Saturn Closest to Earth June 2016
Planet Saturn is at its best this June, 2016. as it comes closest to Earth. It’s easy to find, astonishing to see! In our culture of publicity and hype, the media often cry wolf. But one planet never...
View ArticleSummer Solstice Full Moon in June!
On June 20, 2016, the Full Moon appears on the same night as the summer solstice! It’s rare, all right. A full Moon hasn’t landed smack on the solstice since 1948. But that’s what’s actually...
View ArticleThe Half Moon and the Lazy Earth
Monday is the half Moon. Officially, the last quarter. It may be the coolest lunar phase and I’ll prove it. Monday morning the 27th of June, any time at all, look around the day sky. There it is, a...
View ArticleThe Universe's Biggest Bangs
With this week’s fireworks fresh in mind, we’re allowed to wonder: What is the universe’s most awesome energy? Right now, when early summer solar power is so strong, we might first say that “The Sun”...
View ArticleHow to Buy a Telescope Part I: Rules of the Game
Here is advice on how to buy (or not buy) a telescope. Amateur astronomy is a hobby that can hold your attention for a lifetime, so it’s worth starting out right. You don’t need to spend a fortune. But...
View ArticleHow to Buy a Telescope Part II: Which Telescope Is Right for You?
Which telescope should you buy? Let’s examine the different types of telescopes that you might purchase—to help you select the telescope that’s best for you. Read “How to Buy a Telescope Part I: Rules...
View ArticleIt's Not the Heat, It's the Humidity!
In most of the Northern Hemisphere, July is the hottest month. But when folks grumble about feeling uncomfortable, they often say, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” That’s so true. How Can You...
View ArticleFlash of Light in the Night Sky
We’re never too surprised when the night sky has a sudden flash. Sometimes it’s late-summer fireworks. And nature creates flashes too. Lightning Flashes The usual cause, of course, is thunderstorms. As...
View ArticleChances of a Meteor Hitting Earth
Seen any shooting stars lately? Worried about being clobbered by a meteor? Here’s why you don’t have to worry about meteor safety! For reasons no one can explain, meteors are mostly crammed into the...
View ArticleThe 2016 Perseid Meteor Shower
The best meteors of the year occur with the Perseid meteor shower, so get viewing tips for the meteor shower and learn about the history (and foreboding future) of the Comet Swift-Tuttle. Everyone...
View ArticleDon't-Miss Triangle: Moon, Saturn, and Mars
Tonight or on your first clear night, face south between 8:30 and 9:00 PM. You’ll see a striking triangle. Three bright stars. You can’t miss it. Then from September 7 to 9, 2016, the triangle is...
View ArticleWhat is a Penumbral Eclipse?
This Friday, September 16, the Moon turns full. And it’s a penumbral eclipse. And what does penumbral even mean? First, the facts: The Harvest Moon rises this Friday. It’s dubbed with this name...
View ArticleLet Venus Find You!
After the Moon, Venus is the brightest thing in the night sky. Nothing else even comes close. No wonder civilizations through the ages, like the Maya, worshiped it. But Venus is not always there....
View ArticleBlack Moon 2016
We’re seeing media hype about a “Black Moon” on Friday, September 30, 2016. Don’t get too excited. It’s just a nickname for a New Moon. A New Moon is practically invisible to the naked eye, so...
View ArticleA Supermoon? Or, an Imposter?
This Sunday, October 16, 2016, is the full Moon (or Saturday, depending on your time zone). And some media outlets are calling it a “Supermoon.” This has gotten out of hand. First, in astronomy there...
View ArticleSpooky Sky: We Dare You to Go Out!
Halloween is upon us, so we’re now primed for spooky things. Halloween of 2016 will be especially spooky because the Moon will have waned, leaving a mostly dark night. Of course, the Sun is setting...
View ArticleThe Most Super Supermoon
Of all the things happening in the universe this year, the November 14, 2016, Supermoon will probably get the most media attention. This truly ultra-close lunar approach is the real deal. Supermoon...
View ArticleGoddess of Love Returns
Look for Venus to hover spectacularly to the left of the crescent Moon on Friday evening, December 2, and to dangle below the Moon the next night, Saturday. And she will continue to shine! Read on …...
View ArticleThe Darkest Time of the Year
These are our darkest afternoons. But, surprise! For most of us, Thursday, December 8, will bring the turnaround. It’s a major winter milestone: the day of our earliest sunset. This puzzles people, but...
View ArticleThe Year's Best Meteors Meet The Year's Brightest Full Moon
The year’s very best meteor shower is usually the Geminids, on Tuesday night, December 13, 2016. This year, there’s some competition. The Geminids are the sky’s “Old Faithful” when it comes to shooting...
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