Articles
- Focal Plane (26)
- One Good Target (32)
- Rick's Picks (33)
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An Asterism in Draco (Kemble 2 “mini Cas”)
May 2026 · With side trips to a bright carbon star, a far north double, and an easy-to-find red dwarf
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May ’26 Rick’s Picks
All month: the pre-dawn sky sees the return of planets this month, gladdening the hearts of early-rising solar system observers. Neptune is first to…
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The Sunflower Galaxy (M63)
April 2026 · With side trips to a couple easy double stars and a bright carbon star
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April ’26 Rick’s Picks
All month: it’s a frustrating month for early-rising planet fans, as Mercury, Mars, Saturn, and Neptune all achieve significant elongation from the Sun, but…
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March ’26 Rick’s Picks
All month: Mercury begins the month barely hanging on in the evening sky: on March 1 it sets 57 minutes after the Sun and…
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A Neglected Open Cluster in Auriga (NGC 2281)
February 2026 · With side trips to some easily-split doubles, a bright carbon star, and a challenging red dwarf hiding in plain view
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February ’26 Rick’s Picks
All month: the planets have abandoned the morning sky. In the evening, Jupiter continues to dominate the scene like a playground bully, overpowering Uranus…
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January ’26 Rick’s Picks
All month: nearly half the planets are on vacation this month, hidden from sight in the Sun’s glare. Mercury might still be a viable…
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December ’25 – Rick’s Picks
All month: the sunrise sky becomes a less lively place this month, as Venus ends its long morning apparition and joins Mars in the…