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This Week's Amazing Sky
November 8, 2023
It’s a new Moon! For astronomers, a new Moon means no Moon to look at. For many cultures, however, the new Moon carries special meaning. So, what exactly IS a new Moon, when are the new Moons in 2023 and 2024, and what does a new Moon look like? Let’s explore, fellow Moon lovers …What Is a New Moon?A new Moon is essentially the opposite of a full Moon. During a…
October 30, 2023
We’ve all been told that the “Sun sets in the west.” Actually, that’s a generalization. Bob Berman talks about the sunset in fall, and how the Sun rises and sets across the seasons. You can even do your own Stonehenge thing, without moving a single rock!The Sunset in AutumnBack in September, at the autumnal equinox, you could see the Sun rise due east and set due west. This…
October 25, 2023
It’s your annual opportunity to see Jupiter at biggest and brightest! The Giant Planet reaches “opposition” on November 2–3, 2023 as Earth passes between it and the Sun. Just one day prior, on November 1–2, Jupiter reaches its closest point to Earth. Learn more from Bob Berman.Jupiter in OppositionNotice planet Jupiter in the night skies? You can’t miss it. It’s…
October 12, 2023
Take your vitamins and stick around for the next century’s super-spectacles, including the longest total solar eclipse in U.S. history (2045) or the spectacular return of Halley’s Comet in 2061.The Magnificent Seven (Four for Canada) Total EclipsesTotality causes humans and animals alike to moan and babble, as normally invisible deep-pink prominences leap from the Sun’s edge like…
October 10, 2023
The winter solstice occurs on Thursday, December 21, at 10:27 p.m. Yes, this is the “shortest” day of the year, but let’s talk about how many minutes each day the daylight increases afterward. Plus, we’ll discuss other ways you can see and feel the solstice.What Happens on the Winter Solstice?Here are the most tangible factors affecting your everyday life. …
October 9, 2023
Can you look at a solar eclipse safely? Solar eclipses are rare so it’s truly incredible that we’ll experience two in the next six months—with the first event in October 2023. Find out if you can stare at the Sun and how protect your eyes. Pull up a chair: there’s a lot of misinformation out there.First, what are the upcoming eclipses? First, there’s the “Ring of Fire…
October 2, 2023
If you heard an “80% chance of rain,” would you assume that this meant you had an 80% chance of getting rained on? Not true. Bob Berman explains what a “chance of rain” really means!If you’re a sky watcher like yours truly, the first step in observing the sky is having decent weather. We probably all check the forecast from time to time. But relatively few of us know how to make…
September 29, 2023
When is the earliest sunset of the year? Many folks think it’s on the winter solstice. But the darkest days of the year are actually in early December! Bob Berman explains this phenomenon.To most of us in North America, this is a dark time of year, and the sunsets come exceedingly early. It might surprise you to learn that the earliest sunsets come several weeks before the winter…
September 28, 2023
If you’ve ever wanted to see the Milky Way galaxy from Earth, late September through October is your window of opportunity! Right now, we’re aimed toward the most concentrated part of the Milky Way. Learn more to see the kind of inspirational, star-filled panorama experienced in planetariums!If you live – or can visit friends – in a rural location away from city lights, October can be…
September 14, 2023
It’s an annual autumn ritual: The reappearance of Pleiades—the glorious “Seven Sisters.” Around Halloween, they always rise in the east after sunset. Learn more about the Pleiades—and their strange connection to All Hallows’ Eve.What Are the Pleiades?The Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters, is a tightly packed cluster of stars. It’s technically an “asterism” (a…
September 13, 2023
The “Ring of Fire” annular solar eclipse sweeps across the Americas on Saturday, October 14. Find out if you’re amongst the 31.5 million people who live on the eclipse path; if not, see a link to watch live from the comfort of your living room!You’ve probably seen the news flashes: Two major eclipses will happen in the next seven months. Each will be seen from widespread parts of North…
August 30, 2023
What is the Moon’s strangest appearance? It’s the “gibbous Moon.” After all, everyone can spot a crescent or a half or a full Moon. The gibbous Moon phase is fatter than half but smaller than full. See for yourself—tonight or the next several nights. Learn more.What Does Gibbous MeanThe current lunar phase is the only one whose shape is not universally identifiable. It’s…