ARTICLES
March 24, 2023
The Soul Nebula is a massive star-forming complex that is part of the Perseus spiral arm of our Milky Way galaxy and is situated around 6,500 light-years from Earth. Compared to the component that houses our sun, the Perseus arm is located farther from the Milky Way's core. As a result, a small piece of the Milky Way's diameter, around 100,000 light-years across, is covered by the Soul Nebula, which spans nearly 580 light-years...
March 17, 2023
An occultation occurs when the Moon or another solar system body eclipses a celestial object. This rare astronomical phenomenon happens only a few times per year. Luckily for us, many parts of the eastern hemisphere will be able to view the lunar occultation of Venus on March 23. This means millions worldwide will have the chance to view Venus move behind the Moon and reappear on the other side, you just have to know the place and time. Read along to learn more about how you can view this incredible phenomenon yourself...
March 10, 2023
This rare deep-sky object known as Messier 1 is a supernova remnant and pulsar wind nebula in the constellation of Taurus. Scientists speculate that this cosmic explosion occurred in 1054 AD, making this object one of the youngest in the sky. When this supernova occurred, astronomers hypothesized the sky was so bright that it looked like daytime during the night for weeks. In addition to its extraordinary complexity, the strange filaments within this nebula also seem to have less mass than those ejected during the original supernova...
March 3, 2023
Spring is coming up in March, signaling the very awaited start of Galaxy Season! From March to May, the night sky will be filled with hundreds of galaxies for anyone to photograph and observe. Moreover, the weather will also be getting considerably better since we won't have to deal with the harsh winter conditions anymore. So to start Galaxy Season, these are the six best celestial bodies to photograph during March...
February 24, 2023
This beautiful deep-sky object known as Caldwell 49 is a large emission nebula located in the constellation Monoceros approximately 5000 light-years away. The cosmic cloud of gas and dust in this part of the sky resembles the petals of a rose and is a stellar nursery where new stars are being born. This is also where the name originated, as the structure is very similar to a stylized flower pattern used in sculpture since antiquity...
February 15, 2023
In early March, astronomers discovered Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) using the wide-field survey camera at the Zwicky Transient Facility. This comet's vivid green color is due to sunlight's effect on cyanogen and diatomic carbon within the comet's nucleus. What's especially unique about this comet is that Comet ZTF has two tails directed almost in different directions...
February 1, 2023
The end of winter is slowly approaching, resulting in more humid conditions and light pollution. It's time to take advantage of this winter's last taste of cold air and clear nights. Although it is more difficult to get out and take pictures in these conditions, the results are more rewarding than at any other time of the year. This article will inform you about the six best celestial bodies to photograph during February...
January 16, 2023
One of the most well-known nebulae in the night sky is Messier 42. The Orion Nebula has an extremely bright apparent magnitude of 4 and is the nearest big star-forming region to Earth at barely 1,500 light-years away. M42 can be seen with the naked eye due to its brightness and prominent location directly below Orion's belt, but it also provides a fantastic view of star birth for those using telescopes...
January 2, 2023
With the nights growing longer, astronomers can capture more objects than they could during the summer. So if you're new to astrophotography or looking to go star gazing with your telescope, this is the article for you. Here are the four best celestial bodies to photograph during this festive December...
December 18, 2022
The Quantico Middle/High School Astronomy Club has been a sanctuary for several students interested in the night sky. With our sponsor, Ms. Sabrina Maxwell, we provide opportunities for students to participate in various outdoor activities and become stewards of the environment and explorers of the heavens, identifying constellations, stars, planets, and deep-sky objects, all with our various telescopes and equipment...
December 8, 2022
With the nights growing longer, astronomers can capture more objects than they could during the summer. So if you're new to astrophotography or looking to go star gazing with your telescope, this is the article for you. Here are the four best celestial bodies to photograph during this festive December...
November 9, 2022
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are exactly or very closely aligned with Earth between the other two, which can happen only on the night of a full moon when the Moon is near either lunar node. This results in the Moon moving into the Earth's shadow, creating this glorious phenomenon.
Experiencing a lunar eclipse is a breathtaking moment that anyone can enjoy, you just have to know the time and place. When I read that this was the final total lunar eclipse for three years, I was committed to taking a photo of this event. So, before the start of my school day, I brought all of my gear with me at 4 AM to my high school's parking lot and...