In the 1920s, examining photographic plates from the
Mt. Wilson Observatory's
100 inch telescope,
Edwin Hubble determined the distance to the
Andromeda Nebula,
decisively demonstrating the existence of other galaxies far beyond
the Milky Way.

His notations are evident on the historic plate image
inset at the lower right, shown in context with ground based
and Hubble Space Telescope images of the region made
nearly 90 years later.

By intercomparing different plates, Hubble
searched for novae, stars which underwent a
sudden increase in brightness.

He found several on this plate and marked them with an "N".

Later, discovering that the one near the upper right corner (marked by
lines) was actually a type of
variable star known as
a cepheid,
he crossed out the "N" and wrote "VAR!".

Thanks to the work of Harvard
astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, cepheids,
regularly varying pulsating stars, could be used as standard candle
distance indicators.

Identifying such a star allowed Hubble to show
that Andromeda was not a small cluster of stars and gas within our own
galaxy, but a large galaxy in its own right at a substantial
distance from the Milky Way.

Hubble's
discovery is responsible for establishing our modern concept of a
Universe filled with galaxies.

Read the full story:
VAR!

Related Skylook Posts:

• Spiral Galaxy NGC 3370 from Hubble
• Advancing Variable Star Astronomy: The Centennial History of
• Pluto’s P4

On some nights, the sky is the best show in town.

On this night, the sky was not only the best show in town, but a composite image of the sky
won an international competition for landscape astrophotography.

The above winning image was taken two months ago over Jökulsárlón, the largest
glacial lake in
Iceland.

The photographer combined six exposures to capture not only two green
auroral rings, but their reflections off the serene lake.

Visible in the distant background sky is the band of our
Milky Way Galaxy,
the
Pleiades
open
clusters
of stars, and the
Andromeda galaxy.

A powerful
coronal mass ejection from the Sun
caused auroras to be seen as far south as
Wisconsin, USA.

As the Sun progresses toward
solar maximum in the next few years,
many more
spectacular
images
of
aurora are expected.

Read the full story:
A Starry Night of Iceland

Related Skylook Posts:

• Starry Night over Dubai
• Geometer’s Playground Over Wyoming
• A Journey Through the Night Sky

The spiky stars in the foreground of
this
sharp cosmic portrait are well within our own
Milky Way
Galaxy.

The two eye-catching galaxies lie far
beyond the Milky Way,
at a distance of over 300 million light-years.

Their distorted appearance is due to gravitational tides
as the pair engage
in
close encounters.

Cataloged
as
Arp 273 (also as UGC 1810), the galaxies do look
peculiar,
but interacting galaxies are now understood to be
common in the universe.

In fact, the nearby large spiral Andromeda Galaxy is known to be
some 2 million light-years away and approaching the Milky Way.

Arp 273 may offer an analog of their
far future encounter.

Repeated galaxy encounters on a
cosmic timescale can ultimately
result in a merger into a single galaxy of stars.

From our perspective, the bright cores of the Arp 273 galaxies are
separated by only a little over 100,000 light-years.

The release of this
stunning vista celebrates the 21st anniversary of
the Hubble Space Telescope in orbit.

Read the full story:
Peculiar Galaxies of Arp 273

Related Skylook Posts:

• Arp 272
• Spiral Galaxy NGC 3370 from Hubble
• The Perseus Cluster of Galaxies

It was a sky for the imagination.

In the early evening last week, the sky illuminating the
unaided eye was perhaps
even more illuminating to the mind's eye.

The unaided eye saw clouds framing the
Moon setting over a calm and reflective bay,
spruce trees lining the nearby shores, the Pleiades open star cluster (M45) glowing prominently in the center of the sky, the
Andromeda galaxy hovering just over the horizon on the right, and the
belt stars of Orion lined up on the left,
just below the bright orange star
Betelgeuse.

The bright star Sirius
peeked out of the trees on the far left.

The mind's eye
might further imagine, however, some of the
constellations coming to life, with Orion the Hunter taking up his sword and shield,
followed into battle by his
Big Dog
(Canis Major,
whose right eye is Sirius), and watched from across the sky by
Cassiopeia, the Queen of
Ethiopia, sitting on her Throne.

The above image was taken over
Pleasant Bay,
Maine,
USA,
and digitally merged with constellations from
Uranographicarum, drawn in the 17th century by J. Hevelius.

Related Skylook Posts:

• Pattern Asterisms: A New Way to Chart the Stars
• The Belt of Venus over the Valley of the Moon
• Chasing Carina

My professor told me that astronomy is the mother of all sciences. All throughout civilizations past and present, stars and constellations were critical in navigation and even designing monuments. I just think by now the average person should be able to look up and spot something identifiable in the night sky. Seems like we're taught the offspring of science. I could be wrong, but I bet more people know 10 Commandments than 3 constellations. I'm just saying, as old as astronomy is, by now this subject should be as important as English!

Related Skylook Posts:

• what was one of the great discoveries in astronomy during the 20th century?
• Science of Astronomy – Information About Astronomy for Kids on the Internet!
• You Can Foster a Love of Astronomy

Key Benefit:

Key Topics:

Charting the Heavens : The Foundations of Astronomy, The Copernican Revolution: The Birth of Modern Science, Light and Matter: The Inner Workings of the Cosmos, Telescopes: The Tools of Astronomy, The Solar System: Interplanetary Matter and the Birth of the Planets, Earth and Its Moon: Our Cosmic Backyard, The Terrestrial Planets: A Study in Contrasts, The Jovian Planets: Giants of the Solar System, Moons, Rings, and Plutoids: Small Worlds Among Giants, The Sun: Our Parent Star, Measuring the Stars: Giants, Dwarfs, and the Main Sequence, The Interstellar Medium: Star Formation in the Milky Way,  Stellar Evolution: The Lives and Deaths of Stars, Neutron Stars and Black Holes: Strange States of Matter, The Milky Way Galaxy: A Spiral in Space,

Normal and Active Galaxies: Building Blocks of the Universe, Hubble’s Law and Dark Matter: The Large-Scale Structure of the Cosmos, Cosmology: The Big Bang and the Fate of the Universe, Life in the Universe: Are We Alone?

Market: Intended for those interested in learning the basics of astronomy

Astronomy: A Beginner's Guide to the Universe with MasteringAstronomy(R) (6th Edition)

Related Skylook Posts:

• Astronomy Today, Vol. 1, The Solar System (6th Edition)
• Astronomy Today Volume 1: The Solar System (7th Edition)
• Astronomy Today Volume 2: Stars and Galaxies (7th Edition)

• Affordable telescope for beginning astronomer; portable yet powerful
• All-glass optical components with high transmission coatings for enhanced image brighness and clarity
• Newtonian optical design with a 114mm aperture and 900mm focal length
• Equatorial mount for tracking the sky
• Includes 3x Barlow Lens (1.25"), 20mm eyepiece, 4mm eyepiece, aluminum tripod with accessory tray

Product Description
The PowerSeekers come in a choice of refractor or reflector, equatorial or altazimuth mount design. The PowerSeekers come with all coated glass optical components with for enhanced image brightness and clarity. The Newtonian reflectors offer larger aperture and greater light gathering power needed to resolve the faint detail of hundreds of deep-sky and other celestial objects.All PowerSeekers come on either sturdy equatorial mounts for tracking the sky, or collapsible altazimuth mounts suitable for terrestrial viewing as well as astronomical use.The PowerSeekers come with a full range of eyepieces plus a 3x Barlow lens, allowing an increase in viewing power hundreds of times greater than that of an unaided eye!The PowerSeekers PS 114 EQ is a great choice for children and families.Amazon.com Review
I love bargains, so I was eager to try out Celestron's new Powerseeker 114 Newtonian reflector telescope. With its 4.5-inch mirror, Celestron's Powerseeker 114 gathers three times more starlight than popular 60mm refractors. The Powerseeker package includes two eyepieces (K20 and SR4), a plastic 3x barlow, and a lightweight equatorial mount.

Optically, the Powerseeker 114 holds its own when compared with my Celestron Firstscope 114EQ. Using the K20 eyepiece included as standard equipment, about 45x magnification, it's easy to see the Andromeda Galaxy and its smaller satellite galaxy M32. When compared to 60mm refractors, the Powerseeker 114 brings out much more detail in the Orion Nebula, reveals many more stars in Perseus' Double Cluster and even brings out a few individual stars in globular clusters like M13. Saturn looks quite small at 45x with the K20 eyepiece, but using my own 7.5mm eyepiece (120x) I can easily detect the shadow cast by the planet on the rings, and even glimpse the ring's Cassini Division. When the mirrors are properly lined up or "collimated," the images are reasonably sharp up to magnifications of 225x. I find a collimation tool helps get this fine tuning just right.

As good as the optics are, however, the effect of cost-cutting shows up in the mechanical components. The focuser is plastic, the finder scope is plastic, the rings that attach the telescope to the tripod are plastic. Even when the tripod legs are clamped at their shortest setting, the telescope wobbles when I try to focus at higher magnifications. Celestron's instruction manual correctly recommends that most viewing be done in the range of 40x to 130x. So what about that 675x magnification proclaimed on the box? I'd say it's not worth the trouble.

Overall, the Celestron Powerseeker 114 is a budget priced telescope with good optical performance, especially when using the low power K20 eyepiece. If you're willing to spend a little more money, either Orion's SkyQuest XT4.5 or Celestron's Firstscope 114EQ will give you a sturdier mount, an improved finder scope, and better eyepieces. Also, for about the price of the Powerseeker 114, I like the dependable refractor design of Celestron's Firstscope 70EQ. --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Low cost
• Good optics
• Serviceable K20 eyepiece

Cons:

• Wobbly mount
• Difficult to collimate
• Plastic finder and focuser

Celestron 21045 114mm Equatorial PowerSeeker Telescope

Related Skylook Posts:

• Celestron 21041 60mm PowerSeeker Telescope
• Celestron NexStar 80 SLT Computerized Telescope
• Celestron NexStar 5 SE Telescope

This
sharp, wide-field view features
infrared light from the spiral
Andromeda Galaxy (M31).

Dust heated by Andromeda's young stars is shown in yellow and red,
while its older population of stars appears as a bluish haze.

The false-color skyscape is a mosaic of images from NASA's new
Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)
satellite.

With over twice the diameter of
our Milky Way, Andromeda is the largest galaxy in
the
local group.

Andromeda's own satellite galaxies M110
(below) and
M32 (above)
are also included in the combined fields.

Launched in December 2009, WISE began a six month long infrared
survey of the entire sky on January 14.

Expected to discover
near-Earth asteroids
as well as explore
the distant universe, its sensitive infrared detectors are
cooled by frozen hydrogen.

Related Skylook Posts:

• Andromeda
• Bright Star Regulus near the Leo I Dwarf Galaxy
• The View from Chajnantor

• Affordable telescope for beginning astronomer; portable yet powerful
• All-glass optical components with high transmission coatings for enhanced image brightness and clarity
• Refractor optical design with a 60mm aperture and 700mm focal length
• Altazimuth mount suitable for terrestial viewing as well as astronomical use
• Includes 3x Barlow Lens (1.25"), 20mm eyepiece, 4mm eyepiece, aluminum tripod with accessory tray

Product Description

The PowerSeekers come with all coated glass optical components with for enhanced image brightness and clarity. The Newtonian reflectors offer larger aperture and greater light gathering power needed to resolve the faint detail of hundreds of deep-sky and other celestial objects.

All PowerSeekers come on either sturdy equatorial mounts for tracking the sky, or collapsible altazimuth mounts suitable for terrestrial viewing as well as astronomical use.

The PowerSeekers come with a full range of eyepieces plus a 3x Barlow lens, allowing an increase in viewing power hundreds of times greater than that of an unaided eye!

Amazon.com Review
Celestron's value priced Powerseeker 60 telescope takes a basic "just the facts" approach to affordable entry level telescopes. The package includes an adjustable aluminum tripod with an alt-azimuth mount and stabilizer, a Kellner type K20 eyepiece, a Ramsden type SR4 eyepiece, a 3x barlow lens, and a 5 power cross-hair finder scope.

The Powerseeker 60 comes disassembled in a compact box, but it won't take long to put everything together. Go ahead and try it out in the daytime, that's the best time to align the finder scope while looking at a distant tree or telephone pole.

My first view of Saturn's rings and star cluster M13 in Hercules came with a 60mm telescope, and I enjoy celestial viewing with the Powerseeker 60 to this day. The secret is to use the low power K20 eyepiece and only extend the tripod legs half-way. This gives me sharp and steady views, whether I'm looking at nearby hills, craters on the Moon, the Double Cluster in Perseus, or even the Andromeda Galaxy!

With a 1.25" focuser and diagonal mirror, it's easy to add better eyepieces. The Kellner type K20 eyepiece yields a 1.1 degree true field of view, better than the Huygens or H-type eyepieces still found in many beginner scopes. Adding an optional Celestron 25mm E-Lux eyepiece is better still. With nearly 2 degrees true field of view, the 25mm E-lux makes it much easier to find objects, either on land or in deep space. The SR4 eyepiece is less impressive; it's like peeking through a pin-hole. Adding the 3x barlow to the SR4 to get that 525x proclaimed on the box is peeking through a dim, fuzzy pin-hole.

I'm surprised that a telescope this inexpensive can be this good. It's good enough to show me Saturn's rings at night or a Steller's Jay at 100 yards during the day. In my opinion, the Powerseeker 60 would be an even better bargain if it came with a K10 eyepiece in place of the 3x barlow and the SR4 eyepiece. Also take a look at Celestron's Firstscope 60AZ; it's only a little more expensive, but it includes two useable eyepieces, a red-dot finder, and planetarium software for your computer. –Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Low cost
• Decent optics
• Accepts 1.25" eyepieces

Cons:

• Too small for serious astronomy
• Only one good eyepiece

Celestron 21041 60mm PowerSeeker Telescope

Related Skylook Posts:

• Celestron 21045 114mm Equatorial PowerSeeker Telescope
• Celestron NexStar 80 SLT Computerized Telescope
• Celestron Nexstar 60GT 60mm Go-To Refractor Telescope

Andromeda

Abbreviation: And

Genitive: Andromedae

Translation: Princess of Ethiopia or the Chained Lady

Position in the Sky

Right Ascension: 1 hour
Declination: 40 degrees
Visible between latitudes 90 and -40 degrees
Best seen in November (at 9:00 PM)

Named Stars

ALPHERATZ (Alpha And)
MIRACH (Beta And)
ALMAAK (Gamma 1 And)
Adhil (Xi And)

Messier Objects

M31 The Andromeda Galaxy (spiral galaxy)
M32 Satellite galaxy of Andromeda (elliptical galaxy)
M110 Satellite galaxy of Andromeda (elliptical galaxy)

alpheratz, adhil the star, 88 constellations stars andromeda, right ascension of stars, genitive andromede, astronomy the princess sky, andromedas position in the sky

Related Skylook Posts:

• Moonset Over Pleasant Bay
• Galaxies Beyond the Heart: Maffei 1 and 2
• WISE Infrared Andromeda

• 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, StarBright XLT high transmission coatings come standard
• StarPointer finderscope to help with alignment and accurately locating objects
• Quick-release fork arm mount, optical tube and accessory tray for no-tool setup
• SkyAlign allows you to align on any three bright celestial objects, making for a fast and easy alignment process
• Nearly 40,000-object database with 200 user-definable objects and expanded information on over 200 objects

Product Description
Advanced computerized telescope has a large 8" aperture and sophisticated Schmidt-Cassegrain optics so you can see deep into the universe with incredible brightness and clarity. See 40,000 stars, planets, clusters, galaxies, nebulas and more with the press of a button. Simply use the backlit LCD hand control to select an object from the built-in database and watch the telescope automatically move and point at the object. The database has more than 40,000 of the best deep sky sights, plus you can add 200 user-definable objects of your own. Acclaimed SkyAlign technology and a StarPointer finderscope let you align the scope in minutes. The large 8" aperture combines with Schmidt-Cassegrain optics and StarBright XLT enhanced high-transmission lens coatings for ultra bright, razor sharp, high contrast images. Sturdy altazimuth mount and patented single fork arm ensure smooth, effortless movement. It weighs only 33 lbs., and the pre-assembled tripod, quick-release optical tube and fast no-tools set up make it easy to take it wherever the viewing is best. You can update your telescope's software via the Internet. The NexRemote telescope control software and a RS-232 cable allow you to control the scope via your computer (software and cable included). Also includes a 25mm 1.25" eyepiece, accessory tray and The Sky planetarium software with printable sky maps. Uses 8 AA batteries (not included). 40,000 stars, planets, galaxies and more at the press of a button order your Celestron 8SE telescope today!Amazon.com Review
Amazon.com Review Celestron's Nexstar 8 SE telescope combines excellent optics and computerized "GoTo" tracking in a package that's light, portable and affordable. The legendary performance of Celestron's orange tube C8 telescope has been updated with high performance Starbright XLT coatings, and the single arm Nexstar mount now includes Celestron's easy to use "SkyAlign" technology.

Jupiter as seen through the Celestron NexStar 8SE special-edition computerized telescope.

The Nexstar 8 SE upholds Celestron's reputation for quality optics. When I use an 11mm Plossl eyepiece (almost 200x magnification) for example, I can easily see the Cassini Division in Saturn's rings. When I look at Jupiter, the pale orange color of Jupiter's famous Great Red Spot is visible, and I've even been able to identify the polar caps and spot dust storms on the planet Mars. A 20mm Plossl eyepiece (about 100x magnification) is a good choice for viewing galaxies and star clusters. When I look at globular cluster M13 in the constellation Hercules the high contrast XLT optics show me a glowing snowflake made of hundreds of tiny pin-point stars! And a low power 32mm Plossl eyepiece is a good choice for views of larger deep space highlights like the Andromeda Galaxy and the Orion Nebula.

The moon seen through the Celestron NexStar 8SE telescope. (See larger image.)

Celestron's patented "SkyAlign" system makes the Nexstar 8 SE very easy to use. I just pick the nearest town from the built-in list, enter the date and time, and point the telescope at three bright stars. I don't need a star chart because "SkyAlign" identifies the stars for me. When I just want a quick look at the moon or a planet, I like to use the "Solar System Align" option. After entering the date and time, I just point the telescope at the moon and press the "Align" key. That's all it takes, the computer takes over and the telescope begins tracking quietly and accurately. At star parties I often have my Nexstar up and running while older computerized telescopes are still waiting for their alignment stars to appear in the twilight.

The Nexstar 8 SE comes with a simple red-dot finder scope and a basic 25mm eyepiece. You'll want to add a few good eyepieces to take full advantage of the Nexstar 8 SE's excellent optics. At the very least get Celestron's bargain priced Accessory Kit which includes high and low power plossl eyepieces, or treat yourself to some top rated Tele Vue eyepieces. At twenty-four pounds total weight, the Nexstar 8 SE is unusually light and portable for an eight-inch telescope. The drawback of course is that some people will find it too light. Like other Schmidt Cassegrain (SCT) telescopes there are plenty of optional accessories to upgrade this telescope with, such as heavy duty tripods and an optical finder scope. If you want to try astro-photography, however, check out Celestron's CPC 800 Telescope which features a heavy duty mount and tripod and an 8x50 optical finder scope right out of the box. --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

• Excellent optics
• Easy computerized GoTo tracking
• Light, portable and affordable

Cons:

• Plastic accessories
• Short battery life
• Too light for astro-photography

Celestron NexStar 8 SE Telescope

Related Skylook Posts:

• Celestron NexStar 5 SE Telescope
• Celestron NexStar 80 SLT Computerized Telescope
• Celestron NexStar 6 SE Telescope