Astronomy Articles

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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 ...
When is First Day of Winter?

Winter Solstice 2019: The First Day of Winter

Winter officially begins with the Winter Solstice on Saturday, December 21, 2019. This is the...
Full Beaver Moon - OFA

Full Moon for November 2019

November’s Full Beaver Moon rises on Tuesday, November 12! Learn when to spot it in your area and...
Mercury Transit

Transit of Mercury on Monday, November 11, 2019

It’s hard to evaluate the major astronomical event coming up on Monday, November 11, 2019. It...
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter 360

When Do the Seasons Start in 2019-2020?

When do the four seasons—winter, spring, summer, and fall—start? Here are your equinox and solstice...
Night Sky Space

Night Sky for November 2019

Welcome to the Sky Watch for November 2019. Here is your guide to see the bright planets and other...
Halloween Sky Map 2019

Crescent Moon and Jupiter Meet-Up Halloween Night

This week’s crescent Moon is extra special. On Halloween night, October 31, see the brightest “star...
Full Moon on Halloween

Halloween Moon | What's the Moon Phase This Halloween?

Ever noticed that Halloween pictures always show a full Moon? But how often does the full Moon...
Full Moon

Can a Full Moon Affect Your Mood?

Can the Moon affect your mood? Does it make people crazy? Science doesn’t have proof, but could...
November 2019 Skymap

Sky Map: November 2019

Let’s show some appreciation for the Moon this month. Watch it as it moves across the night sky ...
Saturn Collage

The Moons of the Solar System: Which is Your Favorite?

With this month’s discovery of 20 more moons on Saturn, let’s pause and consider the many marvelous...
Pleiades Star Cluster

The Seven Sisters at Halloween

It’s an annual autumn ritual: The reappearance of the glorious Seven Sisters. During Halloween week...
Moon Travel

Facts About The Moon

Will man ever return to the Moon? That remains to be seen. Until then, here are interesting Moon...
Planet Saturn

Fascinating Facts About Saturn

Did you know that Saturn, the sixth planet from the Sun, is named after an ancient Roman god? Here...
Space Weather and Solar Flares

The Solar Cycle: Latest Updates and Predictions

Here’s the latest on Solar Cycle 24 and Solar Cycle 25—along with forecasts about when we will hit...
Full Hunter's Moon png - OFA

Full Moon for October 2019

When is the Full Hunter’s Moon—and what’s the meaning behind its name? Plus, find your Moon phase...
Space Weather and Solar Flares

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

What are solar cycles—and what causes them? How do solar cycles affect our weather? Here’s our...
Autumn Foliage on Lake

2019 Fall Foliage Map

Have the leaves start changing? When will they peak? Check out the latest on our interactive Fall...
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...
Full Corn Moon

Full Moon for September 2020

The full Moon for September 2020 is the Full Corn Moon. See what this means—plus, Moon phase dates...
Full Sturgeon Moon - OFA

Full Moon for August 2020

The Full Moon for August 2020 rises this week. Here’s the date, time, and meaning of what we call...
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...
Full Wolf Moon - OFA

Full Moon for January 2020

When is the Full Moon in January 2020? What time are the Full Moon and New Moon? Why is it called...
Sun Tree on Water jpg

Summer Solstice 2020: The First Day of Summer

The June solstice—the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere—occurs this year on Saturday, June...
Welcome Spring Equinox

First Day of Spring 2020: The Spring Equinox

In 2020, the spring equinox (also called the March equinox or vernal equinox) falls on Thursday,...
Natural Easter Eggs

When is Easter 2020? | 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...
Moon Meets Jupiter and Saturn

Night Sky for October 2019

Welcome to the Sky Watch for October 2019. Jupiter and Saturn dominate the night for all to see—...
Sky Map October

Sky Map: October 2019

In October, the night sky contains eight well-known star patterns visible in the early evening. We’...
Milky Way

See Saturn and Jupiter in Early Fall

As autumn begins, we have a few more weeks to look at the most amazing part of the night sky. Let...
Mercury-retrograde

Mercury Retrograde Dates for 2019

Mercury enters retrograde motion on October 31, 2019! (That’s right—Halloween!) Find out what that...
Aurora Borealis people

What Are the Northern Lights?

Along with the colorful leaves that fall ushers in, the night sky has its own colorful display near...

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