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Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter 360

First Days of Seasons 2018

Find equinox and solstice dates for 2018—specifically, the March equinox, the June solstice, the...
Supermoon Silhouette

What is a Supermoon?

When a supermoon arrives (the next is January 1, 2018), the media goes crazy for it. But is it...
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...
Star of Bethlehem

The Star of Bethlehem

What is the Star of Bethlehem, and what is its significance? Every holiday season, planetariums...
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 ...
Star Gazing

Sky Watch: April 2018

Welcome to the April 2018 Sky Watch!  See what to look for in the night sky tonight, including...
Solar System

What’s the Slowest-Spinning Planet?

Space is famous for zippy activity, like streaking meteors that sail through the night sky. But...
Saturn by NASA

The Moon, Saturn, and Mars Meet on April 6–7

Sometimes the actual sky is so compelling, we’re forced to simply look out the window. Such is the...
Full Pink Moon - OFA

Full Moon for April 2018

Celebrate the Full Moon of April 2018! Find out why it’s called the Pink Moon—plus more Moon facts...
Full Blue Moon

What is a Blue Moon?

When is the next Blue Moon? And exactly what is a Blue Moon? There’s some confusion about this...
April 2018 Sky Map

Sky Map (Star Chart): April 2018

Look up with the April 2018 sky map to navigate the stars and constellations in the night sky. On...
Full Sap Moon - OFA

Full Moon for March 2018

On Saturday evening, March 31, the Full Sap Moon rises! This is the second full Moon of the month—a...
Welcome Spring Equinox

Spring Equinox 2018: The First Day of Spring

The spring equinox (also called the March equinox or vernal equinox) falls on Tuesday, March 20,...
March Equinox Fun Facts

Vernal Equinox Oddities

This year, the vernal equinox falls on Tuesday, March 20. Are day and night equal today? Does the...
Sunflower with Bees

Summer Solstice 2018: First Day of Summer

The timing of the June solstice—or, summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere—varies between June...
Pi Day

Happy Pi Day 2018, My Friends!

On Wednesday, March 14 (3/14), Pi Day is celebrated. It’s the sort of holiday only celebrated by...
Spring 2017 Weather Outlook (U.S.)

2018 Spring Weather Forecast

Winter is nearly over, which means that spring is just around the corner! What kind of weather can...
March Sky Watch

Sky Map (Star Chart): March 2018

Look up with the March 2018 sky map to navigate the stars and constellations in the night sky. On...
March 18, 2018 Sky Map

The Year's Best Conjunction is Sunday, March 18

An unusual thing happens Sunday evening at 7:30 P.M.—a beautiful meeting of the three closest...
Sirius The Dog Star, Orion, and the Winter Triangle

What's the Brightest Star in the Sky Tonight?

Who hasn’t heard of the Dog Star, Sirius? It’s the brightest star in the sky. Right now, it’s at...
Night Sky Space

Sky Watch: March 2018

Welcome to the March 2018 Sky Watch!  See what to look for in the night sky tonight, including...
Embedded thumbnail for Full Worm Moon: March

Full Worm Moon: March

What is the Full Worm Moon? In this video, we explain what the Worm Moon means—plus, fun facts...
New Star in Night Sky in 2022

A New Star in the Night Sky in 2022

A star is born! If you’ve followed my column, you may recall me saying that a new star will appear...
Planet Venus

Planet Spectacle: The Show Will Start Soon

This year will indeed be extraordinary for planets. We will see one of the closest approaches of...
Moon's Pull

How Does the Moon Affect Our Bodies?

In mid-February, the Moon returns to the evening sky. This brings up an ancient puzzle: How does...
Celestial Alignment

So You Want to Buy a Telescope?

Since Galileo—one of the first people on Earth to have aimed a telescope at the heavens—millions of...
Full Snow Moon - OFA

Full Moon for February 2018

February’s Moon is called the Snow Moon. However, note that there will not be a full Moon phase...
Full Moon Names

Full Moon Names

Native Americans’ Full Moon names were created to help different tribes track the seasons. Think of...
Universe at Night

Sky Watch: February 2018

Welcome to the February 2018 Sky Watch!  See what to look for in the night sky tonight, including...
Groundhog Emerging

Groundhog Day and Shadow Fun

Groundhog Day. Just a bizarre tradition involving rodents? Or, rather, marmots? Actually, Groundhog...
Lunar Eclipse

A Supermoon, Blue Moon, and Lunar Eclipse on January 31

Heard about this “Super Blue Blood Moon” on January 31? Let’s break this down: That’s a Supermoon,...
Taurus Constellation

Stars Crowd Around the Moon This Weekend

Easy astronomy? Deep, profound, cool stuff with no pain? That’s this weekend. On the evenings of...
Full Wolf Moon - OFA

Full Moon for January 2018

In January of 2018, there are two full Moons. The first full Moon of the year (January 1) is called...
Sky Map February 2018

Sky Map (Star Chart): February 2018

Look up with the February 2018 sky map to navigate the stars and constellations in the night sky....

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