Year of the Comet
Comet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS)

PANSTARRS information

Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON)

ISON information

Web Extras

Track down the original Cepheid variable

The first known Cepheid variable star lies in the southeastern corner of Cepheus the King. Here's how to find it.
By Richard Talcott
Published: July 27, 2009
The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) lies nearly 3 million light-years from Earth, while the Virgo cluster of galaxies extends 50 million light-years into the "local" universe. Have you ever wondered how astronomers measure such vast distances? The answer lies in the autumn sky with the extraordinary star Delta (δ) Cephei, which at first glance appears unassuming.
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