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Article: Deep-sky objects.(SCOPE ON THE SKIES)
- Article from:
- Science Scope
- Article date:
- February 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 National Science Teachers Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Beyond the region of our solar system is the rest of the Milky Way galaxy, and of course the rest of the universe. To the amateur astronomer or casual observer, the phrase deep-sky objects is a reference to those dim celestial objects that are beyond our solar system and either a part of the Milky Way or outside of our home galaxy. These include star clusters, galaxies, and nebulae, and while some may be seen with unaided eyes, many deep-sky objects require binoculars or telescopes to see.
To the unaided eye, these faint objects resemble fuzzy smudges of light and are somewhat similar in appearance to a comet. In 1774, French astronomer Charles Messier published ...