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February Sky Map (Evergreen)

Sky Map for February

There is no brighter constellation in the night sky than Orion, the Hunter. And there is no better...
Venus and Moon by NASA

Night Sky for February 2020

Here’s the February 2020 Guide to the Bright Planets from The Old Farmer’s Almanac. This month,...
Groundhog Emerging

Groundhog Day and Shadow Fun

Groundhog Day. Just a bizarre tradition involving rodents? Or, rather, marmots? Actually, Groundhog...
Moon Cherry Flowers

Gardening by the Moon

Gardening by the Moon is a great way to plan your garden. Many of our readers follow the age-old...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Sky Map December 2019

Sky Map: December 2019

Our December 2019 Sky Map highlights the December 10 Venus–Saturn conjunction! See a star chart...
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...
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...
Night Sky Space

Night Sky for November 2019

The highlight for our November 2019 Sky Watch is the Venus and Jupiter Conjunction on November 24. ...
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...
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

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...
Autumn Foliage on Lake

2020 Fall Foliage Map

Have the leaves start changing? When will they peak? Last Year’s Peak Foliage Map Below, you’ll...
Full Corn Moon

Full Moon for September 2020

The full Moon for September 2020 is the Full Corn Moon. (This year the Harvest Moon does NOT fall...
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...
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...
Sky Map September 2019

Sky Map: September 2019

The Autumnal Equinox is upon us! Look up for some wonderful fall stargazing. Here’s viewing...

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