3 Reasons to observe this month

Alioth

The brightest star in the constellation Ursa Major, Alioth sits along the Bear’s “tail.” At about 82.6 light-years away, it’s a simple, quick target to observe with a telescope.
Can you spot it faster than your telescope can? 😉

The Crab Nebula

Imagine an explosion so powerful that it lit up the sky in broad daylight for weeks. That’s what Chinese astronomers recorded in the year 1054.

Today, this remnant of a dead star — the Crab Nebula — still shines, a quiet witness to both the violence and the beauty of the universe.

It’s not the easiest object to see, but if you observe for several tens of minutes, your telescope will gradually reveal its ghostly filaments.

NGC 2841

Located in the front paws of Ursa Major, NGC 2841 is a spiral galaxy sometimes nicknamed the “Tiger’s Eye Galaxy.” Subtle at first glance, it rewards patience: give your telescope several tens of minutes to gather light that began its journey 46 million years ago.

Little by little, its bright central bulge and spiral arms emerge — rich in stars, gas, and dust.