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Archives for November 2015

A Look at ‘Kemble’s Cascade’

November 26, 2015 by Brian Ventrudo Filed Under: Deep Sky

Kemble's Cascade (credit: Wayne Young)
Kemble’s Cascade (credit: Wayne Young)

One of the most notable asterisms in the sky gained its fame just over 30 years ago. Called Kemble’s Cascade after the Franciscan friar from the Canadian prairies named Lucien Kemble, this group tumbles gracefully through the far-northern sky just east of Cassiopeia, ending at the open cluster NGC 1502. This is a perfect target for quick observation by northern observers on a cold winter’s night.

Here’s how to see this pretty little asterism for yourself. [Read more…] about A Look at ‘Kemble’s Cascade’

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Filed Under: Deep Sky asterism, cassiopeia, star cluster

2016 ‘Year in Space’ Calendar

November 26, 2015 by Brian Ventrudo Filed Under: Stargazing

2016C_calendar_images_1333x1000In 1991, stargazer Steve Cariddi walked into a Boston bookstore and noticed most desk calendars were about cats, or puppies, or sailboats. There was not a single astronomy calendar in sight. So he decided to create his own, and in late 1993 he published his first “astronomy and space” desk calendar. He’s been publishing these calendars every year since. And now he’s released the large-format ‘Year in Space’ wall calendar for 2016 [Read more…] about 2016 ‘Year in Space’ Calendar

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Filed Under: Stargazing space calendar

Comet Catalina Arrives in the Dawn Sky

November 20, 2015 by Brian Ventrudo Filed Under: Solar System

Comet C/2013 US10 (Catalina) imaged on August 9, 2015. ( Credit: José J. Chambó)
Comet C/2013 US10 (Catalina) imaged on August 9, 2015. ( Credit: José J. Chambó)

A Christmas comet is on the way to our skies. Comet Catalina (C/2013 US 10), which has been slowly brightening in the southern-hemisphere skies all year, has crossed the celestial equator moving north. It will finally become visible to northern-hemisphere observers in the pre-dawn sky from this week through late January, and will remain visible to southern-hemisphere observers until late December. Grab your binoculars and get ready to see this end-of-year visitor from the most distant reaches of the solar system [Read more…] about Comet Catalina Arrives in the Dawn Sky

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Filed Under: Solar System comet, solar system

The Colorful Double Star Almaak in Andromeda

November 12, 2015 by Brian Ventrudo Filed Under: Deep Sky

Almaak, a double star in the constellation Andromeda (credit: Mt. Lemmon Observatory)
Almaak, a double star in the constellation Andromeda (credit: Mt. Lemmon Observatory)

High in the northeast sky, Almaak, the third-brightest star in the constellation Andromeda, is one of the most beautiful double stars in the sky. It’s a snap to find and reveals its full splendor in even the smallest of telescopes [Read more…] about The Colorful Double Star Almaak in Andromeda

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Filed Under: Deep Sky andromeda, deep sky, double stars

No Signal from “Alien Megastructure” Around Star

November 11, 2015 by Brian Ventrudo Filed Under: Science

An artist's conception of a disk of dust around a distant star which could periodically block or attenuate its light for external observers (credit: NASA)
An artist’s conception of a disk of dust around a distant star which could periodically block or attenuate its light for external observers (credit: NASA)

Using the Allen Telescope Array, astronomers at the SETI institute have examined the star KIC 8462852 for signs of extraterrestrial communications. So far they have come up empty. But astronomers around the world continue to examine this curious star which appears to decrease in apparent brightness by up to 20% for a period of 5 days to 80 days. Some have suggested– seriously– that the timing and magnitude of the brightness drop might be caused by a massive alien megastructure that surrounds the star [Read more…] about No Signal from “Alien Megastructure” Around Star

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Filed Under: Science seti

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