This Week's Amazing Sky
January 1, 2021
Welcome to 2021—a year full of spectacular astronomical events! What stargazing and sky watching events should you keep an eye out for? Here are our top picks of the year, including two great meteor showers, a three-planet conjunction, and a supermoon lunar eclipse! Take a look…
The year 2020 was one of the strangest of our lives. But for those who took solace in the heavens, it was also remarkable for its celestial richness. Comet Neowise brought us the finest comet in more than a quarter... more
December 31, 2020
What is a supermoon? We agree that it’s a catchy word—and anything that encourages us to explore the night sky is positive—but let’s also get our facts straight. Plus, find out how many supermoons will occur in 2021—and when to see the next supermoon!
What Is a Supermoon?
Generally speaking, a supermoon is a full moon that appears larger than a typical full moon due to it being closer to Earth.
However, there’s a bit more to it than that! In fact, there are a couple definitions of “supermoon” ... more
December 29, 2020
Want a cosmic way to ring in the New Year? On New Year’s Eve, the brightest star visible from our planet, Sirius, reaches its highest point in the sky as the clock strikes midnight (or, near to it).
Spot Sirius in the New Year Sky
Simply step outdoors on New Year’s Eve as local midnight approaches, then look toward the south and you’ll easily see the brightest star, Sirius, which is also known as the “Dog Star” or “New Year Star.”
This year, the sky will be awash with light from the bright... more
December 22, 2020
Some things just don’t belong together, like the Three Stooges at an art opening. Yet this month, planetariums around the country try to blend religion and science by presenting their annual Star of Bethlehem show. And this year, it’s front-and-center thanks to the rare spectacular Great Conjunction, which many are calling a “Christmas Star.”
I take both religion and science seriously. In and of itself, the mixing of science and religion is shaky, but it can be helpful in specific cases;... more
December 21, 2020
All of Orion’s stars are easy to spot in the winter sky. We’re in a period of dark, moonless, evening skies, so let’s do some old-fashioned stargazing and go hands-on under the sky.
Of the 88 constellations, most are incoherent, hallucinogenic smatterings. Orion is different. Along with the Big Dipper (best seen in the spring) Orion’s easily identified belt is often the first celestial pattern a child will notice.
Viewing the Orion Constellation
More than merely obvious, the three-stars-in-a-... more
December 11, 2020
The most active meteor shower of the year peaks the night of Sunday, December 13. These are the Geminids, the sky’s “Old Faithful.” Their trustworthy, one‑a‑minute frequency has created reliable December sparklers for the past century.
Meteors by the Dark of the Moon
In 2020, the Geminids will peak on Sunday night, December 13, into Monday morning, December 14. This year, they occur just one night prior to December’s new Moon (December 14). This means that the Moon will be nearly invisible and... more
December 3, 2020
When is the earliest sunset of the year? Many folks think it’s on the winter solstice. But the darkest days are actually now—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 early. It might surprise you to learn that the earliest sunsets come several weeks before the winter solstice, not on the solstice, as many would guess.
This puzzles people, but in fact it’s a reliable yearly sequence.
First comes the... more
December 2, 2020
A rare, spectacular sky event is about to unfold: the greatest conjunction ever! It will be more impressive than the usual celestial headliners, like lunar eclipses and Mercury transits. And it will be visible around the world. On the very day of the solstice, December 21, 2020, Jupiter will come as close to Saturn as Jove’s own moons!
When Jupiter and Saturn—the two biggest planets in our solar system—meet, it’s termed the “Great Conjunction.” What’s even more special is that it’s happening on... more
November 2, 2020
If you’ve spent many years observing the Moon, you’ll know all its phases. Perhaps you even have a favorite Moon phase—whether it’s the slim crescent or a fully-illuminated disk. But let’s focus on an upcoming Moon phase that’s least familiar yet most full of wonders. Can you guess what it is?
The last week of October offered astronomy headlines. We had a Full Moon, and a blue one at that, since it was the second full moon that month. And it happened on Halloween. There was also the switch... more
October 29, 2020
When you’re looking at a Moon that’s half-illuminated—like half a pie—why is it called a “Quarter Moon” instead of a “Half Moon”? Seems confusing, right? Bob Berman defines the Quarter Moon—and explains why it’s the most interesting Moon phase in his eyes. Let’s take a closer look at the beautiful Quarter Moon.
Why Do We Call It the Quarter Moon?
We’ve all looked up at the night sky and seen half of the Moon’s disk illuminated. If you had two half Moons and fit them together, you’d get a full... more
Pages
Welcome to “This Week’s Amazing Sky,” the Almanac’s hub for everything stargazing and astronomy. Bob Berman, longtime and famous astronomer for The Old Farmer’s Almanac, will help bring alive the wonders of our universe. From the beautiful stars and planets to magical auroras and eclipses, he covers everything under the Sun (and Moon)! Bob, the world’s mostly widely read astronomer, also has a new weekly podcast, Astounding Universe!
FREE BEGINNER'S GARDEN GUIDE!
BONUS: You’ll also receive our Almanac Companion newsletter!
