... In visible light Sirius A (Alpha Canis Majoris) is the brightest star in the night sky, a closely watched celestial beacon throughout recorded history. Part of a binary star system only 8 light-years away, it was known in modern times to have a small companion star, Sirius B. N81: Star Cradle in the SMC . ... This dramatic Hubble Space Telescope image captures the birth of a cluster of massive stars. ... Only 12 light-years across, the nebula.. Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 1300 . ... September . ...