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This Week's Amazing Sky

What is Earthshine?

Ever noticed that you can sometimes see the part of the Moon that isn’t lit up? The dark portion of the Moon (the area unlit by the Sun) seems to glow. This phenomenon is known as “Earthshine.” Historically, this was called “the new Moon in the old Moon’s arms.” Learn more about Earthshine.What is Earthshine?When you can see the dark, unlit portion of the crescent Moon (the area unlit…
The Pinwheel Galaxy by David Rankin

How to See Galaxies in the Night Sky

Did you know that spring is galaxy time? More galaxies are visible from March to mid-May, early in the evening. Find out more about famous galaxies and how to see a galaxy this spring!What Is a Galaxy?It may help the novice sky watcher to understand the definition of a galaxy: A galaxy is a huge collection of gas, dust, and billions of stars and their solar systems,…
how to see saturn at it's brightest for the year, saturn in opposition

Saturn at Opposition in 2025: See Ringed Planet at Its Brightest

Get up close and personal with Saturn! The Ringed Planet will be its brightest, reaching its opposition (its closest point to Earth) on September 21, 2025!  In our culture of publicity and hard sell, it’s tempting to exaggerate. But Saturn never disappoints. Here are Bob Berman’s tips on how to see it.Through any telescope with more than 30x, Saturn elicits gasps. Yet, oddly, photos of the…
sunset

After the Summer Solstice, How Fast are We Losing Daylight?

Summer, bring it on! After the summer solstice (June 20, 2025), we start to lose daylight. How fast? Bob Berman talks about solstices and sunsets—and finding out how rapidly the times change where you live.First, here is a refresher: The summer solstice is the first day of summer, according to astronomy. The word solstice comes from the Latin words “sun” and “stoppage.” It makes sense: The…

A Chance of Rain: What Does This Really Mean?

When the local weather station (or your weather app) says that there is an “80% chance of rain,” do you assume that this means you have an 80% chance of getting rained on? Not true. Bob Berman explains what a “chance of rain” really means!If you’re a sky watcher like yours truly, the first step in observing the sky is having decent weather. We probably all check the forecast from time…

Dark Matter! Did Most of the Universe Go Missing?

Back in 1933, most of the universe went missing. According to many astronomers, it’s still missing. We’re talking about dark matter which can’t be seen. So, how do we know that dark matter exists? Bob Berman explains what dark matter is—and isn’t.Dark matter was coined by the famous Swiss physicist Fritz Zwicky. He worked most of his life at the California Institute of Technology in the U.S…

Planet Neptune at Opposition! Close Visit by a Strange Planet

On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, planet Neptune reaches its closest approach to us for the year. Why should we care about the only planet that cannot be seen with the naked eye? Well, if size matters, then it deserves attention on that basis alone; since it’s such an enormous blue ball, 58 planet Earths could fit inside it. Discover the “other” blue planet.Discovering NeptuneWe really…
Photograph of a clear blue wave and a yellow/orange sky

How Does the Moon Affect the Tides and Weather?

Learn how the Moon affects planet Earth. From tides to weather, there are many ways that our one and only natural satellite works in tandem with our planet. Plus, let’s dispel some myths about powers that our Moon does NOT have!How the Moon Affects TidesOcean TidesOf course, high tides and low tides are caused by the Moon’s gravitational pull. People have always…
Mercury Planet

Planet Mercury: Its Real Color and More Fun Facts

Planet Mercury is odd in so many ways; it’s hard to find aspects that aren’t strange. What color is Mercury, really? And does it have the hottest surface temperature? See 10 fun facts about the smallest planet in our solar system. 10 Facts about Planet MercuryMercury’s orbit may be nearest to the Sun, so you’d think it was also the hottest planet. Nope! It’s the second hottest…

What Are the Chances of a Meteor Hitting Earth?

Seen any shooting stars lately? Worried about being clobbered by a meteor? Let’s talk about the chances of a meteor hitting Earth—and one of us!For reasons no one can explain, meteors are mostly crammed into the final 5 months of the year. The most famous is the Perseids, which peak in August. These “falling stars” are mostly the size of apple seeds. But larger ones are out there…

The Coldest Week

Statistically, the coldest week falls about now— in late January—for most places in Europe and North America.Some of us who live in rural areas heat with wood, which may sound romantic until you’ve done it for a while. You grab icy logs barehanded and lug them to the house, where any remaining wrist hairs are burned off as they’re tossed in the stove.En route, one sometimes…

Find Sirius, the Brightest Star of February

Have you heard of the Dog Star, Sirius? In February, it’s the brightest star in Earth’s night sky, parading overhead from nightfall until midnight. When viewing Sirius, we’re actually seeing the combined light of two stars. Learn how to find Sirius.Sirius is the alpha dog of the Big Dog constellation (Canis Major) and the brightest star of February. This star was considered bad news in…

Welcome to “This Week’s Amazing Sky,” the Almanac’s hub for everything stargazing and astronomy. Bob Berman, longtime and famous astronomer for The Old Farmer’s Almanac, will help bring alive the wonders of our universe. From the beautiful stars and planets to magical auroras and eclipses, he covers everything under the Sun (and Moon)! Bob, the world’s mostly widely read astronomer, also has a new weekly podcast, Astounding Universe!

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