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This Week's Amazing Sky
When folks grumble about feeling uncomfortable in July, they often say, “It’s not the heat; it’s the humidity.” And sure, it’s humid—but the dewpoint is what tells you how muggy and sticky the air feels. Whether you’re tending your garden, heading out for a run, or just trying to survive a summer day, let’s break down what humidity means—and why dewpoint matters more than you might think.As…
In early summer, night falls at its latest hour—around 9:30 to 10 PM. High in the east shines summer’s bright star—the famous Vega. Learn fascinating facts about Vega, a favorite of stargazers and astronomers, and its fascinating folklore.Away from city lights in mid-July, one could see as many as 2,500 naked-eye stars. But if you look east, only one star stands out because it’s…
Do you trust your instincts? Maybe you shouldn’t. It seems that ancient Greeks and the old church doctrines were correct because it sure feels as if we’re not moving. But we’re actually in wild, constant motion. How fast are we spinning—and why don’t we feel it?On Earth, we don’t notice that the Earth is spinning. In contrast, when we gaze into the sky, we see constant…
Space is famous for zippy activity, like streaking meteors that sail through the night sky. But space has another face—a slow-and-easy side. In reality, Venus, the Moon, and many of our most beloved sky objects are as slow as molasses. What’s the slowest-moving planet? Slowest-spinning star? Read on for some fun space facts.What is the Slowest Planet?Venus, which is floating…
Ever noticed that you can sometimes see the part of the Moon that isn’t lit up? The dark portion of the Moon (the area unlit by the Sun) seems to glow. This phenomenon is known as “Earthshine.” Historically, this was called “the new Moon in the old Moon’s arms.” Learn more about Earthshine.What is Earthshine?When you can see the dark, unlit portion of the crescent Moon (the area unlit…
Did you know that spring is galaxy time? More galaxies are visible from March to mid-May, early in the evening. Find out more about famous galaxies and how to see a galaxy this spring!What Is a Galaxy?It may help the novice sky watcher to understand the definition of a galaxy: A galaxy is a huge collection of gas, dust, and billions of stars and their solar systems,…
Get up close and personal with Saturn! The Ringed Planet will be its brightest, reaching its opposition (its closest point to Earth) on September 21, 2025! In our culture of publicity and hard sell, it’s tempting to exaggerate. But Saturn never disappoints. Here are Bob Berman’s tips on how to see it.Through any telescope with more than 30x, Saturn elicits gasps. Yet, oddly, photos of the…
Summer, bring it on! After the summer solstice (June 20, 2025), we start to lose daylight. How fast? Bob Berman talks about solstices and sunsets—and finding out how rapidly the times change where you live.First, here is a refresher: The summer solstice is the first day of summer, according to astronomy. The word solstice comes from the Latin words “sun” and “stoppage.” It makes sense: The…
When the local weather station (or your weather app) says that there is an “80% chance of rain,” do you assume that this means you have 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…
Back in 1933, most of the universe went missing. According to many astronomers, it’s still missing. We’re talking about dark matter which can’t be seen. So, how do we know that dark matter exists? Bob Berman explains what dark matter is—and isn’t.Dark matter was coined by the famous Swiss physicist Fritz Zwicky. He worked most of his life at the California Institute of Technology in the U.S…
On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, planet Neptune reaches its closest approach to us for the year. Why should we care about the only planet that cannot be seen with the naked eye? Well, if size matters, then it deserves attention on that basis alone; since it’s such an enormous blue ball, 58 planet Earths could fit inside it. Discover the “other” blue planet.Discovering NeptuneWe really…
Learn how the Moon affects planet Earth. From tides to weather, there are many ways that our one and only natural satellite works in tandem with our planet. Plus, let’s dispel some myths about powers that our Moon does NOT have!How the Moon Affects TidesOcean TidesOf course, high tides and low tides are caused by the Moon’s gravitational pull. People have always…
