Sky-watchers this week can follow Earth’s lone natural satellite as it glides across the sky and poses with some of the most well known celestial treasures. Moon and Pisces. After nightfall on Monday, December 9, look for the first quarter moon to hang just below the “Circlet,” the most easily recognizable part of the constellation…
Sky-watchers will see a sprinkling of shooting stars, bask under autumn’s brightest star pattern, and take a dip in a cosmic lagoon. Taurid meteors. Look toward the southeast sky on Monday, November 4, and into the following morning to catch sight of the minor South Taurid meteor shower. A moonless night means darker skies, which…
While Venus shines bright after sunset in the southwest, and Jupiter rises high late nights in the south, the moon dances with planets and stars this week. Orionid stragglers: If clouds kept you from viewing the peak of the Orionids in the early morning of Monday, October 21, then you can try your luck again…
As the calendar turns to a new month, sky-watchers get a chance to see not only a sprinkling of shooting stars and some ghostly glows, but also a distant gas giant in its best appearance of 2013. Comet buzzes Mars. In the predawn skies on Tuesday, October 1, famed Comet ISON (C/2012 S1) will be barnstorming…
As the calendar turns to a new month, sky-watchers get a chance to see not only a sprinkling of shooting stars and some ghostly glows, but also a distant gas giant in its best appearance of 2013. Comet buzzes Mars. In the predawn skies on Tuesday, October 1, famed Comet ISON (C/2012 S1) will be barnstorming…
Heading into the final days of September and first week of autumn sky-watchers will find the moon dancing with celestial luminaries like planets and stars. Mercury and Spica. Within a half hour after sunset on Tuesday, September 24, look toward the very low southwest horizon for planet Mercury making a remarkably close encounter with Virgo…
Heading into the final days of September and first week of autumn sky-watchers will find the moon dancing with celestial luminaries like planets and stars. Mercury and Spica. Within a half hour after sunset on Tuesday, September 24, look toward the very low southwest horizon for planet Mercury making a remarkably close encounter with Virgo…
Sky-watching in September starts off with ghostly cosmic glows and stunning close encounters between bright planets and stars. Zodiacal Lights. Starting on Tuesday, Sept.3, with a near moonless sky in the pre-dawn hours, the next two weeks mark the best chance for Northern Hemisphere observers to catch the elusive glow of the zodiacal lights. Far…
Sky-watching in September starts off with ghostly cosmic glows and stunning close encounters between bright planets and stars. Zodiacal Lights. Starting on Tuesday, Sept.3, with a near moonless sky in the pre-dawn hours, the next two weeks mark the best chance for Northern Hemisphere observers to catch the elusive glow of the zodiacal lights. Far…
As one month gives way to another, planets, stars and meteors light up the night sky this week. Moon and the Seven Sisters. Near local midnight on Monday, August 26, then again the following night, watch the low eastern horizon for a rising moon parked near the famous Pleiades star cluster in the constellation…
As one month gives way to another, planets, stars and meteors light up the night sky this week. Moon and the Seven Sisters. Near local midnight on Monday, August 26, then again the following night, watch the low eastern horizon for a rising moon parked near the famous Pleiades star cluster in the constellation…
The starry skies get busy this week with a minor meteor shower peaking, the moon showcasing a bright star cluster, and four neighboring worlds converging before daybreak. Meteor Shower Peak. The Southern Delta Aquarids will peak in the pre-dawn hours of Tuesday. From a dark location away from city lights, over a dozen shooting stars can…
This week skywatchers get a chance to track down some of the brightest stars and planets of the season, thanks to the wanderings of Earth’s lunar neighbor. Moon and Spica. After nightfall on Monday, July 15, gaze towards the low southwest for the first quarter moon extremely close to the bright star Spica. The…
This week skywatchers get a chance to track down some of the brightest stars and planets of the season, thanks to the wanderings of Earth’s lunar neighbor. Moon and Spica. After nightfall on Monday, July 15, gaze towards the low southwest for the first quarter moon extremely close to the bright star Spica. The…