telescopeobserver Leo is one of the most ancient and recognizable of all the constellations. It was recognized by Ptolemy in the 2nd century and was included in his list of 48 constellations. It remains one of the 88 modern constellations and is typically considered the 5th constellation of the zodiac. Part of what makes Leo such a well-known constellation … Read more
The hunter constellation Orion heralds the changing of seasons across the globe. As it rises, so does one of the brightest stars in the sky: Rigel. The blue-white gem is in stark contrast to Orion’s other famous star, the red-orange Betelgeuse. At magnitude 0.12, Rigel is the brightest star in Orion, but Betelgeuse sometimes does … Read more
VY Canis Majoris (VY CMa) stands out as one of the most extreme stars in the Milky Way. VY CMa is found in the constellation Canis Major and lies some 3,900 to 4,900 light-years away from the Solar System (1.2 to 1.5 kiloparsecs). It is a massive and oxygen-rich star, but whether it is a … Read more
Virgo is one of the constellations of the zodiac in astronomy. Virgo is not one of the constellations that looks like what it represents – a maiden in this case– but it is relatively easy to find thanks to its bright star, Spica. Though it looks sparse in comparison to constellations like Taurus, Virgo is home … Read more
Libra is a constellation of the zodiac visible generally from May through August in the Northern Hemisphere, and April through September in the Southern Hemisphere. The name Libra comes from the Latin word meaning “balance” or “scales” which is what the constellation traditionally represents. In fact, lb. – the abbreviation for pound – is an … Read more
Did you ever take a field trip to a planetarium and just think how cool it would be to own your own? Well, I have, and today I have a recommended list of the best home planetarium projectors on the market. I have put each one to the test to find out what is great … Read more
Scorpius is by far one of the most easily recognizable constellations in the night sky. It is also one of the most prominent constellations of the zodiac, and has been known since ancient times. The 2nd Century Greek astronomer Ptolemy had a catalogue of the constellations formally recognized during that era. Scorpius is definitely one of … Read more
Ophiuchus wasn’t always a popular or talked about constellation, but it’s a treat for amateur astronomers to explore. It is rising in prominence due to its size, position, and notable objects– not to mention its fascinating history that has compelled more people to pay attention to it in recent times. Ophiuchus, which is also sometimes … Read more
Capricornus is a southern sky constellation best recognized as being part of the zodiac. Contrary to popular belief, Capricornus is not represented by a goat, but rather a sea-goat: a half goat, half fish creature of Greek mythology. It’s one of the 88 modern constellations and also featured in Ptolemy’s 48 listed constellations. This constellation’s … Read more
Aquarius is part of the zodiac and is located in the southern hemisphere. It is found in a part of the sky nicknamed the Sea. This region is so named because of its abundance of water-related constellations including Pisces, Capricornus, Eridanus, and Cetus. Aquarius was cataloged by the 2nd Century Greek astronomer Ptolemy. The constellation is recognized … Read more