Spooky Stargazing: Celestial Objects to Explore This Season
NASA
- Autumn skies offer unique opportunities to observe phenomena associated with spooky lore.
- Algol, the 'Demon Star' in the constellation Perseus, undergoes a periodic dimming cycle.
- The Witch Head Nebula and the 'Witch's Broom' provide haunting visuals for dedicated observers.
Algol: The Blinking Eye
- Located in Perseus, this triple-star system is known as the 'Demon Star' or 'The Ghoul' and represents Medusa's eye in Greek mythology.
- It is an eclipsing binary system, meaning it dims from magnitude +2.1 to +3.4 every three days as stars pass in front of each other.
- Observers can track these 'minima' using interactive charts or by comparing its brightness to the nearby star Almach (Gamma Andromedae).
The Witch Head Nebula and Beyond
- Witch Head Nebula (IC 2118): A reflection nebula located between the constellations Eridanus and Orion, approximately 900 light-years away.
- Observation: It is illuminated by the star Rigel but is difficult to see without aid; large-aperture, low-magnification telescopes under dark skies are recommended.
- Additional target: The 'Witch's Broom' can be found within the Western Veil Nebula in the constellation Cygnus.