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 ...
January Sky Map

Sky Map for January

Our January 2020 Sky Map hones in on the best of the month’s night sky—with accompanying text—so it...
February Sky Map (Evergreen)

Sky Map for February

Our February 2020 Sky Map hones in on the best of the month’s night sky—with accompanying text—so...
Orion the Hunter Constellation

Orion the Hunter Reigns in the Winter Sky

All of Orion’s stars are easy to spot in the winter sky. We’re in a period of dark, moonless,...
Betelgeuse

Betelgeuse and Orion: Maximum Weirdness

This past week, the star Betelgeuse (Orion’s “left shoulder”) dimmed. Most reports jumped on the...
Benjamin Franklin

The Enduring Wisdom of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is well known for his witty sayings and proverbs—that continue to convey timeless...
Venus and Crescent Moon

Night Sky for January 2020

Venus dominates in January, a fiery beacon at nightfall. At the end of the month (January 27 and 28...
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,...
Full Wolf Moon - OFA

Full Moon for January 2020

The full Wolf Moon rises on Friday, January 10, 2020, the first of 13 full Moons this year. Some...
Natural Easter Eggs

When is Easter 2020? | How the Easter Date is Determined

Why do we celebrate Easter? We’ll explain—plus, find out how the date of Easter is determined and...
Vision Rods and Cones

Adjusting to Darkness: How Our Eyes See at Night

It’s escaped no one’s attention that this year’s name is also the term for sharp vision—2020. So...
Venus and the Moon

The Best Sky Watching Events of 2020

The year 2020 promises some unusually fine celestial fireworks. Here are the top most noteworthy...
Full Snow Moon - OFA

Full Moon for February 2020

Got your snow shovels ready? February’s Full Snow Moon rises on the night of February 8 and peaks...
Hen in the snow

Setting Chicken Eggs by the Moon's Sign

Setting chicken eggs by the Moon? According to tradition, this age-old practice will produce...
Best Days to Fish

Fishing Calendar for 2020

When is the best time to go fishing? See the best fishing dates and times from The 2020 Old Farmer’...
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter 360

When Do the Seasons Start in 2020?

The spring equinox begins on March 19, 2020. When do all of the four seasons—winter, spring, summer...
Earth Near Sun

What Are Perihelion and Aphelion?

Earth reaches at its closest approach to the Sun near midnight on January 4–5, 2020. We call this...
Meteor Shower

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

The next meteor shower is the Quadrantids on January 3–4! See viewing details—plus, the full 2020...
When is First Day of Winter?

Winter Solstice 2020: The First Day of Winter

The winter solstice is Monday, December 21, 2020. This is the astronomical first day of winter in...
Sun Tree on Water jpg

Summer Solstice 2020: The First Day of Summer

In 2020, the June solstice—the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere—occurs this year on...
Autumnal Equinox - Fall Road

Autumnal Equinox 2020: The First Day of Fall

In 2020, the autumnal equinox—also called the September equinox or fall equinox—arrives on Tuesday...
Sirius Highest at Midnight New Year's

Bright Sirius is the New Year Star

Want a cosmic way to ring in the New Year? On New Year’s Eve, the brightest star visible from our...
perseid-meteor-shower

Perseid Meteor Shower

The annual Perseid meteor shower, which peaks August 12 to 13, is one of the greatest meteor shower...
geminid-meteor-shower

Geminid Meteor Shower 2020

Get ready for the Geminids! The great Geminid Meteor Shower peaks the night of December 13, 2020....
Umbrella in the Rain

A Chance of Rain: What Does This Really Mean?

You’ve probably weather forecasts say “80% chance of rain.” What does this really mean? Probably...
Winter Full Moon

Moonrise & Moonset Calculator

When will the Moon be visible tonight? Use our Moonrise & Moonset Calculator to find out when...
Full Cold Moon - OFA

Full Moon for December 2019

December’s full Moon rises on Wednesday, December 11, into Thursday, December 12, 2019. Plus, this...
Geminid Meteor Shower Over Thailand

Geminids 2019: How to See the Geminid Meteor Shower December 13

The most active meteor shower of the year peaks the night of Friday, December 13. These are the...
Mercury Retrograde - OFA

Mercury Retrograde Dates for 2020

Mercury’s retrograde motion will start again on February 17, 2020! According to the age-old...
Darkest Day of Year

The Darkest Time of the Year (is Not on the Solstice)

When is the earliest sunset of the year? Many folks think it’s on the winter solstice. But the...
Night Sky Space

Night Sky for December 2019

Here is the Sky Watch for the December 2019 night sky. This month brings a Venus–Saturn conjunction...

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