An animation of the Cepheid variable star M31-V1, as photographed from the Shasta Valley Observatory.
The Milky Way spans across North-East to South-West, revealing the spectacular Emission and Planetary Nebulae at prime time observing, Emission nebulae is the creation of stars, the glow bright red in photographs and newly formed stars, Planetary nebulae are the death of stars, spherical shells of hydrogen, helium and oxygen ejected into space. The constellations of CYGNUS, SAGITTARIUS, and VULPECULA has the most nebulae in the summertime.
Our Galaxy, the Milky Way, is rising in the eastern horizon, revealing it’s “Halo” that envelopes the center or nucleus of the galaxy. Higher in our sky, dozens of the oldest objects in the galaxy shows their positions as the evening darkens. These are GLOBULAR STAR CLUSTERS! These clusters contain old Population II stars that contain original elements, (poor metal) when our galaxy formed.
A famous and spectacular edge-on spiral galaxy is in prime view in Southern California skies in the month of May and June.
This month will feature the zodiac constellation Gemini, which reaches overhead (Zenith) at prime observer time of 8 -9 PM PST in February.