Fall is an incredible time for amateur astronomers to get out there and look at the night sky. Some of the most recognizable and bright objects that can be seen in the night sky make their appearance in the autumn sky.
The most notable object visible in the night sky during fall is the Andromeda Galaxy, or M31. Andromeda is the closest major galaxy to the Earth, located around 2.5 million light years away from Earth. As the name suggests, the galaxy is located in the constellation Andromeda, which can be found rising above the horizon as the evening begins. The Andromeda galaxy is easily visible to the naked eye and can be seen as a very fuzzy “star.” You can get an even more incredible view of it with binoculars, and with a telescope, from a dark enough location, you can even see the galaxy’s spiral arms.
Another notable astronomical object is the Pleiades, or M45. M45 is an exceptionally bright blue cluster of incredibly hot stars, that ionizes gas in the immediate vicinity, causing a brilliant blue haze to coat the stars. The cluster is notable for its exceptional brightness and can be found in the constellation of Taurus. Via the naked eye, the cluster’s brightest seven stars (in the right conditions) can be seen, but with a telescope or binoculars, you can see far more.
Though more prominent in summer, Messier 13, the Hercules Globular Cluster, is still visible in early fall and well worth seeking out. This dense collection of hundreds of thousands of stars lies about 22,000 light-years away and appears as a bright, condensed sphere through binoculars. With a telescope, you can resolve individual stars on the edges of this cluster, adding depth and dimension to the view.
The Crab Nebula, Messier 1, offers a glimpse of stellar history in the constellation Taurus. This supernova remnant, created from an explosion observed by Chinese astronomers in 1054 AD, is one of the most famous nebulae in the sky. Through telescopes, the Crab Nebula appears as a misty patch with a subtle, thread-like structure. The faint star at its center is the remnant of the original supernova, now a neutron star that spins 30 times per second, emitting pulses of radiation across the light spectrum.
For those looking to test their stargazing skills, the Triangulum Galaxy, or Messier 33, is a faint yet rewarding sight. Situated in the constellation Triangulum, it’s best seen under dark skies. This spiral galaxy, smaller than Andromeda, lies around 3 million light-years away and appears as a faint, elongated patch in binoculars. A telescope will reveal hints of its spiral structure, and in exceptionally clear skies, you might even catch glimpses of individual star clusters within the galaxy.
With clear, dark skies and a simple pair of binoculars or a small telescope, fall offers amateur astronomers an ideal opportunity to explore the night sky. Each celestial object becomes visible at different times, so plan your stargazing sessions accordingly and enjoy the season’s spectacular views.
