There are two other Messier objects near the Andromeda galaxy: M32, which is a dwarf elliptical galaxy bright spot above and to the left of the Andromeda galaxy in the picture and M, which is another dwarf elliptical galaxy, this time at the bottom and to the right of centre in the picture. This is an ancient cluster, estimated to be some 12 billion years old and about 35, light years away. Through a small telescope, you will see the bright centre of this cluster surrounded by a hazier outer region.
A larger telescope will resolve individual stars in the outer reaches there are hundreds of thousands of stars all together in this cluster … though not to the degree of the spectacular Hubble picture above. Messier 2 is one of the largest globular clusters known. With around , stars, this cluster is with ideal conditions bright enough to see with the naked eye, but it is a challenge to locate being in a remote area of the sky.
The advice is to find M2 with a wide field eyepiece and then get the best viewing of it by increasing magnification. A larger telescope will make it possible to distinguish the two nebulae as distinct, but even through a small telescope you will see the blurry nebulae and young faint stars being born in there.
At 41, light years away from us, and 60, light years from the center of the Milky Way, Messier 79 is believed to be outside of our galaxy. This is a much harder find than M42 and nowhere near as spectacular, but it is rewarding both because of the challenge it gives and the ball of light it presents through your eyepiece.
This extensive open cluster is only in the order of light years away from us and contains young, hot, blue stars by the score. On the edge of being visible to the naked eye, M44, the Beehive is a great spot through a small telescope. Less than light years away from earth, this million year old cluster contains upwards of stars, of which a small telescope will resolve Because of its size, it is best viewed on low power with a wide field eyepiece to let you take in the scale and beauty of this rich star field.
This cluster of over stars in the constellation of Cancer is ancient, estimated at between 3. Last chance to join our Costa Rica Star Party!
Learn about the Moon in a great new book New book chronicles the space program. Dave's Universe Year of Pluto. Groups Why Join? Astronomy Day. The Complete Star Atlas. Moon DISK —. Long trips to space linked to possible brain damage. First crewed Artemis Moon landing delayed until at least For New York City, the lit limb of the moon will cover Mercury at p. The planet will pop into view from behind the dark limb at p. Those times will vary by location, so begin to watch several minutes early, or use an astronomy app like Starry Night to determine the timing where you live.
Caution: Never point an unfiltered telescope anywhere near the sun. The moon will reach its new phase on Thursday, November 4 at p. While new, the moon is travelling between Earth and the sun. Since sunlight can only reach the far side of the moon, and the moon is in the same region of the sky as the sun, the moon becomes unobservable from anywhere on Earth for about a day except during a solar eclipse.
Uranus will reach opposition on Friday, November 5. On that night it will be closest to Earth for this year - a distance of 1. At opposition, planets are above the horizon from sunset to sunrise. Or use binoculars green circle to locate Uranus using the nearby star Mu Ceti. Meteors from the Southern Taurids shower, which appear worldwide from September 28 to December 2 annually, will reach a maximum rate of about 5 per hour on Thursday, November 5. Keep an eye out for meteors on Thursday evening, too.
From November 2 to 20, the orbital motion of the dwarf planet Ceres red path with labelled dates:time will carry it directly through the Hyades, the large open star cluster that forms the V-shaped face of Taurus, the bull.
Magnitude 6. In the southwestern sky after sunset on Sunday, November 7, the young crescent moon will shine several finger widths to the lower right or 5 degrees to the celestial west of the very bright planet Venus - close enough for them to share the field of view in binoculars green circle. The duo will set at about 7 p.
Hours later, in midday on November 8, observers in parts of northeastern Asia and the western Aleutian Islands can see the moon occult Venus - while surrounding regions will see the moon pass very close to the planet. For this conjunction Mars will appear one-tenth as bright as Mercury. In mid-northern latitudes, the best viewing time will be after about 6 a.
Tropical latitude observers will see the two planets higher and in a darker sky. The duo will be close enough to appear together in the field of view of a low-magnification backyard telescope from Tuesday to Thursday, and will be binoculars-close green circle from November 5 to 15 — but be sure to turn your optical aids away from the eastern horizon well before the sun rises.
Or wait until Saturn is visible with your unaided eyes, after about p. Much brighter and whiter Jupiter will be shining off to their upper left all evening. When the moon completes the first quarter of its journey around Earth on Thursday, November 11 at a. EST or GMT, its 90 degree angle from the sun will cause us to see the moon exactly half-illuminated - on its eastern side. At first quarter, the moon always rises around mid-day and sets around midnight, so it is also visible in the afternoon daytime sky.
The evenings around first quarter are the best ones for viewing the lunar terrain while it is dramatically lit by low-angled sunlight, especially along the terminator, the pole-to-pole boundary separating its lit and dark hemispheres. Somewhat fainter and creamy-colored Saturn will become visible off to their right once the sky darkens more.
The moon will bid adieu to the bright planets after tonight, until it visits them again on December Several times a year, for a few hours near its first quarter phase, features on the moon called the Lunar X and Lunar V become visible in strong binoculars and backyard telescopes.
On Thursday, November 11 the lunar letters are predicted to start developing at around 5 p. Meteors from the Northern Taurids shower, which appear worldwide from October 13 to December 2 annually, will reach a maximum rate of about 5 per hour on Friday, November The best viewing time will occur at around 1 a.
Keep an eye out for Northern Taurids on Thursday evening, too. On Monday night, November 15, the terminator on the waxing gibbous moon will fall west of Sinus Iridum, the Bay of Rainbows. The Messier Catalog, sometimes known as the Messier Album or list of Messier objects, is one of the most useful tools in the astronomy hobby. In the middle of the 18th century, the return of Halley's comet helped to prove the Newtonian theory, and helped to spark a new interest in astronomy.
During this time, a French astronomer named Charles Messier began a life-long search for comets. He would eventually discover 15 of them. On August 28, , while searching for comets, Messier found a small cloudy object in the constellation Taurus. He began keeping a journal of these nebulous cloudy objects so that they would not be confused with comets. This journal is known today as the Messier Catalog, or Messier Album.
The deep sky objects in this catalog are commonly referred to as Messier objects.
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