Educational

by John H. Bickel, Ph.D. Denver Astronomical Society, Member

In 1867, French astronomers Charles Wolf and Georges Rayet using the 40 cm Foucault telescope, at the Paris Observatory [Ref. 1], discovered three stars in the constellation Cygnus (now designated HD191765, HD192103 and HD192641) that displayed broad emission bands instead of the typical absorption lines seen in most stellar spectra.… Continue reading.

Colorado has long been one of the best places in the country to experience the night sky. From the San Luis Valley to the Western Slope and the Eastern Plains, our state offers some of North America’s darkest and most spectacular skies.… Continue reading.

Every March, people around the world celebrate Women’s History Month, a time to recognize the achievements of women in science, education, government, and many other fields. Astronomy is no exception. For centuries, women have helped us understand the universe—studying the stars, measuring galaxies, and even calculating the paths that allow spacecraft to travel beyond Earth.… Continue reading.

Zodiacal light is a faint, glowing band of light that stretches across the night sky. It looks like a soft triangle of light rising up from the horizon. This glow appears along the path the Sun travels through the sky, called the ecliptic.… Continue reading.

Charles Messier was a French astronomer who lived from 1730 to 1817. Working in Paris during the late 1700s, Messier was passionate about discovering comets. In an era when comet discoveries brought great scientific prestige, he spent countless nights scanning the skies with a 100 mm refracting telescope.… Continue reading.

This is the third installment of a three-part series exploring the wonders of Denver’s night skies. Be sure to check out the other articles in the series: What to Explore in the 2026 Denver Night Skies and When to Explore in the 2026 Denver Night Skies.… Continue reading.

In our previous article, we explored the many celestial treasures waiting to be discovered in the 2026 Denver night skies. But knowing when to look up can make all the difference in what you see. Timing your stargazing sessions is just as important as choosing your targets.… Continue reading.

As one of the largest astronomy clubs in the country, the Denver Astronomical Society continues to grow and inspire stargazers of all experience levels. Whether you’re brand-new to observing or a seasoned skywatcher, 2026 promises another exciting year of celestial wonders to explore.… Continue reading.

If you watch only one meteor shower all year, make it the Geminids. This shower is predicted to be the strongest of 2025, producing plenty of bright, colorful meteors. With the Moon conveniently out of the way during peak nights, conditions will be near perfect.… Continue reading.

The Leonids are one of the most famous meteor showers in history, known for producing incredible storms in the past. While 2025 won’t bring one of those once-in-a-lifetime storms, the shower still promises a fine show for skywatchers, especially with little interference from moonlight this year.… Continue reading.