Never miss a full moon, eclipse, or meteor shower with reminders from the Almanac Daily newsletter.
This Week's Amazing Sky
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 …
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
For us during these first weeks of spring, Orion’s famous 3-star Belt…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
September 11, 2020
The Moon meets all four of the most brilliant and easily-seen planets this week and next. See Bob’s post for viewing tips. Plus, for all you Moon lovers, let’s answer why the Moon rides high or runs low in the sky? What does this mean and why does it happen? Find out from Almanac astronomer Bob Berman.
The Moon Meets Each Planet
We are now enjoying a jewel box of…
August 7, 2020
One of the year’s best meteor showers—the Perseids—is now under way. It starts with just a few extra shooting stars per hour, and when we reach the nights of August 11 and 12, we will see a meteor every 2 minutes or so. But the comet behind these lovely shooting stars is what we should really be talking about!
Meteors are tiny specks of debris that have fallen off a comet. Most…