This Week's Amazing Sky
December 16, 2018
Let’s do something different, and mix sky-stuff with weird science! Ready? Here are seven strange science facts—about everything under the Sun from rainbows to our reflection in mirrors!
Number 1. A rainbow has no independent reality. Sunlight and raindrops are not enough to create one. An observer is necessary for its existence, by standing exactly where the 42-degree refraction geometry gets completed. One bit of evidence that they’re not real is that rainbows not only cannot cast shadows,... more
December 16, 2018
Twilight. The word evokes gorgeous colors. But what exactly is twilight? And did you know that there are three types? The Old Farmer’s Almanac now has a calculator that will tell you when twilight begins and ends for your location. Get ready for adventures in the Twilight Zone.
That famous TV show would not have been a hit on Pluto. In fact, creatures on any known planet would be amazed by the unique twilight we Earthlings take for granted. Our world alone experiences the luxuriant palette of... more
December 14, 2018
Comet 46P/Wirtanen is 2018’s brightest comet and comes closest to Earth on December 15–16, 2018—this weekend! As awesome as they can be, you can’t trust comets. We can always predict where they’ll be, but not how they will react with the Sun’s energy. So, the question is: Will it be an amazing sight or another bust?
For a short background, Comet 46P/Wirtanen is indeed the brightest comet in the night sky, though it’s been too faint to see with the naked eye thus far. From dark sky sites,... more
November 30, 2018
Mars is brilliant at dinnertime. In mid-autumn, Mars is one of the sky’s brightest objects between 6:00 and 8:00 PM. Simply look left of where the sun sets for that brilliant orange “star.” You can’t miss it. We keep sending landers there, and interest in Martian colonies remains high—but why?
True, Mars’ super-close visit happened four months ago, in late July, and, also true, our own planet keeps racing away from it at 66,000 miles an hour. After a six-month journey in deep space, NASA’s... more
November 9, 2018
In December, many people start to notice Orion the Hunter in the night sky. It’s one of the most famous constellations—seen by everyone on Earth! Learn more about Orion—and get viewing tips.
What is Orion the Hunter Constellation?
Step out anytime after 9 P.M. and you’ll see Orion appearing over your eastern horizon. Look around for anything bright! The first thing you’ll notice is Orion and its famous belt, those three-stars-in-a-row. They float in a very special space. Orion’s belt sits... more
October 31, 2018
As you may have heard, China announced that their artificial Moon will be launched in 2020. No more night! Yes, they’re abolishing full darkness. It’s a bad idea but not a new one.
The idea is an enormous 80 foot mirror placed into a geosynchronous orbit where it will remain glued to the same spot in the sky. From its altitude of 22,300 miles it will focus sunlight onto the city of Chengdu in southwestern China. That city of 14 million people will then be continually illuminated. No more night... more
October 23, 2018
The Sun is setting earlier and earlier: It’s really dark. The leaves are dropping quickly now, so barren branches now tremble in the wind. And yes, even that wind is generally stronger during the cold months.
Gather round the campfire. It’s the perfect time to tell blood curdling tales of the sky’s sinister side. Ramping up the scare-factor is that backyard sky-gazers are usually on our own. Seldom can we coax others to join us on freezing fall nights to stare at a rambling star pattern that we... more
October 23, 2018
The Full Hunter’s Moon rises on Wednesday, October 24! This is one of the two full Moons that enjoy an official astronomical name. So, will it be bigger, brighter, and redder? Here’s all you need to know!
What is the Hunter’s Moon?
People like objects to have names. While the full Moon is always recognizable and indeed the only phase that’s out all night long, perhaps most folks wish that each was a bit more special. There are 13 full Moons each year, making each one nice but far from rare.... more
October 15, 2018
Would you like to find not one, but two black holes? You’ve come to the right place. That place is your own backyard. All you have to do is look up at around 7:30 p.m. any time during the next week.
What is a Black Hole?
A black hole in space is an object that has so much material packed into a small region that not even light can escape its gravitational pull! Nothing can escape a black hole.
Cool fact: You would have to squash the mass of Earth into the size of a marble to create a black hole... more
September 15, 2018
Over the upcoming days, see the Moon visit four bright planets–for the last great conjunctions of this year! Most notably, mark your calendars for September 17 when the Moon shines close to Saturn’s upper left as darkness falls.
The Harvest Moon
Sure, everyone will focus on the Moon later this month. When it’s full on the 24th, it’ll be the Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon on September 24 is one of only two Full Moons with an official astronomical name. (The other is the Hunter’s Moon.) Other... 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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