customizable settings. The telescope offers options for JPEG,
PNG, and raw FITS or TIFF file formats, exposure settings, and filter choices.
It stacks images automatically and has a range of about 33 feet (10 meters) for
remote operation. Despite its small aperture, it delivers impressive results for
deep-sky imaging.
$469.00
www.dwarflab.com
38 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024
 14 Explore Scientific Galileoscope
Refractor STEM Kit with Solar Filter
The Galileoscope Refractor STEM Kit containing a solar filter
merges learning with excitement, offering a dynamic approach
to solar observation. This educational kit combines the
Galileoscope — a 50mm-diameter, 500mm-focal-length
refractor — with a specially designed solar filter. With the filter
securely attached, users can safely observe the Sun’s changing
sunspots with remarkable clarity. The kit’s compact design and
straightforward assembly make it accessible to novices, foster-
ing a deeper understanding of our home star. Whether for

13 Explore Scientific
FirstLight 152mm
Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope
classroom use or personal exploration, the Galileoscope with
Solar Filter delivers an engaging and enlightening experience
that ignites curiosity about the wonders of the cosmos. A
The 152mm Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope is a high- tripod is available separately.
quality instrument boasting a generous 6-inch aperture $83.95
and a sophisticated Maksutov-Cassegrain optical design. www.explorescientific.com
This telescope delivers exceptional views of celestial
objects with sharp, contrast-rich images. The EXOS2-GT
equatorial mount supplies smooth and precise tracking
for capturing stunning astronomical photographs or con-
ducting detailed observations. The instrument’s light-
weight yet sturdy construction makes it ideal for both
backyard stargazing and on-the-go observing sessions. It
is as great for exploring distant galaxies as it is for viewing
planetary surfaces.
$749.99
www.explorescientific.com

15 iOptron HAE69 Dual AZ/EQ SWG Mount

iOptron’s mount is a robust and versatile equatorial mount designed to
meet the needs of both astrophotographers and observers. With its high pay-
load capacity and precise tracking capabilities, it provides a stable platform for
capturing stunning images of celestial objects. Equipped with an advanced
stepper-motor drive system and built-in GPS, the HAE69 ensures accurate
alignment and automatic location of celestial targets. Its intuitive hand control-
ler and integrated Wi-Fi module enable convenient remote operation and
firmware updates. Whether imaging deep-sky wonders or planetary details,
the iOptron HAE69 mount offers exceptional performance and reliability,
making it a top choice for serious astrophotography enthusiasts.
$3,998
www.ioptron.com

16 Jackery 500Wh Portable Power Station

The Jackery 500Wh Portable Power Station is a reliable power source
for all-night viewing sessions. With a 500-watt-hour lithium-ion battery, it pro-
vides ample energy to power all of your devices, such as a telescope mount,
phone, laptop, camera, or any other piece of technology. Its compact and light-
weight design makes it effortless to transport, while multiple charging options
(including one AC outlet, two DC ports, one carport, and three USB-A ports)
offer flexibility for different devices. The integrated LCD screen provides real-
time battery status updates, ensuring peace of mind during extended outings.
$499
www.jackery.com
WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 39
17 MallinCam
SkyRaider
DS10c
19 My Science Shop Mercury Globe
Experience Mercury like never before with the My
Science Shop Mercury Globe. This vibrant 6-inch globe show-
MallinCam has created a cases the planet’s surface features in enhanced color. Crafted
revolutionary deep-sky video using imagery from NASA’s
camera. Thanks to innovative MESSENGER spacecraft, this
technology, it captures stun- detailed globe highlights
ning live views of celestial 211 planetary landmarks,
objects in vibrant color and including Antoniadi
detail. The DS10c features a Dorsa and Raphael
sensitive Sony IMX294 class 1 Crater. Perfect for
CMOS Industrial sensor and astronomy enthusiasts,
advanced image processing, delivering high-resolution it’s made of durable
images of galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters in real time. plastic with a single
Its compact and lightweight design makes it easy to seam between hemi-
integrate with telescopes of all sizes, while the included spheres, accompanied by
software provides intuitive control and customization a clear acrylic display base
options. Whether for public outreach or personal explora- doubling as a magnifying
tion, the MallinCam SkyRaider DS10c offers a wonderful glass. Each globe comes with
visual experience under the night sky. an informational flyer, making it
$949.99 an indispensable addition to any
www.mallincam.net space enthusiast’s collection. Dive
into the mysteries of Mercury with this stunning
depiction, offering both educational value and aesthetic appeal.
$34.95

18 Celestron SkyMaster Pro ED

20x80 Porro Binoculars
Celestron’s new and powerful binoculars offer superior
www.myscienceshop.com

optics for amateur astronomers. Featuring BaK-4 Porro

prisms, ED glass, and XLT coatings, they provide clear,
vivid images with minimal chromatic aberration. Their
waterproof and nitrogen-filled design ensures performance
in all weather conditions. Retractable eyecups, a diopter
adjustment range of ±3, and tripod adaptability offer
comfort and versatility for users. The binoculars accept
standard 1¼" eyepiece filters, which can help lessen light
pollution while enhancing nebulae. Celestron’s high-quality
ED glass and XLT coatings improve light transmission,
delivering brighter, sharper images, especially in low-light
conditions. Their field of view encompasses 3.4°, while eye
relief is a reasonable 15.4mm.
$429.95
www.celestron.com
20 Masuyama Series 53°
Ortho Plössl Eyepieces
If you are looking for a do-it-all line of oculars, then Masuyama
Series 53° Ortho Plössl Eyepieces are a great choice. Available in
focal lengths ranging from 5mm to 30mm, these eyepieces use
five fully multicoated elements arranged in three groups to cre-
ate a 53° apparent field of view. By minimizing internal reflec-
tions and maximizing light transmission, each member in the
series promises crisp views of the Moon, planets, and deep-sky
objects. Whether you’re a casual stargazer or a seasoned ama-
teur, the Masuyama Series 53° Ortho Plössl eyepieces deliver
exceptional performance and represent excellent value for the
investment.
$179–$189
www.astrohutech.store
40 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024
 23 Bresser Slider
Binocular Mount
with Tripod
For owners of large and heavy binoculars, the Bresser
Slider Binocular Mount with Tripod offers stability and
reduces fatigue during long nights under the stars. The mount
includes adjustable rails, a cardanic mount head, and slip
couplings, which allow for flexible positioning without

21 OCOOPA UT2S Mini touching the binoculars themselves. Wheelchair users

may find it particularly convenient compared to tradi-
5200mAh Hand Warmers tional tripods because its patented design ensures
OCOOPA’s hand warmers boast a unique
smooth adjustments with minimal effort, supported
dual-piece design for extended use during
by precise bearings and adjustable resistance. It
cold nights. Just put one half in each side
supports binoculars up to 7.7 pounds (3.5 kg) and
pocket for up to six hours of warmth.
can be paired with Bresser’s own stainless-steel tripod or any heavy-
With three adjustable heat levels, users
duty tripod with a ⅜-inch central shaft, using the included adapter.
can tailor their comfort to suit different
weather conditions. Rechargeable in just €999
90 minutes, the internal battery also serves
www.bresser.de
as a power bank for external devices,
enhancing their versatility. Whether
for winter observing or just everyday
convenience, these hand warmers deliver
reliable warmth and practicality, making
24 My Science Shop
Cosmic Cliffs
Button-Down Shirt
them an indispensable companion in
The Cosmic Cliffs Button-Down Shirt is
colder climates.
a celestial-inspired fashion statement for
$31.99 astronomy enthusiasts. Featuring a cap-
www.ocoopa.com tivating print of the James Webb Space
Telescope’s famous “Cosmic Cliffs”
portrait, it brings the wonders of the

22 Pegasus Astro
Indigo Filter Wheel
Another inventive tool is the Pegasus Astro
universe to your wardrobe. Whether
you’re an astronomy aficionado or
simply appreciate cosmic beauty, this soft
Indigo Filter Wheel, a compact and versa- and breathable button-down is a stylish
tile accessory designed for astrophotogra- way — with a touch of sophistication —
phers. This ingenious accessory facilitates to express your passion for the cosmos at
effortless switching between seven different casual outings or scientific gatherings.
filters during imaging sessions. With its $34.99
robust build, the wheel accommodates up www.myscienceshop.com
to seven 2" mounted or 50mm unmounted
filters, offering diverse options for captur-
ing breathtaking images. Its motorized
mechanism guarantees accurate and
dependable filter changes, while
advanced functionalities
25 Reginato Supermaser 20" f/3.4 Dobsonian
This 20-inch Dobsonian is a portable altazimuth telescope crafted
entirely of metal. It features a quick-release truss system, allowing it to
ensure smooth integra- be easily disassembled into three parts. Despite its size, the heaviest
tion with leading component of the 20-inch model weighs only 46 pounds (21 kg),
astrophotography making it manageable for one person. Its steel frame and
software. Whether double-truss design guarantee exceptional stability and
capturing deep-sky minimal vibration during use. Optics remain collimated
phenomena or intricate even during transportation and assembly. And assem-
planetary features, the bly is straightforward, without the need for tools.
Indigo Filter Wheel With high-quality optics, the Supermaser offers
provides convenience and excellent performance for both deep-sky and
versatility, catering to astrophotographers planetary observations.
at every skill level. €13,000
$459.00 www.reginatotelescopes.com
www.pegasusastro.com
WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 41
26 Sky-Watcher
CQ350 Pro
This recent addition to Sky-Watcher USA’s fam-
28 Small Steps and Giant
Leaps Playing Cards
These ingenious playing cards by graphic
ily of German equatorial mounts designer James Round celebrate humanity‘s
optimizes weight distribution over journey into space with stunning artwork
the mount’s center of gravity for and informative details. Each card features
precise slewing and guiding. iconic missions, astronauts, and spacecraft,
Weighing 53 pounds (24 kg), it capturing the spirit of exploration. The deck
supports up to 77 pounds (35 kg) serves as both a captivating collectible and an
of instrument load. Its dual- educational tool, offering insights into space history
format saddle fits both with every hand dealt. The high quality of the cards promises durability
Losmandy-D and Vixen-style for countless games and displays. These playing cards are a must-have for
mounting bars. Integrated space enthusiasts, combining entertainment with a tribute to humankind’s
cable management prevents greatest achievements.
entanglement, with USB £20
3.0 and power ports www.jamesrounddesign.com
provided. Controlled via
Sky-Watcher’s SynScan

29
GoTo hand paddle, it offers
QHY5III715C
a database of over 42,000
The QHY5III715C color camera is an advanced 8.4-megapixel
objects. Each mount comes
planetary imaging and autoguiding camera by QHYCCD. Featuring a
with two 22-pound (10 kg)
Sony IMX715 CMOS sensor, it boasts a high spatial resolution of less
counterweights. The CQ350 Pro
than 1 arcsecond per pixel, ideal for planetary imaging. Operating at up
can be paired with a heavy-duty steel field
to 42 frames per second (fps) in 8-bit mode or 23 fps in 16-bit mode, its
tripod and an illuminated polar-alignment
512MB DDR3 image buffer ensures no frame drops. Designed for 1¼"
scope, both sold separately.
focusers with minimal back focus
$3,500 requirements, it doubles as an
www.skywatcherusa.com autoguider with standard ST-4
compatibility. Accessories
include USB 3.2 Type-C and

27 Vixen XY Red Dot

Finder II
Vixen offers an easy way to aim telescopes accu-
guiding cables, filter adapters,
and a focus locking ring.
$199
rately. With its XY axis adjustment, the finder www.qhyccd.com
provides accurate alignment, letting users swiftly
locate celestial quarries. Its red-dot reticle aids in
pinpointing targets against the night sky without

30
ruining night vision. The compact design The Dobson Factory Ultralight 16"
attaches easily to most telescopes. The finder’s
sturdy construction promises durability, while
Dobsonian Telescope
This Dobsonian telescope combines portability
its lightweight nature adds convenience during
with quality mirrors from Lightholder Optics,
transport and use. Overall, the Vixen XY Red
making it a stargazer’s dream. Weighing just
Dot Finder II is a reliable accessory for stargaz-
under 50 pounds (22.7 kg), it’s remarkably
ers who prefer to find targets by eye, the
easy to transport compared to traditional tele-
old-fashioned way.
scopes of similar aperture. The 16-inch primary
$84.99 mirror gathers an impressive amount of light,
global.vixen.co.jp/en revealing intricate details of celestial objects with
clarity. Its Dobsonian mount provides smooth,
effortless movement, allowing for precise navigation
of the night sky. The sturdy construction and quality
materials inspire confidence in its durability. If you’re
a seasoned deep-sky observer, this telescope offers
breathtaking views and exceptional performance —
a true gem for any stargazing adventure.
$2,695
www.sites.google.com/site/
thedobsonfactory3
42 ASTRONOMY
31 TAKAHASHI TPL
Plössl Eyepieces
TAKAHASHI’s Plössl Eyepieces are precision-
34 Stargeezer “Just One
More Telescope” Sweatshirt
Stargeezer provides a cozy garment that captures
crafted optics that will improve your observing the passion of amateur astronomers. Crafted
experience. Featuring a four-element design from soft, high-quality fabric, it offers comfort
with high-quality glass, they deliver exceptional during chilly stargazing nights or casual outings.
clarity, contrast, and edge-to-edge sharpness. Its humorous yet relatable slogan, “Just One
With focal lengths ranging from 6mm to 50mm, More Telescope,” will resonate with telescope
they cater to a variety of magnification needs for enthusiasts.
both deep-sky and planetary observation. The $39.95
ergonomic design makes for comfortable view- www.stargeezerstuff.com
ing sessions, even during long all-nighters.
While they come at a premium price, their
performance justifies the investment for serious
astronomers. Overall, these eyepieces are a testament to Takahashi’s
long history of commitment to optical excellence.
$185–$540
www.takahashiamerica.com

32 Starfield EDT115 f/7 Triplet APO

Starfield Optics has made this triplet APO ideal for wide-
field imaging thanks to its triple-element multicoated objective lens
with extra-low dispersion (ED) glass optics and robust GÉAR series
accessories. It includes a 2.5" rack-and-pinion dual-speed focuser for
precise focusing and a retractable dew shield. Thanks to the standard
camera angle rotator, it’s easy to frame objects without flex or focus
position changes. Weighing 15 pounds (6.8 kg), the EDT115 is com-
patible with Vixen-style dovetail plates. It also includes heavy-duty
35 ZWO Seestar S50
Smart Telescope
ZWO’s Seestar S50 combines portability and
rings and a handle designed to mount accessories. A soft case with advanced features for effortless astrophotography
die-cut foam and an optical test report are also provided. at an exceptionally low price. Its compact design
$2,212 houses a high-quality 2-inch f/5 three-element
www.starfieldoptics.com apochromatic objective and a
built-in color camera with a
Sony IMX462 sensor. In opera-

33 UniStellar Odyssey
The Odyssey revolutionizes smart
telescopes by blending advanced tech and
tion, the system captures mul-
tiple 10-second exposures,
which it then automatically
a user-friendly design. Its compact form stacks; you can view the result
incorporates a 3.35-inch f/3.9 Newtonian on your phone or tablet as it
reflector with a 4.1-megapixel imaging sensor. The takes shape. Even after a few
combination lets users take wonderful images of the exposures, the chosen target
cosmos with ease. Equipped with automated tracking slowly begins to evolve, a very
and object identification, the Odyssey effortlessly guides cool sight. The Seestar S50 is
viewers to celestial objects from the Moon to far-off an ideal telescope for a budding
galaxies. The telescope’s app interface provides an astrophotographer, whether as
immersive experience, offering educational content a stepping stone to higher-
and community engagement. While its price may end gear or as an end goal
be steep for beginners, the Odyssey’s performance in itself.
validates the investment for enthusiasts who seek $499
convenience and breathtaking results. www.zwoastro.com
$2,499
www.unistellar.com WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 43
 BLACK HOLE
BUGALOO
JWST discovers a pair of black holes merging in the early universe.
BY RICHARD TALCOTT

W
WHEN THE JAMES WEBB SPACE The system, known as ZS7, existed Magellanic Cloud. JWST also found
TELESCOPE (JWST) first opened its when the universe was just 740 million three fainter galaxies belonging to
eye to the universe in 2022, astronomers years old. This makes the galaxy pair the ZS7 system, though they show no
looked forward to gaining a fresh per- both the most distant and the youngest signs of activity.
spective on galaxy evolution. The power- known merging black holes.
ful observatory has not disappointed. Hannah Übler of the University of DYNAMIC UNIVERSE
Perhaps the biggest surprise so far has Cambridge in England led the team that “Our findings suggest that merging is
been the telescope’s discovery of a large made the discovery. The researchers ana- an important route through which black
population of active galaxies in the first lyzed the system’s spectrum and found holes can rapidly grow, even at cosmic
billion years of cosmic history. one source exhibits a broad line of neu- dawn,” said Übler in a press release.
Active galaxies represent nature’s way tral hydrogen, identifying it as a so- The results will help scientists better
of turning darkness into light. At the called Seyfert 1 galaxy. This radiation understand the role these behemoths
heart of each of these energetic systems comes from a region close to its black play in how galaxies evolved in the
lies a black hole with a mass millions or hole where high-density gas moves fast. chaotic early universe.
billions of times that of the Sun. The The team estimates this black hole con- The finding also will open up
beast’s strong gravity pulls in nearby gas, tains about 50 million solar masses, an exciting new dimension in multi-
creating an accretion disk that can reach making it more than 10 times larger than messenger astronomy. Merging black
a temperature of millions of degrees. the Milky Way’s central black hole. holes generate gravitational waves, and
This hot gas produces the intense radia- The second source displays narrow systems like ZS7 should be visible to
tion we see coming from these galaxies. lines of doubly ionized oxygen, which future detectors such as the Laser
classifies it as a Seyfert 2 galaxy. These Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA),
RECORD-SETTING DUO narrow lines originate from hotter gas currently scheduled for a 2035 launch.
Now astronomers have detected an ongo- located farther from its black hole. “Webb’s results are telling us that lighter
ing merger between two extraordinarily JWST’s exquisite resolution places this systems detectable by LISA should be
distant active galaxies and their central black hole just 2,000 light-years from its far more frequent than previously
black holes. The pair is so remote that neighbor. Dense gas obscures the black assumed,” says LISA Lead Project
the universe’s expansion has shifted its hole, though the team suspects it weighs Scientist Nora Luetzgendorf of the
light far to the red. The radiation JWST about the same as the other. European Space Agency. “This is just
records has a wavelength 8.15 times lon- Both galaxies are rather small by the tip of the iceberg.”
ger than when it left the galaxies. This Milky Way standards. They likely hold
means all the visible light they emit ends several billion solar masses of material, Contributing Editor Richard Talcott wrote
up in the infrared part of the spectrum roughly equivalent to the mass of our about JWST’s observations of globular star
where the space telescope operates. galaxy’s largest satellite, the Large cluster NGC 6440 in the September issue.

44 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

ABOVE: This exquisitely rich field in the
constellation Sextans harbors hundreds
of distant galaxies and a smattering of
Milky Way foreground stars. Two active
galaxies at the center of the image are
in the process of merging. ALL IMAGES: ESA/
WEBB, NASA, CSA, J. DUNLOP, D. MAGEE, P.G. PÉREZ-GONZÁLEZ,
H. ÜBLER, R. MAIOLINO, ET. AL.

FAR LEFT AND LEFT: Zeroing in on

the ZS7 system reveals two merging
galaxies — a bright Seyfert 2 at center
and a dimmer Seyfert 1 to its immediate
upper right. They and their central black
holes lie 2,000 light-years apart.

WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 45
 WE TEST

STARIZONA’S
NEXUS COMA
CORRECTOR
This accessory boosts fast Newtonian
astrographs with superb flattening to the edges
of your field. STORY AND IMAGES BY CHRIS SCHUR

AFFORDABLE FAST NEWTONIAN ASTROGRAPHS are

game changers for astrophotographers. Most of these instruments
have a focal ratio in the vicinity of f/4, allowing them to capture
light from deep-sky objects more than six times faster than the
f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes that dominate the market.
But with that faster speed comes a huge corrector: the Starizona Nexus 0.75x
problem: a curved focal plane and severe Newtonian Focal Reducer/Coma
coma, making images taken with such Corrector. As implied by the name, rather
instruments sharp in the center and than slowing the telescope — as typical This shot of the
Pleiades (M45) — which
blurry around the edges. To combat this, coma correctors do — the Nexus comprises two hours of
manufacturers offer various Newtonian addresses coma while also reducing the integration time taken
coma correctors, designed to alleviate (to focal ratio for an even faster scope. with a 10-inch scope,
Atik 16200 CCD, and
varying degrees) this optical defect and Starizona’s Nexus 0.75x
allow users to fill the full frame of their Correcting coma Newtonian Focal
Reducer/Coma
CCD or CMOS cameras with sharp stars. Without correction, fast parabolic mir- Corrector — displays
However, the effectiveness of this correc- rors produce images that are sharp only sharp details out to
tion varies among designs, with some in the center and degrade rapidly as you the edges.

performing much better than others. move off-axis. This isn’t due to a bad or
Here, I evaluate a new type of coma defective mirror, but is inherent in the

46 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

Newtonian optical design. The faster focal point — typically 2.2 inches Baader Planetarium Multi-Purpose
the mirror, the more quickly the image (55 millimeters) in front of the sensor Coma Corrector (MPCC). In my experi-
degrades. For an f/4 or f/5 mirror, this — can flatten out and turn those bird- ence with several f/3.6 to f/4 Newtonian
equates to sharp stars only in the central shaped stars in the corners into sharp, astrographs, each of these works reason-
half of the field for a full-frame sensor, round points again. ably well; however, there are drawbacks
or about three-quarters of the frame for Over the past decade, two designs to each design. While these correctors
a common APS-C-sized chip. have dominated the market for this pur- create mostly sharp fields, both still show
Inserting a complex lens system pose. The first was Tele Vue Optics’ a tiny amount of residual coma in the
(a coma corrector) just before the Paracorr, followed more recently by the corners of frames. Additionally, both the

WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 47
 ABOVE: The Nexus coma
corrector (to the left of the
Paracorr and the first version of the seen the incredible stars this corrector box) comes with a metal
Baader MPCC magnify the image in produces, you, too, will be convinced. cap for its 48mm threaded
camera end and a plastic
the process of flattening it, increasing I spent the better part of a year evalu- cap for the lens end. All
the focal length and f-number, thereby ating this product with a variety of parts are packaged in a
custom, foam-lined box.
slowing the scope. instruments under many different sky
The newer Baader MPCC Mark II and conditions, from suburban Bortle 6 to FAR LEFT: The author
Mark III have 1x magnification, so as to world-class Bortle 1 dark skies. The installs an Atik 16200 CCD
(at the right of image) with
not change the field of view or focal ratio product performed beyond all expecta- the Nexus coma corrector
of your telescope. This is a big advantage, tions and is now a permanent resident (middle) attached into the
focuser of his scope (at
as a faster speed is better for dim, diffuse in my astroimaging toolbox. left) for imaging.
deep-sky nebulae and galaxies. And
although the Paracorr’s small 1.2x mag-
nification is insignificant compared to
other limiting factors, such as skyglow or
the variable quality of the night sky, the
idea of putting in the optical path any-
thing that slows down the telescope’s
speed can be a bit unnerving.
But now, we have a third choice for
coma correction, one that was unavail-
able only a few years ago: the Nexus
from Starizona.
Not only does this
corrector produce The Nexus not only
corrects coma, it also
pinpoint stars all increases field of view
the way to the cor- and telescope speed.
ners with an f/4 This intricately detailed
single frame of the
telescope, its 0.75x Rosette Nebula, taken
reduction actually with the Nexus and
Atik 16200 CCD on the
increases your field author’s 10-inch scope,
by 25 percent and has an exposure time of
only 5 minutes. The
makes your scope resulting field of view
nearly two times is more than 2°.
faster, turning it
into an f/3! The
speed increase and larger field alone
were enough to convince me that this
is a superior product. And after you’ve

48 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

Field testing
The quality of the machining and fit
and finish of the Nexus are impressive.
Even the black box the Nexus comes in
is lined with form-fitted foam and gives
the impression of a high-quality product.
Starizona provides a metal screw-on cap
for the 48mm threaded camera end of
the Nexus and a black ABS plastic cover
for the lens end.
The barrel of the Nexus is quite long
compared to competing products. This
becomes apparent
when inserting the
camera and corrector All four corners of this
image of M45 show
assembly into the sharp stars, thanks to
drawtube of the tele- the incorporation of
the Nexus coma
scope. What I found corrector into the
surprising is that even imaging assembly.
with the corrector
installed, the focal
point on the drawtube is essentially the
same. This is an impressive feat of optical
engineering.
I tested the Nexus coma corrector
with two different Newtonian astro-
graphs: a GSO 8-inch f/3.9 and a 10-inch
f/3.9. Both are permanently mounted in
roll-off roof observatories under moder-
ately dark to pitch-black sky conditions. I
also tested the Nexus with two different
cameras: a ZWO ASI071MC Pro APS-C
color CMOS (26mm diagonal) and an
Atik 16200 monochrome camera with a focus. While using both the Paracorr and some of the most breathtaking deep-sky
larger APS-H sensor (35mm diagonal). MPCC, it had become habit to refocus images I had ever produced. My mind
I used standard off-the-shelf spacers whenever switching RGB filters, mainly was made up: This would be my primary
from ZWO to get the required 55mm because the blue filter focus was so dif- imaging setup for the immediate future!
backspacing with the ASI071MC Pro, ferent from the red and green. This is not
while the Atik 16200 and integrated filter the case with the Nexus! All three filters Superb performance
wheel required a custom spacer from were so close to focus that I didn’t touch The Nexus 0.75x Newtonian Focal
www.preciseparts.com. The resulting the focus knob at all once the shot was Reducer/Coma Corrector is a well-built
focal ratio of the Nexus with these two focused for white light. and superbly corrected lens. Testing
instruments became a blistering f/2.9. The speed increase was immediately with f/3.6 to f/4 Newtonian astrographs
With both cameras, the first test noticeable on the first images as well. indicates superior performance and
images that came up on the computer Even a five-minute subframe showed speed compared with similar products
screen were somewhat of a shock. Stars incredible detail and faint nebulosity that have been on the market longer.
in the corners were every bit as sharp as never visible with competing correctors If you’re currently using a fast
in the center of the frame. I had never in such a short exposure. The larger field Newtonian for your astroimaging, con-
seen such perfection in my images. of view was very similar to what I get sider adding this product to your optical
Further surprising me, the Atik mono- with my Stellarvue SV80 refractor with arsenal. Although it is a bit costly com-
chrome camera was able to capture sharp its coma corrector, yet with much pared to some competing products, it
stars right to the corners, even with the sharper stars, higher overall resolution, will make achieving world-class results
large-format chip. This means Starizona’s and absolutely no chromatic aberrations. with your imaging setup routine.
claim of 28mm coverage for correction is There was some noticeable light falloff
definitely on the conservative end. in the extreme corners; however, using a Chris Schur is a retired mechatronics
My final test was to see whether all flat from an LED panel took care of that engineer living in Payson, Arizona, who uses
colors in the filter wheel in the mono- without any problems. Taking the nor- his engineering knowledge to continually
chrome camera would come to the same mal one- to two-hour sets resulted in improve the quality of his astroimages.

WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 49
 OBSERVING BASICS

Your first applies. Nearly all manufacturers’ listed capacities

account for counterweights, so don’t worry about add-
ing those into your weight calculation.

astroimaging rig In my opinion, the iOptron CEM40 is an excellent

place to start if you want to get serious about astropho-
tography. It is small and lightweight with a payload
These recommendations will give you a capable capacity of 40 pounds (18 kg), and has excellent long-
setup with plenty of room to grow. exposure tracking when used with an autoguider.
Now, we come to the telescope itself. I highly recom-
Getting started mend starting with a small refractor, with an aperture
in astrophotog- in the 60mm to 90mm range. Short focal lengths
raphy can be (400–700mm) and relatively fast focal ratios (f/5 or f/6)
daunting. With so many make them very forgiving of tracking errors. This
different telescopes, cam- means you can start imaging without the complication
eras, and mounts and all of autoguiding, while still gathering enough light to
their variations, where do make a nice image. Refractors range vastly in quality
you start? and price; you can do reasonably well with some dou-
The first piece of equip- blets but will get less chromatic aberration (blue halos
ment you should choose is around stars) with a triplet or apochromatic telescope.
a mount, the mechanical I’ve been impressed with the Astro-Tech AT72ED that
base that the telescope I picked up last year from a friend (the newer AT72EDII
attaches to. For astropho- retails for $519), and a lot of people I know love their
tography, the mount must William Optics refractors; their apochromatic
be motorized, and ideally Zenithstar line ranges from around $600 to $1,000.
computer-controllable. Finally, the camera. For the beginning astrophotog-
This might sound crazy, rapher, a one-shot-color (OSC) camera is the way to go.
but the quality of the You can also start simply with a DSLR, preferably a
mount is more important midgrade computer-controllable type, but you will get
The author captured
the Rosette Nebula than the quality of the telescope! Even the best quadruplet better results and have more functionality with a cooled
under Bortle 2 skies refractor won’t produce good images if the stars are astrophotography camera. While monochrome cam-
with a ZWO streaked from poor tracking. eras deliver images with higher resolution and signal-
ASI2600MC Pro
camera on an While it is possible to do astrophotography to-noise ratios, the added complication and
Astro-Tech 72ED on an altitude-azimuth (alt-az) mount, they cost of four filters (luminance, red, green,
refractor atop an
iOptron CEM40 mount.
are limited; an equatorial mount will serve The quality and blue) and a filter wheel, as well as the
This image comprises you much better. Equatorial mounts are of the mount additional image processing required, make
104 three-minute aligned with the celestial pole so that only the them a difficult place to start.
exposures. MOLLY WAKELING is more
right ascension axis is tracking the sky, while A cooled OSC camera will deliver excel-
the declination axis is only used for small
important lent images and can be used with both multi-
corrections. To get the best use out of a than the narrowband and light pollution filters,
mount, it should be able to communicate quality of the which are especially helpful when imaging
with a computer, usually via USB, so that telescope! from the city. I love my ZWO ASI2600MC
software can command it where to slew and Pro ($1,499) and have also gotten nice images
send fine correction commands using a pro- from my ZWO ASI294MC Pro ($999). Be
cess called autoguiding. sure to use a luminance or UV/IR-cut filter with an OSC
Expect to spend at least $2,000 on a mount with camera on a refractor to avoid UV/IR halos.
reasonable payload capacity — I recommend at least In the end, start with anything you already have and
25 pounds (11.3 kilograms) for use with small refrac- know how to use. I took my first astroimages with an
tors. Don’t forget about the weight of the other gear you 8-inch f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain on an alt-az mount
may eventually use, such as the camera, focuser, filter with a DSLR, which is about the hardest possible place
BY MOLLY WAKELING wheel, and guide scope, as well as the dovetail and rings to start! But a high-quality equatorial tracking mount,
Molly is an avid
or clamps you use to attach the telescope. a small refractor, and a OSC camera are an excellent
astrophotographer
active in STEM These days, the listed payload capacity of many way to get into astrophotography.
outreach. She has mounts is its true astrophotography capacity; for some
a Ph.D. in nuclear manufacturers and for older mounts, a rule of thumb BROWSE THE “OBSERVING BASICS” ARCHIVE AT
engineering. of using 50 percent of the capacity for astrophotography www.Astronomy.com/author/molly-wakeling

50 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

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WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 51
 ASK ASTRO Astronomy’s experts from around the globe answer your cosmic questions.

NASA’s Cassini
spacecraft took this
detailed image of
Saturn and its rings in
August 2009. Cassini
helped scientists
Saturn’s Most planetary scientists once thought Saturn’s rings
were as old as Saturn itself: 4.5 billion years. But the
determine that the
rings are relatively
young — and also
short-lived —
disappearing Cassini spacecraft, which orbited Saturn from 2004 to
2017, accumulated evidence that the rings are relatively
recent. If early dinosaurs were smart enough to build
particularly with
measurements taken
during its Grand
Finale, threading the
rings telescopes, they might not have seen rings around
Saturn at all. Cassini’s findings also suggest the rings
are short-lived, with a lifetime of hundreds of millions
gap between planet of years.
and rings. NASA/JPL-
CALTECH/SPACE SCIENCE
INSTITUTE
QI DO ASTRONOMERS HAVE ANY
ESTIMATES OF WHEN SATURN’S
RINGS WILL DISAPPEAR?
Astronomers arrived at these estimates based on
several measurements.
Cassini ended its mission in 2017 with its Grand
Doug Kaupa
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Finale, 22 plunging orbits in which the craft swooped
between Saturn and its innermost ring, the D ring. This

AI All four of the solar system’s giant planets have

ring systems. The rings of Jupiter, Uranus,
and Neptune are dark, sparse belts or ringlets. Only
allowed Cassini to determine the rings’ mass by com-
paring the gravitational pull on the spacecraft during
its close-in orbits to the pull it experienced when orbit-
Saturn’s massive main rings are dense and bright, ing farther out, exterior to the rings. The mass of the
made of almost pure water-ice particles ranging in size ring system is comparable to but less than that of
from dust and pebbles to boulders. You can visualize Saturn’s innermost icy moon Mimas.
Saturn’s rings as an enormous swarm of snowballs and At the same time, Cassini observed material flowing
snowman-sized pieces orbiting the planet. from the rings into Saturn at many tons per second.

52 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

Combining this mass loss with the stars and planetary nebulae — break
rings’ current mass suggests a remain- this rule. The reason is their sizes. SEND US YOUR
ing ring lifetime (or mass-loss age)
CASSINI’S Stars are point sources, and
of only a few hundred million years. FINDINGS SUGGEST planetaries typically measure less
QUESTIONS
Send your
Cassini also determined the rings’ than 1' across. (As a comparison, the
so-called pollution age. During its
SATURN’S RINGS Full Moon spans 31'.) So although
astronomy questions
via email to askastro
13 years orbiting Saturn, Cassini’s ARE SHORT-LIVED, these objects are not all that bright, @astronomy.com.
onboard dust detector measured the their light is concentrated in a small Be sure to tell us
impact rate of interplanetary microme-
WITH A LIFETIME area. In astronomical terms, their your full name and
teoroids. These dust particles are OF HUNDREDS surface brightnesses are high. The where you live.
Unfortunately, we
pulled in by Saturn’s gravity and strike table below provides 10 colorful
the ring particles. Interplanetary dust
OF MILLIONS objects to observe.
cannot answer all
questions submitted.
is mostly dark, non-icy stuff. Over time OF YEARS. Michael E. Bakich
Associate Editor
then, the rings should grow polluted.
How fast they darken depends on the
dust influx rate and the ring mass. Based on Cassini’s
measurements, researchers determined that this influx
would darken the rings to the current observed level in
at most a few hundred million years. This indepen-
dently determined pollution age agrees with the mass-
loss age.
The mass deposited in the rings by these meteoroids
also reduces the orbital angular momentum of the ring
particles and causes them to drift inward. Such dust
impacts can additionally exert a negative torque.
Furthermore, micrometeoroids hit at tens of miles per
second. This is like setting off a firecracker in a snow-
ball. Debris gets thrown around the rings, and some
can even rain down directly onto Saturn. The combina-
tion of all these dynamical effects produces inflow at
rates comparable to the inflow rate Cassini observed.
So, the conclusion is that Saturn’s rings are not more
The Blue Snowball
than a few hundred million years old and will not exist (NGC 7662, at center)
as bright, dense rings for more than another few hun- often shows its
dred million years. What will they become? They may eponymous color
through a telescope
persist for billions of years, looking more like the sparse, eyepiece. STEPHEN RAHN
dark ring systems of the other giant planets.
Richard H. Durisen and Paul R. Estrada
Professor Emeritus of Astronomy, Indiana University, COLOR TEST
Bloomington, Indiana, and Research Scientist,
NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, California Here are 10 objects — five double stars and five planetary nebulae — in which
you should see color. They are organized by group and then right ascension.

QI HOW MUCH COLOR SHOULD I

BE ABLE TO SEE IN SKY OBJECTS
THROUGH A 10-INCH TELESCOPE?
Object
Albireo
Achird
Designation
Beta (β) Cygni
Eta (η) Cassiopeiae
Colors
Blue and gold
Yellow and red
Dennis Holt Al Rischa Alpha (α) Piscium Yellow and blue
Concordia, Kansas
Almach Gamma (γ ) Andromedae Yellow and blue

AI Unfortunately, when you look at distant galaxies

and nebulae, you won’t see much color through
your telescope. That’s because you’re viewing objects
Kaffaljidhma
The Little Gem
The Blue Flash
Gamma Ceti
NGC 6818
NGC 6905
White and blue
Green
Blue
that are too faint to trigger your eyes’ color receptors. The Saturn Nebula NGC 7009 Blue-green
This is the same reason why on Earth we see lots of color The Blue Snowball NGC 7662 Blue
in the daytime but not much at night. Cleopatra’s Eye NGC 1535 Blue
However, two classes of celestial objects — double

WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 53
 READER GALLERY

1. SALT LAKE PRETTY

The Milky Way is
reflected in the flooded
salt flats of Badwater
Basin in California’s
Death Valley in this
21-panel panorama taken
with an astro-modified
Nikon Z 6II full-frame
mirrorless camera and
zoom lens at 20mm.
Sky panels consist of
180-second frames taken
at f/3.2 and ISO 800; the
foreground and reflection
frames were 120-second
exposures at f/2.8 and
ISO 1600. • Abhijit Patil

2. MAKING WAVES
Billowing swells of gas
and dust frame this vista
of a pair of emission
nebulae in Cygnus —
Sharpless 2–115 at upper
right and the small
planetary nebula Sh 2–116
at lower right. The shot
was taken with 17 hours
of exposure in SHO and
RGB filters with a 6-inch
f/4 scope.
• David Gluchowski

3. CLOAK OF THE OWL

Surrounding the familiar
visage of the Owl Nebula
(M97) in Ursa Major is a
much fainter, rarely seen
outer shell of emission
from ionized oxygen. This
imager captured it with
an 8-inch scope at f/4.8,
taking 32 hours of data
with an Hα/OIII dual-
band filter, plus an
additional 14.9 hours with
a light-pollution filter.
• Massimo Di Fusco

4. BURGER DISJOINT
NGC 3628 — sometimes
called the Hamburger
Galaxy — is best known
as part of the Leo Triplet
of galaxies. This portrait,
taken over 14.1 hours with
a 10-inch f/4.0 scope in
HαLRGB filters, shows
its warped dust lane
and extended tidal tail
caused by an interaction
with another galaxy.
• Sergey Trudolyubov

54 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

2

3 WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 55
 READER GALLERY

5. A KNOTTY TAIL
Comet 13P/Olbers
reached perihelion
6
June 30, flaunting a faint
but intricate ion tail
corkscrewing off of its
nucleus. This image
comprises 30 minutes
of exposure taken with
an 8-inch f/2 RASA
scope. • Chris Schur

6. GATHERING
STORMS
The fireworks of solar
cycle 25 continue, as
seen in this Hα shot
from July 2 featuring a
filament at lower left and
prominences leaping off
the limb of the active
Sun. The shot was taken
with a 6-inch refractor
fitted with an energy
rejection filter and a Lunt
etalon stacked with a
Daystar Hα “eyepiece.”
• Mark Johnston

7. STARING DOWN
THE IRIS
The Iris Nebula (LBN 487)
is a reflection nebula
1,300 light-years away in
Cepheus, lit by the open
star cluster NGC 7023,
which lies within it. This
rendition comprises
6.7 hours of exposure
with a 2-inch scope.
• Michael Telesco

56 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

7 8

8. BOLD IN BLUE 9. SKY ISLAND UNIVERSE

The reflection nebula IC 4605 The Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
is lit by the star 22 Scorpii and hovers over the mountains of
is one of the most prominent Kyrgyzstan near Tash Rabat in
features in the colorful Rho this shot taken with a Nikon Z 6II
Ophiuchi cloud complex. The and a 135mm lens at f/2. The sky
orange wash at the bottom of the frames consist of sixty 20-second SEND YOUR IMAGES TO:
frame is reflected light from the exposures at ISO 1000; the fore- readergallery@
supergiant Antares, out of frame. ground was captured with three astronomy.com.
This image was taken with nearly 2-minute exposures at ISO 1600. Please include the date
15 hours of exposure on a 6-inch • Basudeb Chakrabarti and location of the image
refractor. • Fernando Oliveira de and complete photo data:
Menezes telescope, camera, filters,
and exposures.

WWW. ASTRONOMY.COM 57
 BREAKTHROUGH

SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL

Although Arp-Madore 2105–332 lies in the southern constellation Microscopium the Microscope, you need a powerful tele-
scope to see it clearly. One of 6,000 odd-looking objects in the Arp-Madore Catalog of Southern Peculiar Galaxies, entry
2105–332 features two spiral galaxies interacting with each other. Each has two loosely wound arms that are laced with dark
dust lanes and show signs of active star formation. The brighter galaxy, ESO 402–10 (left), glows at 14th magnitude while its
companion, ESO 402–9, appears two magnitudes dimmer. The pair lies some 200 million light-years from Earth. A chain of
three fainter, more distant galaxies string out below ESO 402–10. This portrait combines images from the 2.5-meter Hubble
Space Telescope and the 4-meter Victor M. Blanco Telescope in Chile. ESA/HUBBLE & NASA, J. DALCANTON, DARK ENERGY SURVEY/DOE/FNAL/NOIRLAB/NSF/AURA

58 ASTRONOMY • OCTOBER 2024

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