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 ...
perseid-meteor-shower

Perseid Meteor Shower

The Perseid meteor shower is one of the greatest meteor shower events of the year. Read on to learn...
Heatwaves! Top 10 Tips to Stay Safe in Extreme Heat

Heat Waves: 10 Tips for Extreme Heat Safety

There’s hot summer weather—and then there are heat waves. Much like other natural disasters, heat...
Planet Saturn

Night Sky for July 2019

Welcome to the Sky Watch for July 2019. This month, see Jupiter and Saturn shine all night long....
Full Buck Moon - OFA

Full Moon for July 2019

The Full Moon for July 2019 falls on Tuesday, July 16. This month will bring a partial lunar...
Space Weather and Solar Flares

How Does the Solar Cycle Affect Weather?

Here at the Almanac, we have long believed that the Sun’s weather cycles—called “solar cycles” or “...
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter 360

When Do the Seasons Start in 2019-2020?

When do the four seasons—autumn, winter, spring, and summer—start? Here are your equinox and...
Star Chart July 2019

Sky Map: July 2019

The sky map for July 2019 depicts the night sky on the Fourth of July! After the fireworks die down...
Black Moon

What is a Black Moon?

A lot of media hype surrounds Moon names, such as “Blood Moon” and “Blue Moon,” but have you ever...
Embedded thumbnail for The Full Moon: July

The Full Moon: July

This month, learn about the Full Buck Moon—and why July is such an important month in Moon history...
Mercury-retrograde

Mercury Retrograde Dates for 2019

Mercury enters retrograde motion on July 7, 2019! Find out what that means for you and see when...
Total Solar Eclipse

Total Solar Eclipse 2019 | How to Watch Live on July 2!

View a total solar eclipse LIVE from South America this July 2, 2019. Bob Berman is traveling to...
dog-days-of-summer-dog-star

The Dog Days of Summer

What are the “Dog Days of Summer”—and when are they? The answer might surprise you. Enjoy this page...
Eclipse Legenda Loki

Solar Eclipse Folklore, Myths, and Superstitions

Here at the The Old Farmer’s Almanac, we do love our folklore and mythology—and there’s nothing...
Total Solar Eclipse 2017

Eclipse History: Total Solar Eclipses in the United States

The summer of 2017 brought the very first total solar eclipse exclusive to the U.S. since before...
Partial Eclipse

Total Solar Eclipse Versus Partial Eclipse: What's the Difference?

With the next total solar eclipse around the corner (July 2, 2019), you may wonder what’s so...
Our Sun in the Milky Way Galaxy

How Fast Does the Sun Move?

Does the Sun spin? Yes, very slowly! Does the Sun orbit anything? Yes, it does! Find out facts...
Total Solar Eclipse

How to Safely Watch a Total Solar Eclipse

You can seriously damage your eyes by watching a solar eclipse without proper protection (NOT...
Eclipse Through Glasses

Solar Eclipse Safety: How to Protect Your Eyes

Both total solar eclipses AND partial solar eclipses require specialized eye protection. I’ve...
Midsommar celebration

Midsummer Day 2019: Why (and How) is Midsummer Celebrated?

Are you familiar with Midsummer Day (traditionally June 24)? Why is called “midsummer” when it’s so...
Sun Tree on Water jpg

Summer Solstice 2019: The First Day of Summer

The June solstice 2019—the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere—will occur on June 21. Here’s...
Summer Heat Fan

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

Summer officially begins this Friday, June 21, and it’s shaping up to be another hot one—for some...
Machu Piccu

5 Ancient Sites Aligned With the Solstice and Equinox

Ever been to Stonehenge? Machu Picchu? Across time, people have marked the changes of seasons—...
June 2019 Sky Map

Sky Map: June 2019

The sky map for June 2019 depicts the eastern sky on the first night of summer (Friday, June 21)—...
Young Moon, Venus, and Mercury

Tonight, See Saturn Near the Moon in the Night Sky!

In June 2019, the Moon pairs up with three planets, while planets meet other planets! Next up:...
Full Strawberry Moon - OFA

Full Moon for June 2019

Learn about the Full Moon for June 2019—the Strawberry Moon! This year, it shines for Father’s Day...
Embedded thumbnail for The Full Strawberry Moon 2019

The Full Strawberry Moon 2019

The Full Strawberry Moon rises on Monday morning, June 17, 2019, appearing “opposite” the Sun at 4:...
Jupiter from Juno

Jupiter Closest to Earth Today—Best Chance to See Moons Without Telescope

Jupiter is at its closest to Earth today! This is your best chance of the year to see the biggest...
D-Day Weather

D-Day: The Weather Forecast That Changed History

From D-Day to the American Revolution, weather has played pivotal moments in world history....
Star Gazing

Night Sky for June 2019

Welcome the Almanac Sky Watch for June 2019!  We’re here to help backyard stargazers navigate the...
Best Days to Fish

Fishing Calendar for 2019

When is the best time to go fishing? See our best fishing days in the Old Farmer’s Almanac’s 2019 ...

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