Unistellar Citizen Astronomers are invited to participate in this week’s quest to observe open cluster Messier 103! This colorful group of stars is one of the most distant open star clusters known. Quick Facts: Messier 103 (M103), also known as NGC 581, is an open star cluster The stars within open clusters formed together…
What kind of space lover are you ? Since I was a kid, I have always been very fond of space. I am fascinated by deep space exploration and convinced our Universe is the next world to be explored. As a student, I wrote a paper about solar sails (a new form of space propulsion),…
Unistellar Citizen Astronomers are invited to participate in this week’s quest to observe Uranus! We’re approaching a special anniversary! Thirty-five years ago, on January 24, 1986, the Voyager 2 spacecraft flew by Uranus! It was the first and only spacecraft to visit this striking, pale-blue planet, and this week’s challenge commemorates this special anniversary.…
It’s never too late – or too early – to pursue a career in astronomy. As recently as 2018, only 18% of astronomers worldwide were female. But that figure is growing! Young female astronomers and their champions can watch the video below to hear about this fascinating profession, including challenges and opportunities that today’s women…
Unistellar Citizen Astronomers are invited to participate in this week’s quest to observe the Hidden Galaxy! This relatively close galactic neighbor is veiled by the interstellar gas and dust of our Milky Way Galaxy, making this week’s challenge harder than most. Quick Facts: The Hidden Galaxy, officially known as IC 342 or C5,…
Unistellar Citizen Astronomers are invited to participate in this week’s quest to observe the Cosmic Bat Nebula! This ethereal nebula is hidden within a part of the Orion constellation that is often overlooked. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a bonus challenge this week! Quick Facts: Also known as NGC…
Happy New Year, Defenders of the Earth! Last year, 2941 near-Earth objects (NEOs) were discovered! To start 2021, your target is the near-Earth asteroid (NEA) (332446) 2008 AF4. Tonight, it will fly by Earth at 21:52 UTC and will come about 2,282,961 miles (3,674,070 kilometers) away from Earth! Luckily, this asteroid will be…