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Supermoon Silhouette

What is a Supermoon?

What is a supermoon? We agree it’s a catchy word—and anything that encourages us to explore the...
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...
Sky Watch

Sky Watch: October 2015

Welcome to the October 2015 Sky Watch, courtesy of The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Here are the month’s ...
Sunflower with Bees

Summer Solstice 2019: First Day of Summer

The timing of the June solstice—or, summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere—varies between June...
Full Strawberry Moon - OFA

Full Moon for June 2019

Learn about the Full Moon in June 2019! Why is it called the Strawberry Moon? When is the best time...
Midsommar celebration

Why (and How) is Midsummer's Day Celebrated?

Are you familiar with Midsummer’s Day? Isn’t it curious that the summer solstice (the first day of...
May 2019 Sky Map

Sky Map: May 2019

Stargazing is typically a relaxing evening pursuit at the conclusion of a busy day. But the stars...
Autumnal Equinox - Fall Road

Autumnal Equinox 2019: The First Day of Fall

In 2019, the autumnal equinox—also called the September equinox—will arrive on September 23 in...
June 2019 Sky Map

Sky Map: June 2019

The sky map for June 2019 depicts the eastern sky on the summer solstice, the first night of summer...
Full Blue Moon

Blue Moon in 2019: What is a Blue Moon?

When is the next Blue Moon? And exactly what is a Blue Moon? There’s some confusion about this...
Blue Flower Moon

The "Blue Flower Moon" Rises This Weekend

The Full Flower Moon arrives this Saturday night, May 18. And while this one will be a very special...
Full Moon Over the Statue of Liberty

Next Full Moon

When is the next full Moon? See our Full Moon Calendar for 2019 for the U.S. and Canada. Get Full...
Summer Heat Fan

2019 Summer Forecast: Hotter Temps Out West, Rain for Others

Summer weather is just weeks away and it’s already shaping up to be another hot one—for some of us...
Star Gazing

Night Sky for May 2019

Welcome the Almanac Sky Watch for May 2019!  We’re here to help backyard stargazers navigate the...
Full Flower Moon - OFA

Full Moon for May 2019

Learn about the full Moon for May 2019. Why is it called the Full Flower Moon? Why is it a Blue...
Meteor Shower-Taurid, by Channone Arif-Wikimedia Commons

Meteor Shower Calendar 2019

When is the next meteor shower? See the Almanac’s 2019 Meteor Shower Calendar for the dates of all...
Moon and Earth

Night Sky for April 2019

Welcome the Almanac Sky Watch for April 2019!  We’re here to help backyard stargazers navigate the...
Natural Easter Eggs

When is Easter 2019? | How the Easter Date is Determined

Why do we celebrate Easter? And why is Easter so late this year? We’ll explain—plus, find out how...
Beach Imbrella

UV Index Scale

The UV Index tells you how quickly your skin will burn without protection from the Sun. Check out...
Spring Moon

Easter and the Paschal Full Moon

A “Pink Easter Moon” will rise the morning of Good Friday! Did you know that the date of Easter—...
Sky Map April 2019

Sky Map: April 2019

In Earth’s Northern Hemisphere, April is the month when the world awakes from its long winter sleep...
Full Pink Moon - OFA

Full Moon for April 2019

Celebrate the Full Moon for April 2019! Find out why it’s called the Pink Moon—plus more Moon facts...
Moon Cherry Flowers

Gardening by the Moon

Gardening by the Moon is a great way to plan your garden. Many of our readers follow the age-old...
Benjamin Franklin

The Enduring Wisdom of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Frankin is well known for his proverbs and aphorisms—advice and observations that continue...
Big Dipper and Polaris

The Big Dipper in the Spring Sky

The Big Dipper is an old friend to most of us. Poetically, it is spring itself, the season of...
Welcome Spring Equinox

First Day of Spring 2019: The Spring Equinox

In 2019, spring equinox (also called the March equinox or vernal equinox) falls on Wednesday, March...
March Equinox Fun Facts

Vernal Equinox Oddities

This year, the vernal equinox falls on Wednesday, March 20. Are day and night equal on this day?...
A Pinwheel in the Sky - M101

Spring is Galaxy Time!

Did you know that spring is galaxy time? More galaxies are visible from March to mid-May, early in...
Aurora Borealis people

What Are the Northern Lights?

The aurora borealis (or northern lights) is one of nature’s most dazzling events. Shimmering...
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter 360

When Do the Seasons Start in 2019-2020?

When do the seasons—winter, spring, summer, and fall—start? Here are your equinox and solstice...
Full Snow Moon - OFA

Full Moon for February 2020

When is the Full Moon in February 2020? What time is Full Moon and New Moon? Why is it called the...
Super Blood Wolf Moon (January 2019)

Full Moon for January 2020

When is the Full Moon in January 2020? What time is Full Moon and New Moon? Why is it called the...
Full Moon Names

Full Moon Names

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

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