Astronomy Articles

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Star of Bethlehem

The Star of Bethlehem

Was the Star of Bethlehem a real celestial body or a miraculous vision? Astronomer Bob Berman...
Ruins

Spooky Sky: We Dare You to Go Out!

The Sun is setting earlier and earlier: It’s really dark. The leaves are dropping quickly now, so...
What is Planet Nine?

Looking for Planet Nine

What is Planet Nine? Find out more about a possible new planet in our solar system. Everyone likes...
Comet Catalina from Slooh.com

How to See Comet Catalina

Everyone loves comets.  When we get a bright one every 15 or 20 years the world goes nuts.  We...
Horizon Sunset

When is the Darkest Day of Winter?

The darkest afternoon—our earliest sunset—is upon us. For most of us, the darkest day of winter...
Deneb

What Star is Directly Overhead?

Look straight up at a star—and see where you are heading! Something very cool is overhead. Next...
Pluto by New Horizon Spacecraft

Should Pluto be a Planet?

Should Pluto be a planet? Having now seen some of our first-ever close-up pictures of Pluto, let’s...
Night Sky Camping

October Planet Show Extends its Run

The action remains glued to the morning sky.  We’re talking 6:00 AM.  Normally, planet conjunctions...
Four Planets Meet in the October 2015 Night Sky!

Four Planets Meet in the October 2015 Night Sky!

The wild morning display continues! See four planets performing the year’s best conjunctions. It’s...
Stargazing from Earth

Sky Maps (Star Charts): October 2015

Find your way around the night sky! Below is a free sky map for OCTOBER 2015 as well as a printable...
dog-days-of-summer-dog-star

The Dog Days of Summer

The “Dog Days” of summer last from July 3 to August 11. What are the Dog Days, exactly? The ancient...
Mercury Retrograde - OFA

Mercury Retrograde Dates for 2020

Mercury’s next period of retrograde motion lasts from June 18 to July 12, 2020! According to the...
Meteor Shower

Meteor Shower Calendar 2020: When Is the Next Meteor Shower?

The next meteor shower is: the Delta Aquarids in late July! While they usually peak before dawn...
Night Sky

Night Sky for July 2020

Welcome to the Almanac Sky Watch for July 2020. Plan ahead for the top stargazing sights of the...
Full Buck Moon - OFA

Full Moon for July 2020

Forget the fireworks! This year, watch the full Buck Moon rise on the 4th of July instead! Find out...
Noctilucent Clouds

Noctilucent Clouds: They Come From Outer Space!

They’re back! It’s noctilucent cloud season! Every summer, eerie electric-blue clouds ripple across...
Jupiter

Night Sky for June 2020

Welcome to the Almanac Sky Watch for June 2020. This month, we say goodbye to nightime Venus;...
Space Weather and Solar Flares

What Are Solar Cycles, and How Do They Affect Weather?

What are solar cycles and sunspots—and what causes them? Here at The Old Farmer’s Almanac, we...
Summer Solstice Grain

Summer Solstice 2020: The First Day of Summer

In 2020, the June solstice occurs on Saturday, June 20, marking the start of summer in the Northern...
Machu Piccu

5 Ancient Sites Aligned With the Solstice and Equinox

Across time, people have marked the changes of seasons—sometimes in dramatic ways! Here are five...
Yankee Doodle Song (Cropped)

A Salute to "Yankee Doodle"

Not many are aware that the melody for “Yankee Doodle” was once upon a time (as far back as...
June Sky Map

Night Sky Map for June 2020: See the Stars Move

Welcome to the Night Sky Map for June 2020! Why do objects like stars appear move across the sky at...
June Solstice at Stonehenge

7 Facts About the June Solstice

If you ask friends what happens on the summer solstice (this Saturday), they’re likely to say it’s...
July Night Sky Map - Star Chart

Night Sky Map for July 2020: The Summer Triangle

Welcome to the Night Sky Map for July 2020! This month, we talk about the three “stars of summer,”...
Solar System

Planet Rise & Set Calculator

When will the planets be visible tonight? Use our Planet Rise and Set Calculator to find out when...
Midsommar celebration

Midsummer Day 2020: Why (and How) is Midsummer Celebrated?

Are you familiar with Midsummer Day (traditionally June 24)? Here’s why it is called “Midsummer,”...
Space Weather and Solar Flares

The Solar Cycle: Latest Updates and Predictions

It seems as though our Sun has been having a lockdown all of its own—it’s been very quiet. Here’s...
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter 360

When Do the Seasons Start in 2020?

When do all of the four seasons—spring, summer, fall, and winter—start and end? Here are your...
Moon Illusion

The Moon Illusion: Why Does the Moon Look So Big Tonight?

Who hasn’t turned down a road to confront a low, horizon-hugging Moon that seems absolutely...
Full Strawberry Moon - OFA

Full Moon for June 2020

The full Strawberry Moon rises on Friday, June 5, 2020! Find out why June’s full Moon is called the...
Lunar Eclipse

Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Friday: So What Is This, Anyway?

On Friday, June 5, the Moon will pass through the edge of Earth’s shadow, resulting in a “penumbral...
New Moon Lit

What Is a New Moon?

For astronomers, a new Moon means no Moon! For many cultures, however, the new Moon carries special...
Sky Watch

Night Sky for May 2020

Here’s the May 2020 guide to the night sky! During this month, all 5 bright planets are visible—two...
Earthshine

What is Earthshine?

Ever noticed that you can sometimes see the part of the Moon that isn’t lit up?  That’s earthshine...
Closed Black Hole HR 6819

Closest Black Hole to Earth Discovered

“Closest black hole” is the astro-news this past week. And let’s briefly explore it, just so you...
Embedded thumbnail for 5 Ways to Protect Plants from Summer Heat

5 Ways to Protect Plants from Summer Heat

Extreme summer heat can be as exhausting for our plants as it is for us, but you can make life...
Full Flower Moon - OFA

Full Moon for May 2020

May’s full Moon rises on Thursday, May 7! This full Moon will be the last of the three supermoons...
May Night Sky Map – Star Chart

Night Sky Map for May 2020: Asterisms

Welcome to the Night Sky Map for May 2020! This month, learn about asterisms, which are unofficial...
Moon garden

How to Design a Moon Garden

A moon garden can enjoyed from dusk to dark—by the light of the Moon! We’ll show you how to plan a...
Full Moon Names

Full Moon Names

Historically, Native American and other traditional names for full Moons were used to track the...
Venus and Moon

Venus At Brightest in Years in Late April

April 27, 2020 (EDT), or April 28, 2020 (UT), is officially the planet’s brightest evening in years...
Comet SWAN 2006

As Comet ATLAS Fizzles, Comet SWAN Arrives

What’s the most spectacular sky object? A bright comet is certainly on my top-five list. A few...

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