This Week's Amazing Sky
April 23, 2021
There are two supermoons in 2021—and the next one is Wednesday morning, May 26, 2021 at 7:14 a.m. EDT. The Moon will appear full both Tuesday and Wednesday night. 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.
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
April 15, 2021
Many of us are simply intoxicated with spring’s magic. The suddenly sprouting flowers, exploding willows, and the return of nature’s smells (which happens whenever the air gets warmer than 50 degrees) is almost sensory overload. But let’s include the sky in our appreciations. This coming weekend, Friday April 16th through Sunday the 18th, is an especially perfect time.
The Sun Strengthens
The Sun’s strength has grown palpably stronger on our skin. The Sun’s height determines its intensity, and... more
April 2, 2021
During the early weeks of spring, the most widely recognized constellation at nightfall is Orion, standing upright in the southwest. People who appreciate the outdoors may know this prominent constellation best. Here are Orion constellation facts and viewing tips from Almanac astronomer Bob Berman.
Ubiquitous Orion
Of the 88 constellations, Orion is distinctive with its famous belt, those three-stars-in-row. For us during these first weeks of spring, Orion’s belt floats nicely high in the... more
April 1, 2021
What are the Seven Sisters? These are stars in the Pleiades star cluster—one of the most noticeable star pattern in the spring. This tiny dipper of six stars appears at nightfall, lowish in the west, directly above where the Sun sets. So, wait, why are they called the Seven Sisters? Read on—plus, find my viewing tips.
According to Greek mythology, these Pleiades were the seven daughters of Atlas, the Titan god who held the sky above. The sisters’ names were Maia, Electra, Alcyone, Taygete,... more
March 22, 2021
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, all held together by gravity. Our planet, Earth, is part of a solar system; that solar system lives within the Milky Way Galaxy... more
March 17, 2021
Do you know the old song, “How High The Moon”? Neither do I, it was before my time. But that would be a good tune this coming week. We’ll see the year’s highest Moon on the equinox. Welcome spring!
March 19: Moon Shines Above Mars and Aldebaran,
First things first. If it’s clear, look up this Friday night, March 19 at nightfall. The waxing crescent Moon is closely accompanied by two orange stars.
Crane your neck around an hour after sunset, and certainly before 9 PM.
First, find the fat... more
March 10, 2021
Make a pie to celebrate Pi Day on Sunday, March 14, 2021! The date 3/14 honors the never-ending number 3.14159. This is the sort of holiday only celebrated by number freaks like yours truly (and pie lovers). Let’s have fun with numbers and a nice piece of π …
The date 3/14 reminds everyone that the Greek letter π, always representing the ratio between any circle’s circumference to its diameter, is about 3.14.
Pi or π which has infinite digits (3.1415926…). Some of us number lovers have... more
March 8, 2021
On the spring equinox, does the Sun rise due east and set due west? Are day and night equal? Bob Berman shares some vernal equinox oddities for the very first day of spring.
Why Does the Spring Equinox Fall on Different Dates?
If you thought that the Spring Equinox only ever occurred on March 21, you may be dating yourself.
Spring arrived on the 21st of March during most of the 20th century, but the event slides earlier and earlier during the 400-year Gregorian calendar cycle. The final March... more
February 9, 2021
As Valentine’s Day approaches, many of us wonder: what’s the most romantic gift for one’s sweetheart? Chocolates? A candlelight dinner? Excellent choices—but for a nightcap, Bob Berman invites us to look to love in the heavens—and the legends inspired by the stars and Moon! See Bob’s latest post.
There’s nothing like a moonlit or starlit stroll. But the problem is obvious: In most of the United States, Valentine’s night is an arctic experience. A romantic starry walk is about as appealing as... more
January 29, 2021
Who hasn’t heard of the Dog Star, Sirius? In February, it’s the brightest star in Earth’s night sky, parading overhead from nightfall until midnight. When viewing Sirius, we’re actually seeing the combined light of two stars. Learn how to find Sirius.
Sirius is the alpha dog of the Big Dog constellation (Canis Major) and the brightest star of February. This star was considered bad news in the Roman Empire, where they sometimes sacrificed dogs to protect their wheat crops from disease thought to... more
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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!
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