The Winter season brings some of the brightest stars in view. And with those stars, some bright deep sky objects. The season brings a chance to observe M42, M44, and M45, as well as the Winter Milky Way through Cassiopeia. However, the same old objects every year may get a little boring. Is there anything else to see beyond the Double Cluster? There is – if you know where to look.
January’s fundamentals meeting featured a tour of objects that are off the beaten path and may refresh your observing list for the season. To find out what awaits your observing as NAA member Rick Gering shares his knowledge of observing.
Focal Plane June 2025 Astronomy Fundamentals: NAA Welcomes You to Family Fun Night
Our June Fundamentals continues our annual tradition of providing a family night of science. Just because school is out for the summer (not forever), doesn’t mean the opportunity to learn is also on hiatus. If you have some budding science enthusiasts at home, you may...
Focal Plane June 2025 Wonders of Webb: Exploring the Universe with JWST
Following the successful launch and deployment of the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have explored new vistas and aspects of the Universe made possible with this remarkable instrument. Webb joins the exploration with a new eye on the Universe. It is not the...
June ’25 – Rick’s Picks
Transient Events That Can Give Us a Good Enough Reason to Get Outside and Do a Little ObservingAll month: Mercury returns to the sunset sky as Jupiter departs, leaving Mars as the only planet on the evening stage, while the morning sky is populated by Venus, Saturn,...
May ’25 — Rick’s Picks
Transient Events That Can Give Us a Good Enough Reason to Get Outside and Do a Little Observing All month: the planets continue their exodus from the evening sky this month. Uranus is now lost in the solar glare – it will reach conjunction on May 17 and return as a...