... Explanation: A satellite galaxy of our Milky Way, the Small Magellanic Cloud is wonder of the southern sky, named for 16th century Portuguese circumnavigator Ferdinand Magellan . ...
... Explanation: Early in the 20th century, GK Persei briefly became one of the brightest stars in planet Earth's sky, an event known as Nova Persei 1901. ...
... Cataloged in the early 20th century by astronomer E. E. Barnard , the obscuring interstellar dust clouds include B59, B72, B77 and B78 , seen in silhouette against the starry background. ...
... Explanation: "Nebula at the right foot of Andromeda ... " begins the description for the 76th object in Charles Messier's 18th century Catalog of Nebulae and Star Clusters . ...
... Since the 19th century, astronomers have studied the mystery star, eventually arguing that Epsilon Aur, centered in this telescopic skyview , was actually undergoing a long eclipse by a dark companion object. ...
... Later that century, it became understood that Saturn 's unusual protrusions were rings and that when the Earth crosses the ring plane , the edge-on rings will appear to disappear. ...
... Explanation: Many bright nebulae and star clusters in planet Earth's sky are associated with the name of astronomer Charles Messier , from his famous 18th century catalog. ...
... Explanation: Charles Messier described the 88th entry in his 18th century catalog of Nebulae and Star Clusters as a spiral nebula without stars. ...