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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...
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 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...
Moon and Earth

Night Sky for March 2019

Welcome the Almanac Sky Watch for March 2019!  We’re here to help backyard stargazers navigate the...
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...
Crescent Moon Sliver

Signs of Spring in the Night Sky!

Once spring is under way, nature lovers can find it hard to keep up with the rapid day-to-day...
Big Dipper trace

Sky Map: March 2019

The Big Dipper is more than just a fan-favorite constellation! Using it as an anchor point, you can...
Jupiter and Crescent Moon

Night Sky for February 2019

Sky Watch February 2019 by Bob Berman, as featured in The 2019 Old Farmer’s Almanac In February,...
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...
Moon and Tides

February Snow Moon: 2019's Biggest, Brightest Supermoon

On Tuesday, February 19, 2019, the full Moon reaches 2019’s closest approach to Earth. The media...
Blizzard

Why February Is Cold

Our coldest months are December, January, and February in North America. Someone recently asked me...
Big Dipper

Sky Map: February 2019

Are you a stargazer? We’ll be your guide. The night sky for February 2019 showcases some awesome...
Pluto, The Dwarf Planet

Is Pluto a Planet?

When many of us were kids, Pluto was the ninth planet of our solar system. So there was some...
Oldest Known Moon Photo

The Oldest Moon Photo

The oldest (surviving) photo of the Moon is from 1849. Does it surprise you that this photo was so...
Switchboard

Getting Robocalls? Blame the Measles.

So who’s responsible for those nuisance robocalls?  Here’s some surprising history—going back to...
Blood Moon Eclipse

Lunar Eclipse 2019: Myths and Superstitions about the Blood Moon

With the “Super Blood Wolf Moon” eclipse on January 20, 2019—the last total lunar eclipse until...
Total Lunar Eclipse Mountain

Forecast for The 2019 Total Lunar Eclipse: Cloudy or Clear?

You are cordially invited to the most star-studded event of the season—and we don’t mean some...
Lunar Eclipse

What a Blood Moon Is—and Isn't

A total eclipse of the Moon is coming on January 20, 2019. Some folks are calling it a “Blood Moon...
Using moon to predict child's birth date-baby-Pixabay

Full Moons and Labor: Childbirth Folklore

Check out this author’s intriguing theory—best tested by parents of large families—about the...
Blood Moon

Get Ready for The Super Blood Wolf Moon Eclipse

On Sunday, January 20, we’ll see the only total lunar eclipse of 2019—and the last one until 2021. ...
Total Lunar Eclipse

Night Sky for January 2019

The new year kicks off with a total eclipse of the Moon on January 20–21, 2019. Here are highlights...
Full Beaver Moon - OFA

Full Moon for November 2019

Here’s all you need to know about the full Moon for November—also, called the Full Beaver Moon....
Full Cold Moon - OFA

Full Moon for December 2019

The Full Moon for December 2019 rises on the 12th! Traditionally, this Moon was called the Full...
Venus, the Moon, Jupiter

First Dawn of 2019: Three Planets and Moon Align

Want to welcome 2019 in grand style? So happens, the year begins with an eye-catching celestial...
January 2019 Sky Map

Sky Map: January 2019

Look up! Our printable sky map for January 2019 helps you navigate the stars and constellations! ...
Hen in the snow

Setting Chicken Eggs by the Moon's Sign

Setting chicken eggs by the Moon? Here are best days to set eggs for 2019/ According to tradition,...
Moonrise

Full Moon on The Winter Solstice

Since 1793, when the Almanac began tracking heavenly events and seasonal changes, the Moon has been...
Solstice December

Winter Solstice 2018 Brings a Full Moon and Meteor Shower!

Winter solstice 2018 brings a wonderful weekend of night sky wonders—a full Moon, a meteor shower,...
Night Sky

December 2018 Night Sky Guide

Which planets can be seen in the night sky? In the Sky Watch for December 2018, Bob Berman...
Earth At Aphelion

What are Perihelion and Aphelion?

The Earth is closest to the Sun—or, at the perihelion—about 2 weeks after the December Solstice ...
Rainbow in Winter

Weird Science! Seven Strange Science Facts

Let’s do something different, and mix sky-stuff with weird science! Ready? Here are seven strange...
Twilight Sky

What Exactly is Twilight? The Three Different Types

Twilight. The word evokes gorgeous colors. But what exactly is twilight? And did you know that...
Comet 46P/Wirtanen

2018’s Brightest Comet Comes Closest to Earth December 16

Comet 46P/Wirtanen is 2018’s brightest comet and comes closest to Earth on December 15–16, 2018—...
Geminid Meteor Shower Over Thailand

Geminids 2018: How to See the Geminid Meteor Shower December 13

The finest meteor shower of 2018—and perhaps the best night sky sight this year—happens on Thursday...
geminid-meteor-shower

Geminid Meteor Shower 2018

Get ready for Geminids 2018! The Geminid meteor shower will put on a fantastic show the evening of ...
December 2018 Sky Map

Sky Map (Star Chart): December 2018

See this printable sky map for December to navigate the skies!  This December, the Moon serves as a...
Green Comet

What is a Comet? Comet Facts

Comets are quite the celestial spectacle. Would you believe that they are simply pieces of dusty...
December 2018 Sky Map

Sky Map (Star Chart): December 2018

See this printable sky map for December 2018 to navigate the skies! This month, we let the Moon...
Mars InSight Landing

Why Go to Mars? Water, Life, and Exploration

Mars is still brilliant at dinnertime—just as the latest InSight probe has begun sending us...

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