The summer sky is for the birds — literally. There is Cygnus the Swan, Aquila the Eagle, the Eagle Nebula, and even a flock of wild ducks within the small constellation Scutum the Shield.

The Wild Duck Cluster (M11) was discovered in 1681 by German astronomer Gottfried Kirch, who described it as “a small, obscure spot with a star shining through.” It wasn’t until 1733, however, that English Clergyman, philosopher, and scientist William Derham resolved Kirch’s obsc

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *