3 Reasons to observe this month

Three Galaxies in One View

Hidden in the constellation of Leo lies a fascinating sight: three spiral galaxies bound by gravity. M65, M66, and NGC 3628 form the famous Leo Triplet, a cosmic dance of stars, dust, and dark matter. From Earth, we see them from three different angles.

Can you capture all three galaxies in a single image from your location? Just ten minutes of observation may be enough, but you might need to adjust your framing and timing.

For the curious observers, another galactic trio is nearby: M105, NGC 3384, and NGC 3389.

M66: Photo Credit Otani Kouji

T Coronae Borealis (T CrB)

This binary star system is about to explode! Eagerly awaited by astronomers, this nova is expected to brighten our sky soon.

Composed of a white dwarf and a red giant orbiting each other, this stellar pair exchanges streams of gas. When the hydrogen accumulated on the white dwarf reaches a critical pressure, an explosion will occur – a flash as bright as the North Star!

T Coronae Borealis becomes visible around 11:30 PM. Will you observe it before the explosion? Or during? Each night is a new opportunity to witness this spectacular event

The Pleiades

The Pleiades are a young star cluster, recognizable by their bright, blue-hot stars. Scientifically, their formation results from the compression of a gas cloud. The high temperatures come from gravitational energy rather than nuclear fusion, as is the case with our Sun.

From Greek mythology, the Seven Sisters were relentlessly pursued by the hunter Orion until Zeus transformed them into stars to protect them!

Can you spot them with the naked eye? The Pleiades are visible even from the city. Through your telescope, you will discover their bluish glow, a sign of their youth (only 100 million years old).